As Mr. Broadmoor droned on about the first colonists and their hardships here on Ceres, fidgeting fingers and little thuds from feet knocking against chairs created a symphony. Arthur Spindle sprang up declaring, “It’s nearly time!” Raucous squeals emitted from the children.

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“Confound you, Arthur! Class adjourned.”

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Esther sat at her desk and imagined what the Southern Sol would be like. She knew from Mr. Broadmoor’s lessons that the Sol on Earth felt warm and was big and yellow, but sometimes orange and red when it was tired. Ceres' Sol was much hotter and very dangerous.

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“Hello, Esther,” Matilda chirped, holding a clementine.

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“W-Where did you get that?”

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“Daddy’s laboratory. You want it?”

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“Yes!”

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Deftly, Matilda unlocked a heat-proof window, threw the clementine outside and snapped the window shut. Esther pressed her forlorn face up against the window, listening to Matilda’s fading giggles. 

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“Behind the barricades,” Mr. Broadmoor announced as he waded through the mania to ensure the outside door was locked.

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During the bedlam, Esther had slipped past the barricades and scurried outside towards the clementine. Esther’s skin prickled with delight as the heat of the Southern Sol enveloped her. As her bones absorbed the warmth, she let out a shriek of joy – and pain. Clutching the clementine, she ran for the door. She pulled at the handle as her skin blistered and cracked, melting beneath her fingers. Writhing, she fell to the floor as class looked out in astonishment at the resplendent inferno of the Southern Sol.