22 October @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2197: peace on mars

Image by Stefan Popovici from Pixabay

“Well, of course there's peace on Mars – why they named it for a god of war I'll never understand, because there's nobody there to be fighting.”

Eleven-year-old Velma Trent was talking with her friends eleven-year-old Eleanor and ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow from next door.

“I think because with the naked eye it sometimes looks blood red,” Andrew said as he pointed to the color of the planet in the book they were looking at.

“But it just as easily could have been named Rust, too,” Eleanor said.

Andrew and Velma considered this, and then Andrew shook his head.

“You get one chance to name a planet, and you name it Rust?” he said.

“Well, I guess not – good point, Andy,” Eleanor said.

“Back then people seemed to think the planets were actually doing stuff to people on earth, so I get why people named them for whoever they worshiped,” Velma said.

“Not just back then,” Eleanor said. “My last foster mom couldn't do anything without getting her horoscope, every single day. People still believe in the constellations and the stars like that, but I just can't do it!”

“Me neither!” Andrew and Velma said.

“Got enough trouble down here – and besides, if all that worked, how come the horoscope didn't tell your foster mom to treat you right, Ellie?” Andrew said.

“See, that's what I'd like to know, since Venus is supposed to be about love and is closer to Earth – if all that worked, why is the world the way it is?” Velma said.

“I've got an even better one,” Eleanor said. “If all that worked, how come the stars and planets didn't tell my foster parents that basically, Papa was coming to end them?”

“Now that's a big miss,” Velma said, “because if Mars had power, it would have warned your foster parents that Capt. Robert Edward 'Hell to Pay' Ludlow Sr. was coming for his granddaughter and was going to wipe out every single person in his path that wasn't treating her and his other grandchildren right. Mars's own warrior representative was going to come through these people's lives, and you mean all those stars and planets up there had nothing to say?”

“But that's because they are just rocks and gas,” Andrew said, “and it's real sad when you think rocks and gas millions and millions of miles away have more control over your life than what you actually choose to do every day with the people around you.”

“I'm glad Papa and Grandma taught us when we were real young to believe in the One Who made the heavens and the earth,” Eleanor said, “because otherwise, I would be so confused right now!”

“Basically,” Velma said.

“Like your sister Gracie and your Grandma Gladys would say here, Velma, 'ain't it the truth,' ” Andrew said.

“It's real good to know the One Who actually sent the angels to say, 'peace on Earth,' where we really need it, along with 'goodwill toward men,' ” Eleanor said.

“Right on,” Velma said. “It's even extra peaceful around here.”

“Yeah, but, don't get to used to that,” Andrew said, “because Mars's other Ludlow representative Edwina is only going to be grounded for today and tomorrow, and George and Milton are not always going to be under Col. Lee and Sgt. Trent's combined watchful eyes, and Lil' Robert and Amanda are not always going to be inside keeping their grounded siblings from being lonely. We're still on Earth, and we still gotta pray!”