Planet Vacation

Captain’s Log: June 7th, noon ~ the year: 4,001.
Children wave goodbye to Earth. Vacation has begun.

Planet Mars is first. You’ve never seen so many toys!
Paintball, forts and skateboard courts ~ no girls allowed, just boys.

Planet Dune’s our second stop, for kids who love the sand.
“Grab your pails and beach towels kids ~ we’re just about to land.”

Dune is very beautiful, but way too hot for me.
Sun? Most worlds have one, of course, but Planet Dune has three!

Kids who love the snow select a planet known as “Ice!”
The slopes are quite impressive. It’s a skier’s paradise.

Pluto’s next. Two hundred kids prepare to disembark.
Picture this: a world that’s one immense amusement park.

Disney World is cooler, but it’s more expensive too.
Lucky kids with lots of bucks line up (there’s just a few).

Band Camp World’s so loud I have to shout, “Band kids! We’re HERE!”
“Marsha and Starfeena! Don’t forget your phloots this year!”

Band Camp World is so elite, they only take the best.
It’s “invitation only” for this summer music fest.

Kids who love the woods are psyched. Next stop: a world called “Tree.”
Guess how many chose this world? One thousand twenty three!

Planet Ping Pong’s fun, but doesn’t draw much of a crowd.
The sign on Planet Venus clearly states, “No Boys Allowed!”

Hip Hop World is popular for kids who love to rap.
Slumberland is quiet ~ it’s for those who’d rather nap.

One more child to go ~ a cranky, spoiled brat named Brad.
“I can’t make up my mind,” he whines. (This kid is worse than bad!)

He’s difficult ~ no, change that to impossible ~ to please.
He loves the sun, the sand, the snow, amusement parks AND trees.

Brad cries, “I want to do it all, man; get my money’s worth!”
I roll my eyes and shrug and fly him back to Planet Earth.

* robo-busdrivers do not show emotion.

By Donna Lee Murphy
Copyright 2006