“Oh, I love a walk in the park, too,” Jane says. “The only problem is, there aren’t any parks on Mars. Do you want to see?”
Of course. Mars has lots of rocks and deserts, but not really parks.
“Well… but Mars is pretty anyway,” you say. “I have seen pictures.”
“Yes, I have too!” Jane says. “Let’s go see if the pictures match the real thing!”
You go for a walk in the dust and the dirt. There are many rocks. The air is very dry. Everything is brown. You frown, and Jane laughs and laughs.
“Yeah, it’s not the most romantic date,” she says. “But I like dust and dirt!”
“You do?” you ask.
“Nope!” Jane says, and slaps you on the shoulder. “Not at all! But even dust and dirt is more fun when you’re with someone. And if we wait, the sunset across the dirty rocks actually is gorgeous. I know a great place to sit on the rocks. No cushions, but the view is good.”
You brush the dust off the rock and sit together. The sun really is beautiful, and the way it highlights Jane’s crazy hair makes you smile. She gives you an energy bar from her bag.
“I’m always feeding people,” she says.
You take a bite.
“Did you make this?”
“I helped make all the food on Mars Farm 104,” she says.
“You’re amazing,” you say, and take a bite.
The energy bar isn’t very good, but they never really are delicious. You take a sip of your recycled water and Jane leans closer. You enjoy the sunset together.
The end.