"Here you go my dear," my grandfather spoke softly as he handed be the brass telescope that had mesmerized me my entire life. "This is a special telescope. I've had since I was  a young boy. With this telescope, I was able to see the beauty of the universe  beyond our tiny home called Earth."

     With shaking hands, I held the telescope with both hands as best as I could. It was quite heavy and I could barley see above it with so many other brass parts and gadgets in the way, but I didn't mind. I was smiling from ear to ear. My grandfather chuckled softly as he helped me set the telescope down and adjust it properly to face the full, golden moon out that warm, July evening.

     After many quick glances into telescope and adjusting it to the perfect coordinate, my grandfather stepped aside for me to have my first look. I leaned in with my right eye and looked into the lenses.

     The moon. Deep craters covering every meter of its surface. The gray and white surface seemed to glisten by the reflection of  the sun's light. I stood there for a moment; observing the beauty of the moon in the brass telescope. When I finally stepped away , I could feel hot tears running down my cheeks. Tears from looking at absolute beauty. My grandfather wiped away my tears and smiled softly.

    "You will see more than the beauty of the moon with this telescope, Sophie. Never lose you sense of wander."

     "I won't." I replied back with a smile.

     "You know, this telescope is quite special." He whispered softly.

     "Grandfather, what do you mean? Are you suggesting this telescope is magical or something?"

     He shook his head. "No, but remember what Walt Disney once quoted-It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

    I stood there in bewilderment. My grandfather quickly caught on and pointed towards a little indention on the side of the telescope. I leaned in closer and squinted my eyes to see the script.

USA

    "I don't understand. Isn't that just to tell where the telescope was made?" I asked.

     "Nope. Not even close. You will understand one day. Just remember, it's kind of fun to do the impossible." He replied.

    Later on that year, my grandfather died from old age in his sleep.

     It had been years since I visited my grandparent's lake house. The last time I visited was when my grandfather had given his most valuable possession-his telescope- for my ninth birthday. I remember shortly after my grandfather passed away, I left the telescope here in an old hall closet inside. I couldn't bare to look at it at home. It brought tears and me replaying the memories of us looking at dusty,astronomy books he had collected over the years.

     Now here I was again almost seven years later. As we drove up in our yellow, 1965 Volkswagen, the memories of bar-b-ques and running around with sparklers as fireworks shimmered above our heads flooded my mind. I could feel tears building up in my eyes, but I held them back. This was suppose to be a weekend getaway to celebrate the Fourth of July, not a time to grieve for old times.

     "We are here!" My mom announced to me and my twin brother Scott. "Everyone grab a bag and start u packing once we get inside. We don't know when the rest family and guest are coming."

      As my father cut off the engine, all four doors swung open as we all headed towards the trunk to grab our overnight bags. It was slightly cloudy, yet hot July day. A slight breeze made the branches of the trees wave and wind chimes sing in the distance. I could hear laughs and the splashing of water in the distance as people were enjoying their Fourth of July holiday. The aroma of food being cooked on the grill made my mouth start to water. I was suddenly interrupted by my growling stomach.

    "Hungry?" Mom asked with a chuckle as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

    I nodded. "What's for lunch?"

     "Probably turkey sandwiches. We will have a real meal tonight though." She confirmed. She started to rub my shoulder as I started to look around at the familiar scenery. The glistening lake, the towering pecan trees hiding the old, log cabin, the old, blue sailboat bobbling in place at the dock, and so many more little things. "I know you miss him Sophie." Mom she spoke softly. "He was like a second father to me, but I know he is still watching over us."

    I looked over at my mother and saw a tear trickle down her face. She smiled softly before quickly wiping away the stubborn tear and grabbing both of our bags. "Let's get inside and go fix us something to eat."

    Two turkey sandwiches later and many laughs around the antique dinning table, we all started to clean up and prepare for the chaotic night ahead. As I helped my father wash the dishes, he continued on with a story of how he and his parents always went traveling from place to place.

     "I remember once after being on the road for hours, I started telling my folks how I was going to invent a teleportation machine to get from place to place much quicker. For years my parents teased me about it." My dad said.

     "I never knew that." Mom said as she added another dish to the pool of soap and suds.

     "My folks always said I had a crazy imagination." Dad chucked.

     "You know what grandpa always use to say. It's kind of fun to do the impossible." I said. It had been so long since I had spoken those words it almost took my breath away.

