Radio in the Clouds

George floated along in the sky. Anna Jane lifted her head. They passed the clouds. The little girl smiled to herself. So peaceful.

“Could my radio work up here?” Anna Jane asked. She looked at the different passengers. The humans were asleep. The bears could be talking to each other. Her radio was in George’s belly. Anna Jane wondered if reaching in would be a good idea. She poked the creature in the stomach. George wiggled a bit. Anna Jane looked up at him. The creature twitched his face.

“Oh,” Anna Jane said. She poked him again. He mumbled something in response. Anna Jane drew back her hand.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “Could I get my radio?”

“Meep,” George said softly.

“Thanks,” Anna Jane said. She bowed her head. Anna Jane paused.

“You sure it’s okay?” she asked.

“Meep,” George murmured.

“Okay…” the little girl said. Anna Jane reached forward and pulled out her radio. The creature’s body trembled for a bit. Vivian murmured and turned over in her sleep. Anna Jane turned back to her radio. Soft crackles filled the air. Anna Jane smiled to herself. She reached over to turn the knob. Static. Static. Static.

Summer-like music flowed through the speaker.

“Ah,” Anna Jane said. She drew her eyes closed and went to sleep.

--------

“Hello? Is anyone there? Hello? Hello?”

Anna Jane lifted her head. She looked at the radio. This time, the voice came through clearly.

“Is anybody there? Hello? Hello?”

“I’m here. Who is this?” Anna Jane said.

“Anna Jane?”

“Yes! Yes! I am here,” the little girl said.

“Can you hear me?”

“Yes,” Anna Jane said. “Who are you?” A bit more static came through as George floated past a big cloud.

“Captain. Captain Virginia.”

The little girl raised her eyebrow. “You’re girl?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you?”

“Where are you?”

Anna Jane looked around in the skies. “We’re in the clouds. Where are you?”

“I’m on the ground. It’s kind of hard to describe where I am exactly.”

“What do you mean?” Anna Jane asked.

“Virginia, what are you doing?” Wait, that was an old man’s voice.

“Are you alone?” Anna Jane asked.

“No. It’s me with my grandpa.”

“Virginia, are you playing with the radio again?”

“I got someone on the air. Come here. Say hi, Anna Jane.”

The little girl waved at the radio. “Hi…”

“Well, I’ll be. My name is Norman. Where are you, Anna Jane? Are you alone?”

“I’m in the sky. And I’m not alone. There are…” She looked around, counting.

“Six of us,” the little girl said. Vivian wrinkled her nose and turned in her sleep.

“I see. Where are you heading?”

The little girl shrugged. “We don’t know. Where are you?” Static. Static.

“Fort Davis. We’re near the ocean.”

“The ocean?” Anna Jane asked.

“That’s right. Come down and see us.”

The little girl sat up. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.” That was Virginia speaking. “We aren’t hard to miss. Come down for a visit.”

Anna Jane perked up. “Will do.” Static. Static.

“Hello? Are you still there? Hello? Hello?” she asked. The signal suddenly dropped. Anna Jane frowned at her radio.

“Oh,” she said. “They’re gone.” The wind and clouds filled the silence.