The Eclipse

“I have a surprise!” Mrs. Rogers announces. “We’ll have a class party next month. We’ll celebrate the solar eclipse!” 

Everyone cheers.

“What’s a solar eclipse?” Henry asks. I smile at Henry. He is my best friend, and we both want to be astronauts.

“A solar eclipse is when the moon passes between Earth and the sun. The moon blocks the light from the sun. Outside, it will look like it’s getting dark,” Mrs. Rogers replies.

I raise my hand. 

“Yes, Chip?” she asks.

“What will we do at the party?” I ask.

“The next few weeks, we’ll be learning about the eclipse and decorating the class. We’ll also have a potluck with treats.” 

“I’ll bring moon cupcakes,” Henry volunteers.

“I’ll bring sun cupcakes,” I add. 

This is going to be the best eclipse party ever!

Every day is filled with solar eclipse activities. Henry and I cut out a circle and decorate it to look like the moon. Some kids are making a circle that will be the sun. Mrs. Rogers is hanging sparkly, iridescent streamers across the ceiling. 

One day, she calls us to the rug for a science lesson. “During the eclipse, we can’t look directly at the sun,” she says. “The rays could hurt our eyes.”

“Then how will we see it?” I ask.

“Everyone will get a pair of these!” she says, as she hands out glasses with dark lenses. We all try them on. The glasses make the room look like it’s nighttime. 

“During the party, we’ll step outside to watch the eclipse. You must keep your glasses on at all times,” she says. “For now, the glasses go in your cubby.”

The bell rings—school is over. I put my glasses in my cubby. It’s so hard not to take them home! I can’t wait for the eclipse. It’s going to be extraordinary!

Henry and I have a playdate after school. We play together every day. We trade Pokémon cards, play Nintendo Switch, and read about astronauts. 

Henry’s mom lets me in, and I run up to his room. Henry is sitting on the floor. His hands are on his head.

“Are you OK?” I ask.

Henry shakes his head. “My mom just told me we’re moving.”

“Moving where?” I ask, confused.

“Moving out of town,” Henry sighs. “My dad got a new job. We’re leaving in two weeks!” 

I feel my heart start to thump. Henry can’t move—he’s my best friend! Suddenly, I realize the worst news of all—

“You’re going to miss the eclipse party!” I cry. 

Henry nods.

I put my arm around his shoulder. I have an aching feeling in my stomach. I don’t want to talk about the eclipse anymore. This is going to be the worst eclipse party ever.

“Is everyone ready to party?” Mrs. Rogers asks. 

Three weeks have passed, and it is the day of the solar eclipse party. The whole class cheers . . . except for me. I do not want to party. Henry moved away last week. 

The classroom is filled with decorations. The streamers shimmer across the ceiling. 

The moon, sun, and Earth shapes we cut out are dangling on the wall. On our desks, we have solar system confetti, moon erasers, and our solar eclipse glasses.

“Chip,” Mrs. Rogers calls out, “please pass out the sun cupcakes that you made.” 

I reluctantly get up from my desk. I don’t really want to help out. I pick up the tray of lemon-flavored sun cupcakes my mom and I made. If Henry were here, we would have had sun and moon cupcakes. 

“Yum! This is delicious!” 

“Thanks, Chip!”

Everyone loves the cupcakes. But I’m not hungry at all. I leave mine on my desk. 

“It’s time for the eclipse!” 

Mrs. Rogers says. Everyone goes outside. I slowly trudge behind them. 

“Is something wrong, Chip?” Mrs. Rogers asks. 

“I wish Henry were here,” 

I sigh.

“You know,” she says softly, “Henry will be watching the same eclipse. No matter where you are, you’re still looking at the same moon and sun, in the same sky.”

I hadn’t thought of that. 

Now everything is starting to get dark. Everyone puts on their glasses. The moon moves to cover the sun.

It feels like nighttime even though it is still day. This is extraordinary. I wouldn’t want Henry to miss this. I don’t want to miss it either. 

I still miss Henry, but the eclipse is captivating! I can’t stop watching it. These eclipse glasses really work!

Back in the classroom, everyone packs up their bags. 

I look at the uneaten sun cupcake on my desk. I have a brilliant idea.

After school, I run straight to my room. I call Henry to video chat. It rings and rings and—

“Hi!” Henry waves on the screen. 

“Did you see the eclipse?” I ask. 

Henry nods. “My new teacher gave us eclipse glasses too.”

“What was your favorite part?” I ask.

“Totality! When the moon completely covered the sun,” Henry replies.

“I saw that too!” I add.

“I have a surprise,” Henry says.

“What is it?” I ask. 

Henry holds up a vanilla moon cupcake. “I didn’t eat it at school. I saved it to eat with you!”

“Me too!” I hold up my lemon sun cupcake. 

We take a bite at the same time. 

“Best eclipse party ever!” we both say with our mouths full of delicious cupcake.