Keystone Passage: Day and Night on the Space Station

By Catherine L Quinlan and Aziza Albergottie

Day And Night On The Space Station is the second book of the chapter series, Keystone Passage. Cliff, Monty, Shandra, Duante, and Quisha visit to their Grandma and Grandpa in Washington, DC. An ordinary family fun fair turns out to be extraordinary, as Cliff, Duante, and Quisha find themselves someplace else. The

• Language: English
• Publisher: Visibility In STEM, LLC
• Release date: Jun 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735516141

Book preview

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to my mother who wrote the poems for this book. Some of the poems are unchanged and some were modified from their original form. Your poems have added another dimension to this book. My favorite is your play on the words space-tacular.  Thank you.

Thank you to my family for their patience. To my son and husband who give up spending time with me so I could write.

Chapter 1

Family Space Fair

S

lam!  Cliff and his cousins, Duante and Quisha ran to the window to see if Grandpa had arrived. Today Grandpa’s job was having a family fun day and he was taking them with him. There would be rides, games, and food. Cliff, Duante, and Quisha could not wait to get ice cream and cotton candy. Cliff’s cousins slept over at his house in Washington, DC so they could get up bright and early. Cliff was seven years old, same as his cousin Duante. Quisha, Duante’s sister would be six this year.

Grandpa’s here! Grandpa’s here! said Quisha. They scrambled to get their shoes on before Grandpa made it to the door. Monty and Shandra, Cliff’s older cousins followed slowly behind.

I’m going on the fastest roller coaster, said Duante.

Of course you are! said Shandra rolling her eyes. You’re always ready for an adventure.

Well, I don’t know how fast the roller coasters will be, said Grandpa. Remember, it’s a space agency and they’re just setting this up for the weekend.

I imagine they’ll have a space theme, said Monty.

Cool, we can pretend we’re going to space and back, said Cliff.

Grandpa motioned to come along.

Bye mom! Bye Grandma! said the cousins. The pitter patter of feet down the stairs was followed by slam! and click!

Everyone strapped in? asked Grandpa, turning around to look over the seats. Grandpa turned back towards the front, started the engine, and off they went. 

I can’t wait to get there, said Cliff, excited.

It’s going to take a while, said Shandra. We have to get on the highway, so calm down!

Soul Food Café. Yum yum, said Quisha as they passed the restaurant.

Cliff, that food your mom bought from there yesterday for dinner was delicious. Grandpa can we stop there on the way back? asked Duante.

No, we’re going to eat lunch at the fair. Then we’re having people over for a barbecue later on, said Grandpa.

I really loved the barbecue chicken and the sweet plantains from there, said Quisha.

Stop! My mouth is watering as you talk about food. Don’t talk about food! said Cliff.

You all just had breakfast. None of you should be hungry, said Shandra.

495 North, said Monty changing the topic. What do you all want to do when you get there? Shandra gave him a look as if he had asked a silly question.

I hope they have a rocket roller coaster, at least one as fast as a rocket, said Duante.

Yeah! That would be fun, said Cliff.

Maybe it will go up and down like a rocket, said Quisha. Everyone laughed.

Let’s hope it doesn’t take off with us in it, said Monty. Shandra gave him look.

Bang! Zoom! We’re off to space! said Cliff. I don’t think I would actually want to go to space.

Why not? asked Monty.

Too scary, said Cliff.

People do it all the time, said Grandpa. You’ll meet some people who are training to go to space and others who work on the space shuttles.

I can’t wait, said Cliff.

Will they have those games where you can play to win stuffed animals? asked Quisha.

I’m not sure. You’ll have to wait and see, said Grandpa. 

Look! The sign for the NSA, said Shandra, pointing to the sign that read National Space Agency.

Already?! said Duante. I didn’t realize you lived that close Cliff. The last time it took us over an hour to get there.

That’s probably because it was during the week. It’s weekend and there is hardly any traffic. People clear out of DC during the weekend, said Monty.

The car approached some large gates with guards waiting to check people in. Grandpa took out his ID card.

Grandpa, why do you have to show your ID? asked Quisha. Don’t you already work here?

Yes, but it is policy. They have to check everyone. The fair is only open to families and they need to make sure everything is secure, said Grandpa.

Well it’s still nice that they invited families for a fun day, said Cliff. 

Yes, it is! said Grandpa.

Hi Jamal said the guard checking his ID.

Hi Elijah, said Grandpa. How are you doing?

I see you have the little ones with you. Where’s the rest of the family? asked Elijah.

They went shopping instead so I have the kids. They’re preparing for a barbecue later on, said Grandpa. "Is your family here?

"Yes, they’re walking around somewhere. Today was my day to work, so I’m here checking everyone