... somewhere in a forgotten country, two little children were in mourning for their young mother's death. She had passed away two weeks before, but still her little daughter, Aluna, could not sleep at night not only because of the nightmares that haunted her since that day, but also because of the continuous screams of people all around them. There had been a natural catastrophe and the little help that had arrived was now reduced to a single person – a missionary that insisted in staying there in spite of all political pressures. Michael, her big brother, was now responsible for Aluna, trying his best to keep her alive and living. Every day he would find a way to feed her, and every single night he would tell her a story so she could fall asleep peacefully. Their mum had died from hunger, as many of the ones who were there would be dying soon.
Then, one day, out of nowhere, everybody started to celebrate. Someone had told them that mankind was just about to conquer the moon. Little Aluna couldn't understand what was there to be so happy about, so her brother tried to make it easier for her:
- Do you remember what mum used to tell us about the moon?
- That it is a big creamy cheese waiting for Mr. Mouse to come and eat it?
- Exactly!
- But why are they so happy? Are they going to kill Mr. Mouse?!
- No Aluna, they think they're going to bring the moon here so we can all eat it.
- Oh… Do you think that if I ask them to bring me something else they will?
- Like what?
- I want them to bring mum back!
Michael was astonished for a while, but then he found the right words:
- My little angel, they can't do that… And you want to know why? - as Aluna nodded, Michael held his little sister in his arms - Because mum's a star and no one can touch a star.
- Why?
- Because a star is something too powerful and too pure for a man to touch it.
Just like love… The kind of love that brings mum back to us every time we think of her…
Tears started to fall from Michael's eyes as he spoke. Aluna seemed to be too concentrated on the sky upon both of them to even notice it. Then, after a moment of silence, she suddenly added:
- Well, I don't like cheese…
- What?
- I don't think I like cheese, Mum said it stinks!
Michael smiled at his sister's innocence.
- So, what would you order, miss?
- I want Mars!
Not helping himself from laughing, Michael answered:
- Yeah, I think they can manage it for us.
Aluna died 3 days after, in the precise moment someone was out there saying:
'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind'…