    I was expecting a response to the quote, yet instead I was greeted by silence and three pairs of furrowed eyebrows glaring at me.

    "Pumpkin," my dad said kissing me on the head as he went to put a dry plate up in the cabinet. "I had never heard my father say that quote ever in my life."

     I laughed. "What do you mean? He told me that quote all the time."

    Nobody laughed back. Instead Scott chimed in as he added another dish to the pile.

    "I never heard him say it either sis. Then again you were his favorite grandchild, so maybe he just said it to you."

    "That's nonsense." I snapped back. I usually didn't get bother by little things such as this, but I knew my grandfather . He told us that particular quote whenever the chance arrived. "Don't you remember? He said it basically every time we came to visit."

    "Sophie, no need to get petty over a stupid quote-."

    "What do you mean a stupid quote?! He practically lived by that quote and-."

     "ENOUGH!" Mom shouted causing silence to sweep over the kitchen. "Quit your arguing. Both of you. You two are turning sixteen tomorrow! It's time you two stop this bickering."

    "Yes ma'am" we both muttered in chorus.

     "Good. Now you two start dusting off the furniture and straightening up your rooms. We have company coming soon."

    I started to unpack my bag and place my clothes in the old drawers that creaked very time a drawer was opened. My hands felt numb from dusting and cleaning off all the furniture. I could hear the antique grandfather clock chime away as it announced that it was four o'clock now.  Since the house was practically spotless  and dad was already cooking on the grill, all that was really left to do was change into a more classy outfit.  I laid out my baby blue shapeless shift dress I had gotten last Christmas and my low white heels.

     Although I had other dresses and the style of the 60's seem to constantly be changing, this was easily my all time favorite outfit. After I quickly changed, I brushed out my sleek, brunette, shoulder length hair and observed myself in the full length mirror that had accompanied my room.

    Where had the time gone by? Last time I stood in front of this mirror, I barley was half of the mirror's length. Now seven year later I am as tall as the mirror and don't have the same childlike innocence and wander that I once had.

    When I was younger, I remember dreaming of working for NASA and being an astronomer, unlike my grandfather who use to tell me that was the biggest mistake of his life. He use to point out every constellation in the evening sky and read me books of all the unknown still out there in space before I went to bed. After he passed away though, I lost touch with my wander and love for astronomy. I became mesmerized by other hobbies like dancing and cheerleading. Other cheerleaders use to make fun of me for my knowledge of all things in astronomy, so I dropped the whole astronomical facts and trivia and never turned back. Yet every now and then when someone asked about a particular planet or a random star, I would chime in with the correct answer and be stared at in awe by the person whom asked. I guess I never did lose my love astronomy. I just seemed to wander off.

    A knock on the door interrupted the thoughts of how much I had changed in the past years.

     "Come in," I answered. As the door creaked open, my father walked in with a nervous smile on his face. "What's wrong?"

     "Am I really that easy to read?" He asked jokingly.

    "You are like an open book." I laughed back.

     He chuckled. "Anyways, I have something for you. It's up to you if you want it or not, but I thought since you were here, you might want to at least go visit an old friend."

    I stared at him in confusion as he handed me a full, golden key. At first, I had no clue what he was exactly referring to, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks. The telescope.

    I stared down at the key in awe for a few moments before looking up. "Thank you. Thank you." I said with a sad smile and the tears once again building up in my eyes. I gave my dad a bear hug in return as I let the tears roll down my cheeks.

     My heart was pounding. I could practically hear every thump of my heart. Thump thump thump thump.
My hands started to sweat profusely as I placed the key into the lock. Thump thump thump thump. I felt like I could throw up any second from the anticipation. The tiny click of the lock almost made me jump out of my own skin it frightened me so much. Quickly wiping my sweaty palms on my dress in attempt to dry them, I grasped the rusty closet door knob and swung the door open.

Darkness and specks of dust flying like confetti greeted me. Raising my hand to the foreign space, I eventually found a string and pulled on it gently. Alas, I bright light lit up the closet as I discovered how many old boxes and cobwebs resided in the closet. Then, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar brass structure.

Grandfather's telescope.

