Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Space!

‘The BEST TV show in the universe!’ I burst out.

‘Yeah!’ added Bernard. ‘Everyone knows about SPACE BLASTERS.’

‘You kids are weird,’ said the boy, turning back around. ‘Just stay out of my way.’

‘You stay out of OUR way,’ said Zoe.

‘Zoe,’ I whispered, ‘maybe we should just stay out of his way.’

‘Attention, space cadets!’ said a woman at the front with black hair that sat on her head like a helmet. ‘Attention and welcome to the winter session of Space Camp. We’re so glad everyone was able to join us. I’m Commander Margaret Liu, and these are my colleagues, Commander Wes Herman –’ she pointed at a short man next to her with curly hair like Bernard – ‘and Commander Sharon Hopper.’ A tall woman with lots of small braids smiled and waved at us. ‘We’ll be leading you on your missions this week here at Space Camp.’

‘And yes,’ said Commander Sharon, ‘we’ve all really been to space.’

We all applauded.

I couldn’t believe that I was meeting real life astronauts! Going to Space Camp was by far the coolest thing I’d EVER done!

‘You’ll be split up into teams of six,’ said Commander Margaret. ‘Throughout the week you’ll compete against other teams in four challenges as well as learn what it takes to be a real astronaut.’

‘Sam,’ said Bernard in a low, urgent voice. ‘There are only five of us! Who is going to be our sixth person?’

‘As long as it isn’t that guy,’ said Zoe, looking at the tall boy in front of us, ‘I don’t care who it is.’

‘First up, we have Team Red. Please listen out for your names,’ said Commander Margaret. She started reading out names. When she said, ‘Felix Stevenson,’ the boy in front of us stepped forwards.

‘I hope we aren’t on different teams,’ I said, starting to get an anxious feeling in the pit of my tummy. That thought hadn’t even occurred to me!

Commander Sharon read out Team Yellow.

None of our names were listed.

Then Commander Wes read out Team Green.

I held my breath the whole time. Not a single one of our names were called.

‘We are at the right camp, aren’t we?’ said Bernard.

I nodded. At least I hoped we were.

‘This is good,’ I said. ‘It means we’re all on the SAME TEAM!’

‘And last but not least, we have Team Blue,’ said Commander Margaret. ‘First is Sally Doyle . . .’

‘She’d better say one of our names next!’ said Zoe.

‘She’d better say all of our names,’ I said.

‘Shh!’ said Ralph. ‘Listen!’

‘Zoe Turner . . . Bernard Wilson . . . Sam Wu…’

When she said my name after Zoe’s and Bernard’s, I smiled so wide it made my cheeks hurt.

‘And Ralph and Regina Zinkerman,’ finished Commander Margaret.

The five of us cheered, and Commander Margaret laughed.

‘I like your enthusiasm,’ she said.

I looked around. Who and where was Sally Doyle?

‘Do I have to be on a team?’ said a girl with two long red braids and about a million freckles who was smacking on pink bubblegum. She blew a giant bubble, almost as big as her face, and popped it with her finger. ‘I’m not really a team player

‘That must be Sally Doyle,’ Bernard said.

‘Yes, Sally, you have to be on a TEAM,’ said Commander Wes with a smile. ‘Just like we all have to be on a team when we go up to the International Space Station. No single person can run an entire spaceship by themselves!’

‘Bet I could,’ Sally said, with another smack of her gum.

‘I’m Sam,’ I said. I tried to think of what Captain Jane would say in this situation. ‘It’s, erm, an honour to have you on our team, helping us with the challenges.’

‘I don’t care about silly fake space challenges,’ said Sally. ‘I don’t even want to be here. My parents made me come.’ She rolled her eyes.

‘Can we swap her out for a different teammate?’ whispered Bernard.

I took a deep breath and tried not to think about my palms starting to feel sweaty. I had thought having to work together with Ralph was going to be my BIGGEST HURDLE. I had not been expecting Sally Doyle. I tried to think of what Spaceman Jack would do if he had to complete a mission with someone who didn’t want to be there.

‘That’s okay,’ I said, trying to sound friendly but also like I was the boss. ‘We’ll make it work.’

‘Whatever,’ said Sally, blowing another big pink bubble of gum that hid nearly all her face.

I stared at her back. I could not imagine this happening to Spaceman Jack.

‘It’s okay, Sam,’ whispered Regina, ‘we’ll still have the best team! Don’t worry!’

‘I’m not worried,’ I whispered back.

I might have been a little bit worried.

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