“ Look!” The lilac pane made livid grapes of all the passers-by.

“ Look!” And through the green glass the world was emerald, moss, and summer mint. He remembered his father holding him up as a child. Two dozen panes squared round the one big pane, colored of fruit wines and gelatins and cool water ices. Driscoll walked away across the endless green lawns near the six white stones, beyond the forest, to the edge of the large bright river… THE STRAWBERRY WINDOW In his dream he was shutting the front door with its strawberry windows and lemon windows and windows like white clouds and windows like clear water in a country stream. Green forest, whistling quietly, all of the fresh planet around him, a wine creek flowing for him, baked fish lolling in the hot springs, fruit ripening in the midnight trees, and distant forests and lakes waiting for him to happen by. I’ll be very proud.” It was funny, but Ralph didn’t even ask any more about why I was going, or where, or how long I would be away. And when we finished, Ralph came and shook my hand and kissed my mother on the cheek and he said: “ I’ll be proud. We said it quick and fast, as if it burned our tongues. How I was going away maybe to school in Europe for a year and how Mother wanted him to come live as her son, now, until such time as I came back. Almost as good as you.” “ He’ll be fine!” We told Ralph Priory. “ That’s exactly what I wanted you to say.” “ He’ll be a good son, Chris. That’s what you wanted me to say, isn’t it, Chris?” I nodded, all paralyzed and strange inside.

But I’ll have my work and I’ll have Ralph.” “You mean… “ “ I’m taking him from the ortho-station. He’ll understand.” “But, Jhene, you -” She smiled softly. “Jhene - how - how will we tell Ralph? What about him?” “ You’re going away, that’s all, Chris. “I will, I promise I will… “ I caught my voice. More, I would belong to all the worlds, I would be all the things my father wanted to be and never lived or had a chance to be… “ Darn rights, darn rights,” I murmured.

R is for Rocket by Ray Bradbury