     Dusting off the cobwebs and dust, I felt the familiar slick, brass surface and gadgets that I once knew. I still remembered the time grandpa showed me the moon for the first time. I was so intrigued and filled with wander. I remember after that night, I made a promise to my grandfather that I would become the astronomer of all astronomers. I would be the one to discover what lies upon our small galaxy called the Milky Way. I would be the one to discover whether or not life resides on other planets. I would be the one the one who would make my grandpa smile and say, that's my granddaughter right there! The one who did the impossible. But it never did happen. I never did do the impossible.

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

I snorted at that quote. Maybe my parents and Scott were right. Maybe grandpa just told me that quote because I had such a wild imagination.

     "You know, this telescope is quite special." He whispered softly.

Grandfather, what do you mean? Are you suggesting this telescope is magical or something?"

     He shook his head. "No, but remember what Walt Disney once quoted-It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

    I stood there in bewilderment. My grandfather quickly caught on and pointed towards a little indention on the side of the telescope. I leaned in closer and squinted my eyes to see the script.

USA

    "I don't understand. Isn't that just to tell where the telescope was made?" I asked.

     "Nope. Not even close. You will understand one day. Just remember, it's kind of fun to do the impossible." He replied.

You will understand one day. One day.

I took my fingers and placed them on the tiny indention on the side of the telescope that said USA.

    "I don't understand. Isn't that just to tell where the telescope was made?" I asked.

     "Nope. Not even close. You will understand one day. Just remember, it's kind of fun to do the impossible." He replied.

Just remember it's kind of fun to do the impossible. One day you will understand . One day. One day...

The thoughts swirled in my head like a twister. Suddenly, I became quite confused by why my grandfather would have said that. He never did end up telling me what the USA meant. I remember after my grandfather told me that, I was for sure thought he was lying, yet I never got to ask him. For some reason this bothered me as I went in search for dad. Maybe he would know what it meant.

"It's engraved with the term USA on the side of telescope and I just wanted to know what you think it meant. Grandpa never got to tell me." I said as dad and I walked into the tiny closet space.

He leaned in and observed the telescope closely. Suddenly, he shot me an annoying glare with arched eyebrows.

"Sophie, it probably means it was manufactured in the USA." He said.

"Oh," I said suddenly feeling quite embarrassed for even bothering to bring my dad to observe the telescope. Of course he would say that, yet I wasn't about to say that his own father told me that was exactly what it didn't mean. "Thanks dad."

He nodded his head and ruffled my hair before leaving to go back to cooking on the grill. Quickly, I did my best to tame the flyaways before I was interrupted by Scott whom just so happened to be eavesdropping just outside the door.

"Why the hell did you need dad to clarify that for you Soph?" He asked with a smirk. "You are a smart girl, but man you are off your game today. First that stupid quote and now-."

"Shut up idiot," I said shoving him out of the way. "You don't understand. Grandpa told me when I was little that the telescope wasn't manufactured in the USA. Why would he lie to me?"

"Because you are gullible?" He said now ruffling my hair and storming out of the closet before I have a chance to shove him again.

The thought continued to bother me for the hours to come. When my cousins, aunts, and uncles arrived, usually I would be greeting them all with hugs and asking how they have been. Instead I seemed to drift off into space as the thought kept pounding in my head. I could still here his voice say the last few sentences...

     "Nope. Not even close. You will understand one day. Just remember, it's kind of fun to do the impossible."

When it was dinner time and the aroma of steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, hotdogs, burgers, and corn filled the air, my mind seemed to drift off to images of Grandfather's telescope.

During the middle of dinner, I was surprised by the arrival of my boyfriend Flynn. Usually I would be over the moon ecstatic and would shower him with kisses, yet all that kept swirling in my mind was the glorious images of the moon and her glistening gray and white cratered surface.

It was a blur. A fuzzy blur. I only heard bits and pieces of conversations and jokes. I would shake and nod my head to answer. Occasionally, I would smile, but other then those small factors, you would think I wasn't even present on Earth.

"Babe, are you okay?" Flynn asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed the top of my head. "You seem kind of distant and quiet tonight. Not your usual self."

"Yeah," I responded as I gazed into his eyes. "Just feeling kind of tired."

He smiled in return. "Okay, making sure my girl is okay. Do you want to do by the dock and look at the moon and watch the fireworks that are about to start?"

I peeked up instantly. "Moon? Where?"

He pointed toward the dock and low and behold, a full, golden moon was out tonight.

