Under the Christmas Sky

Kat.

I know. I know.

Pacing won't make the doctor go any faster,

but you know it makes me feel better.

Does it?

Tinsel makes me feel better.

Because tinsel means that it's almost Christmas.

And nothing the doctor says is going to ruin Christmas.

That's right.

And whatever happens in there,

we are space cadets forever, right?

- Forever. - Forever.

Thanks for being here Jenna.

Please. Where else would I be?

Have you noticed a change in the size of this scotoma?

Uh no. The big gray spot is still there.

It hasn't shrunk or moved at all.

But the accident didn't happen that long ago

so there's still hope that it could go away, right?

Kat...

Blind spots that occur because of accidents like yours

clear up in a matter of days.

So... so are you saying that it's permanent?

I'm afraid at this point we have to conclude that it is.

It's just that in that case...

I can't sign off on you going to the space station.

I wish I had better news for you, Kat,

but you know the deal with the vision requirements?

Without 20/20 vision,

there's just no way it's safe for you to go into space.

I'm so sorry.

- Whoa! - Hey! Watch it!

- Hey. - Hey,

Did you see that guy who almost ran me over?

Nope.

How are you?

- I'm good. - Good.

Thanks for coming to pick me up.

No problem.

So, did you rob Santa on your way over here or...?

I did all my Christmas shopping in one glorious fell swoop.

Ah.

So...

Oh, yeah. No change.

So uh...

It's a no go on the space station then.

Look, I'm sorry, sis.

Your job is still safe though, right?

Um, yeah.

I mean, I have another five weeks of medical leave.

Um, and then I can choose to go back, you know, if I want to.

But just... you know, not into space.

Well, at least you'll be able to spend another devastatingly

enjoyable month in my company and at Christmas time, no less.

Yep, I get to keep being under one roof

with you and mom and dad.

It'll be just like high school when you hogged the bathroom

to fix your perfect hair and hit on all of my friends.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Yeah, I remember that.

Don't mess it up.

Um... so what was the reason you left this last job?

I started melding to my office chair.

Eighty percent of the meetings

could have been handled with an email.

They made me wear a tie. So...

Okay, okay...

I thought being in event planning would be a lot more fun

than it turned out to be.

Andy, you know most jobs aren't exciting.

I mean, they're work.

Yeah, okay, says a woman who is an actual astronaut.

Well, look, I'm more of a research scientist these days.

Especially now.

I mean, you may not be going to the space station,

but you would not believe how impressed people are

when I tell them that my big sister

worked on the probe that got this close to the sun.

What was it, 5 million miles?

3.8.

Whoa.

Wow.

You tell people about me?

Of course.

Mostly women I'm trying to impress.

Ugh.

I mean, listen, it kills two birds with one stone.

I look cooler by association and sensitive

because I am so... so proud of my big sister.

Okay, stop. You are a menace.

I really am proud of you. Grounded or not.

Thanks.

Okay, don't get too sentimental on me little brother, alright?

Are you going to start the car and take us home,

or do we have to do more Christmas shopping?

Yeah, I'll start the car,

but we're going to hit a couple of spots on the way. Okay?

You're kidding, right?

No. No, no, no, no.

So you're going to have to make room.

Weren't you supposed to help Dad with the Christmas lights?

Yeah. This is bad.

That man should not be on the ladder.

His sense of balance is worse than yours

even without the... you know...

- Thanks. - Yep.

Okay.

Dad.

- Hey. - Hi.

Dad, why don't you come down from there?

I can handle the lights.

You're a little late. I'm up here already.

Your mom's inside baking her Christmas cookies.

You should go help her.

Dad, you should really let Andy and I handle this.

Okay, fine.

Kat, you stay here, let me know if these are hanging straight.

Andy, go help your mother, please.

Okay.

Thank you.

Call me if he falls.

Yeah. Alright.

Oh! Dad! Be careful!

Easy. It's fine.

Look, I really think that Andy would be better at this

with his 20/20 vision.

Come on, it'll be good practice for you.

Which you know you need.

Now, is this string straight or not?

I think it's a little crooked on the left.

Really?

Mmhmm.

I think you're right. That was a test.

Congratulations. You passed.

Oh Dad, the house looks awesome.

Oh, thank you.

I even got an extra tree this year.

I can't believe you did all of this since I left this morning.

Well, it's time you knew. I am a superhero.

You are.

Mom?

We're in here, honey.

Hey, is my tablet in here?

Yeah, it's right there.

Smelling cookies!

No, not until they're frosted.

Oh, that won't be for days.

Good things will come to those who wait, dear.

Uh-uh no. That is a lie that patient people tell

overeager people to make us feel bad.

You two relax.

We'll be frosting soon enough,

and it'll be a good hand-eye coordination exercise.

Okay, am I supposed to be impressed

that all of our Christmas traditions

have now turned into eye exercises?

That's not what I...

Come on, Dad.

We have some more lights to put up.

More lights. Gotta go.

I know. I know. I'm worried about her, too.

You know, going into space is all your sister

has ever wanted to do.

I mean, do you remember all those hours she spent

in the library just reading all of those astronomy books?

Yeah, well, it probably helped

that both her parents were librarians.

We were at that planetarium every other weekend.

When's the last time

we were actually at the Apollo planetarium?

Oh. Not since you kids were teenagers.

Mom, can you spare me for an hour?

I got to go.

I mean...

I got to go. I love you. I love you so much.

Okay.

Uh hey. That's for looking.

Not taking.

Uh... yeah no, no I know.

Under normal circumstances, I would never commit

petty larceny, but my sister is an astrophysicist

and her area of expertise happens to be the sun.

Cool.

Well, then she's smart enough to look up the info

about the exhibit on the museum website.

Oh.

Look, look, please.

She's going through a really rough time.

And when she was a kid, she used to collect these flyers

from the planetarium exhibits

and hang them up on her bedroom wall.

You know, it was kind of a challenge between the two of us

sneaking them out of here.

Oh, so what you're telling me

is you're actually a repeat offender?

Yeah, yeah, I am a career thief of museum flyers.

Go. I'll give you a five-minute head start

before I have to alert museum security.

You are a true hero.

The law is going to catch up with you one day.

But not today.