I’ve been playing with my space station toy for what feels like hours. The asteroid model is so shiny, it almost looks real under the bright light of my lamp. I’ve named it “Zephyr” and imagined all sorts of adventures it could have in space.

The asteroid bounces perfectly on a piece of cardboard. It’s heavier than it looks, just right for pretending to be an astronaut picking up a rock on Mars. I can’t help but smile as the asteroid lands back in my hand.

Moments like this are rare because Dad has been busy with his work at the computer all day. He says something important about asteroids too—something about NASA and discovering new ones, but I didn’t quite catch everything.

I decide to make Zephyr orbit around a small sun made of Play-Doh. It’s not perfect, but it makes me happy. Maybe someday I’ll really go to space and find my own asteroid like the one in the science fiction movie we watched yesterday.

For now, I’m content with this little station and my imagination. Zephyr will keep spinning around its sun until bedtime calls.