"I'll be right back." I said without waiting for answer back as I kissed his cheek and ran off into the cabin. I ran as fast as I could toward the hallway closet to retrieve the brass telescope. To my surprise, it was still quite heavy just as it was years ago when I was a little girl. Making sure no one was in sight, I fled out the door and towards the spot Grandpa took me to first look at the moon through the telescope.

It was a more secluded place as you were almost completely surrounded my trees except for one sliver. A sliver big enough to see the moon and the many constellation the night sky held.

As I started to set up my telescope, I could hear Flynn talking to my parents in what sounded like a worried tone. I heard my dad mumble something to Flynn before he started to call out my name.

"Sophie! Sophie! The fireworks are about to start! Come and join the family!"

My hands started to tremble as I tried to set the telescope up this stand properly. When it finally decided to cooperate, I started adjusting the lenses to find the moon. Unfortunately for me, I started to hear more shouting of my name being called. They were looking for me.

I didn't know why I need to so urgently see the moon. Something inside me just told me I needed to.

"Sophie!" Mom now called out. "This isn't funny anymore!"

I continued to ignore the shouts of voices. Instead I kept readjusting the telescope and leaning in to look to see if I had found the moon. No such luck.

The sound of fireworks crackling into the night sky now filled the air with the shouts of fear from my family and boyfriend. My hands started to shake even more as my father called out in what sounded like absolute fear.

"SOPHIE ANNA JONES! PLEASE COME BACK! I KNOW YOU ARE OUT HERE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE CRYING OVER GRANDPA! PLEASE COME BACK!"

I couldn't breath. Here I was being selfish and scaring the family and boyfriend half to death while I try to find the moon. I started to grasp for breath as my palms became pools of sweat as I tried to find the stupid moon.

"Come on Sophie," I muttered under my breath. "Just find the moon. Find it!"

Screams and shouts of my name screeched in my ear as the sound of fireworks exploding left my ears ringing. It was like listening to a symphony nightmare. Tears started to trickle down my face as I hurriedly kept looking for the moon.

     "Nope. Not even close. You will understand one day. Just remember, it's kind of fun to do the impossible."

I wanted to scream to the top of my lungs. Since when have I been so concerned about a stupid antique telescope that I hadn't seen in years. Since when did I become so obsessed with finding a compressed blob that happened to glow when the sun reflected across its horrific surface. Since when?!?

The shouts and fireworks were like taking fingernails and scraping them to a chalk board, but times ten. It was horrific.

A sight. A glistening gray and white surface has been discovered in the lenses of the telescope. I had found the moon. A wave of relief flooded over me as I looked up from the telescope.

My vision was blurred already from looking in such an enclosed space, but I could hear a single phrase repeated multiple times so clearly in the mist of the chaos.

Watch out!

It took me a millisecond to finally understand why I heard that phrase multiple times as a giant, red pointed nose came screeching my direction.

I didn't think to run. Instead I grabbed the telescope like it was a small child. I didn't dare let it go as the firework came charging at me.

I didn't hear the explosion. As a matter of fact, all I could hear was the ringing still residing in both of my ears. I could feel the effect of the explosion though. It all felt like I was moving in slow motion though. One moment I was holding on tight to the telescope and then the next it came crashing down on top of me as I was swept off my feet.

I could hear the sickening sound of what sounded like a bone cracking, yet I had no idea where. My eyes were closed shut from absolute terror. My ears felt like they were bleeding from the atrocious ringing.

Suddenly, everything stopped. No more ringing in the ears. No more fireworks crackling in the night sky. No more shouts and cries of my name. Nothing.

I was afraid to open up my eyes. I could feel that I was lying on what seemed like a flat surface, yet I was terrified I would find myself in a hospital room or in an ambulance.

Oh how wrong I was.

When I finally peeked open, I didn't see trees surrounding me, blinding, white hospital lights, or dusty skies. Instead I saw what seemed like an entrance to a galaxy.

    Not for the first time that night, tears filled my eyes from the immense beauty of the breathtaking formation of stars and particles above. A swirl of periwinkle and magenta particles danced in the formation of a hurricane through the night sky. Stars sporadically spread out across the night sky shone brightly as if someone had taken sparkling diamonds and placed them into the night sky. Dust particles the color of silver bells shimmered in a dull fashion across the night sky like confetti that never seemed to find an end. Along with the mix of magenta and periwinkle particles, white shimmering particles of what seemed like crushed diamond dust accompanied their dancing partners. The dust surrounded its most valuable treasure- the golden star. The star looked like a lamppost in the dark night; shining brightly in a world of darkness. It was like a hurricane above in the night sky. The dust particles dancing with their partners at the chaotic pace of life. In the middle though, the peaceful eye representing the serenity found within life. It was a beautiful mess that seemed to last forever across the night sky.

