Sophie pressed her nose against the window of her treehouse observatory, gazing at the twinkling stars through her grandfather’s old brass telescope. Her 8-year-old brother Max bounced excitedly 🎵 beside her, his space-themed pajamas glowing slightly in the dark.

“Watch it, Max!” Sophie laughed as he nearly knocked over their snack tray. “These are scientific observations we’re making!”

“Sorry!” Max grinned, grabbing a chocolate chip cookie. Crumbs tumbled down his shirt as he asked, “Do you think we’ll ever see anything really cool up there? Like aliens or spaceships?”

Sophie adjusted the telescope 🎵 carefully. “We see cool things every night. Look at those stars—each one might have planets around it!” But then Sophie felt a strange tingle in her fingertips. “Tonight does feel different somehow…”

Suddenly, a brilliant purple light poured through 🎵 the telescope and filled the treehouse. The old telescope began to hum and vibrate, glowing brighter and brighter 🎵.

“Sophie!” Max squeaked, grabbing his sister’s arm. “What’s happening?”

Before Sophie could answer, the light wrapped around them like a blanket. When it faded, they weren’t in their treehouse anymore. They were sitting in what looked like a small spaceship 🎵, pieced together from recycled soda cans, old bicycle parts, and what Sophie was pretty sure used to be her mom’s blender.

“We’re in SPACE!” Max shouted, his face squished against a round window. “ACTUAL SPACE!”

Sophie’s stomach did a little flip as she looked out and saw stars zooming past them like streaks of white paint. Their little ship hummed and whizzed through the darkness, past planets 🎵 of all colors and sizes.

“How is this even possible?” Sophie whispered, but she couldn’t help smiling. This was way better than just watching the stars!

After what felt like both forever and no time at all, they approached a strange-looking planet. It swirled with muddy colors – mostly grays and browns – but here and there, brilliant rainbow crystals poked through the murky surface.

“Emergency landing required,” announced a friendly robotic voice that reminded Sophie of their school librarian. “Please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times!”

“Emergency?” Max’s eyes went wide. “Like in the movies when everything explodes?”

“I’m sure we’re fine,” Sophie said, though her heart was racing 🎵 as their ship descended toward the mysterious planet.

With a gentle bump, they landed on the surface 🎵. the door of their ship creaked 🎵 open, and Sophie and Max peeked out cautiously.

“Pee-yew!” Max pinched his nose dramatically. “It smells like Dad’s gym bag mixed with rotten eggs!”

Sophie had to agree. The air was thick and hazy, and everywhere they looked, there were mountains of trash 🎵. Not just regular trash like on Earth—alien trash! Broken gadgets that blinked with colorful lights, empty containers that changed colors, and wrappers that floated up and down as if they couldn’t decide whether to obey gravity.

Most amazing of all were the crystal trees. They poked up through the garbage piles, sparkling faintly beneath layers of litter. Their trunks were transparent like glass, and their branches held leaves that looked like stained-glass windows.

As the children stared in wonder, strange blue creatures walked past them, carelessly tossing more garbage 🎵 onto the piles. They had three eyes, no noses (which Sophie thought must be a blessing, considering the smell), and four arms each.

“This is terrible,” Sophie whispered, watching a wrapper float past her face before landing on a crystal flower. “It’s like they don’t even care about their planet!”

A small blue alien about their height approached, dragging its four feet through the trash. Unlike the others who seemed busy and unbothered, this one looked sad.