“American astronauts always play poker just before they board the spacecraft. It’s good luck, which no one believes in, but maybe they do a little because everyone plays the game. They can’t stop until the commander plays the worst hand.”

“Why does he have to play the worst hand?” she asks.

“So he or she uses up all their bad luck for the day.”

“I don’t know how to play poker.”

“Neither do I. But it can’t be that hard.” I frown. “They probably don’t have cards here, though.”

“Well, shit,” Nah says.

I hold up the stuffed Buzz Lightyear I got Pearl. “But I think we’re okay, because they also always bring a stuffed toy on board.”

“Are you admitting to me that the smartest people in the world—and I’m including you in this, sister—are superstitious?”

I shake Buzz. “He serves a purpose. When you’re launching, everything is strapped down. But not the toy. You know you’ve reached zero gravity when it starts floating around. Cool, huh?”

“Then I guess we’ll have to get you one of these, too.” She reaches down and pulls a bag from her purse. “Speaking of toys…”

“Something else for Pearl?”

Nah smiles. “For you.”

I open the bag. Inside is a LEGO kit called Women of NASA. I stare at the two mini lady astronauts beside a shuttle.

“It’s Mae!” she says.

It has always been a delight to me that I share a name with Mae Jemison, who became the first black woman to go in space when she launched on the Endeavor in 1992. Dad swears he didn’t think about that when they named me, but I don’t know. I think he was planting a seed.

“I love it,” I say. “It will be awesome in my dorm room.”

“Right? It’s like the universe always knew you belonged up there,” Nah says. “Someday there’s gonna be a LEGO of you, I know it.” She reaches across the table. “Mae. I’m so sorry, so, so sorry, for breaking the ISS you made with Dad. And for all the horrible things I said and did these past few months. Thank you for never giving up on me.”

“I’ll always love you to the moon and back.” I grin. “Maybe even as far as Mars and back, if you’re lucky.”

I have forgiven Nah for that mean thing she said when she was on drugs. About wanting me to do the Mars mission. I think I forgave her the moment she said it. We both know she never meant it. That’s a really long time to be without your sister.

She groans. “Please don’t do the Mars mission. I don’t think I could handle eight years without you.”