Something else caught my eye from the immense beauty in front of me. An object that seemed to glean in the twinkling lights above. I sat up slowly expecting pain to rush through my body like a dam, yet the feeling never came. I looked down at my dress expecting to find ashy marks on my blue dress or to at least smell somewhat smokey. Nothing. Not even a scratch.

I stood up and brushed off the grass that managed to cling on my dress and started to walk towards the gleaming object. It was then I realized the colossal size of what seemed like an island. Wildflowers of yellow, white, and pink were scattered across the small hills that resides on the island. I couldn't quite tell where the land ended, but I heard a soft hum of waves crashes that I didn't catch before. With that, my theory of being on an island stuck.

When I finally came closer to the object, I realized it was the telescope. The same brass telescope my grandfather had given me; pointing towards the heavens.

With extreme caution, I got even closer to the telescope. I noticed a tiny dent nearby the lenses, but what I saw next made me froze like an ice sculpture.

The indention on the side of the telescope no longer said USA. It said something completely different.

The Song of Sqia'lon Seven

    I looked back up at the night sky once again.

The Song of Sqia'lon Seven

   This must be what this beautiful piece of the galaxy must be called. I felt like I was nine again; mesmerized by the beauty of the moon. A sense of wander filled me and I never wanted to look away from the night sky. Something else caught my eye though.

     A scrap of paper that was slightly wrinkled was taped on the top of the telescope with writing scribbled across as if the writer was in a rush to write the note. I observed the note closely. What I read nearly took my breath away.

Just remember, it's kind of fun to do the impossible Sophie.

     I looked up at the night sky in awe once again. Searching. Searching for anything. I was suddenly so filled with confusion and desperation.

"Grandpa?" I asked the night sky as I touched the telescope. "Grandpa are-?"

      A flash of light so quick and sudden it knocked me to the ground. One moment I was searching up at the stars and dust in the sky and the next moment, everything went black.

    I didn't even feel my body crash against the ground. I just felt the thrust of being knocked off my feet. A familiar rocky ground greeted my backside. I started to open my eyes only to be greeted with blurriness of the colors green and navy as if an artist had just thrown paint at a canvas. The sound of crackling hummed in my ears and the echoes of voices calling my name. Everything was coming back quickly.

    I finally started to regain my vision as the sight of trees and the dull night sky came into vision. Sitting up slowly, I was rushed with a piercing pain in my left foot. It felt as if a thousand needles were piercing my skin and going through my foot. I couldn't move at all.

    As waited for someone to find me, I noticed the telescope lying helplessly on the ground like a sack of potatoes next to me. Cautiously, I brushed my fingers across its gleaming surface; flinching in fear from the anticipation of what could happen. Nothing happened. Just a normal telescope.

    I grabbed the top of the telescope and practically scrambled to see if the note was still there. No such luck. Only the tiny piece of tape which held the note to the telescope. Quickly, I moved down the telescope and discovered that the tiny dent from before was still there. To most people, it would be nothing more then a tiny dent on a telescope. To me though, it was proof. Proof that something insane had just occurred.

    I still had one more piece of evidence to find though. Slowly, I searched for the infamous indention that had just said something completely different moments before.

    I could hear a stampede of feet charging towards my direction along with voices that cried out She here! She is okay! Sophie! Sophie where have you been! Sophie! The noise just seem to drain away like water though. I was too focused on what the telescope would read. My heart was pounding practically out of my chest. If my hypothesis was correct, then the indention would confirm that something totally out of the ordinary had just occurred. It would confirm that my grandfather was right all along. It would confirm that this telescope was no ordinary telescope.

Silhouettes and a blur of clothing practically surrounded me. I could see Flynn observing my injured left foot with a look of relief that I was okay. I could hear the crying of joy from my mom as she exclaimed that she was glad I was okay. I could hear Scott and my fellow cousins bombard me with the same question over and over again. Where did you run off too? Why did you scare us like that? Their panicked tones seem to die away though as the realization hit me. None of them knew. None of them knew what had just occurred to me.

No one.

I looked down at the indention as my heart rate quickened and my palms became slippery.

USA