Mia and Marten had finished their dinner and ran back into the living room to play. After a while, their mother stood at the foot of the door, seemingly cross.

“What is this? We had a deal! After dinner, you must wash your dishes!”

Mia and Marten stopped playing for a moment.

“Do we have to? We have a dishwasher you know!” asked Mia.

“I told you, the dishwasher is in repair and we have to wash the dishes ourselves until it is fixed. Don’t you listen to me at all!” grunted mom.

“But why don’t we just wait until the machine gets fixed and then it’ll wash all the dishes for us?” proposed Martin as a brilliant solution.

“That is not the point,” says mother. “It is about you learning to do things for yourself. Marten will wash the dishes and Mia will dry them!”

Mom looked at the kids expectantly.

The kids stood silently for a moment. They had just gotten into a really great game of tag. Mia frowned to the point that she looked like she was about to cry. She knew that it might soften mom’s heart. “Crying usually helps me get my way,” thought Mia.

Mom sighed. “You might as well ask for the moon!” she said with irritation and stomped off to the kitchen. Mia and Marten looked at each other and did not know what to do. They tried to continue the game, but it was just not the same anymore. They heard mom washing the dishes in their stead in the kitchen. Neither of them dared to take a peek.

Marten went to his desk, took out his books and started to study.

“What are you doing? Are we done playing?” asked Mia.

“I want to do my homework now. That usually helps mom feel better. I can show her that I did all my homework myself on time,” answered Marten.

“You agree, that she looked quite upset?” asked Mia.

“She did,” agreed Marten.

While Marten started studying, Mia went to the window and looked at the sky. There, she saw a big round full moon. Mia looked at the moon and fell into deep thought.

“Why did mom tell us to ask for the moon?” asked Mia eventually.

“What?” asked Marten confusedly.

“How do you even get to the moon?” Mia kept asking.

“Well, I think it was more of a joke. It’s just an expression, you know – ‘ask for the moon’.”

The moon did not give poor Mia’s thoughts any rest. She noticed their robot friend Robit behind
the window washing the glass panes. Mia opened the door and pulled Robit inside.

“Robit, how do I get to the moon?”

“Well, you need a rocket, and you need to bring your own air from the Earth,” answered Robit who was restlessly trying to sneak back outside to finish his tasks.

“Rocket? Well where do I get one? And how do I bring my own air?” Mia was confused.
Robit had already slipped back outside and was washing the windows again. The moon shone even more invitingly through the freshly cleaned windows.

“Well let’s start from the easier task, then work our way toward the rocket,” thought Mia.

She searched her drawers and pulled out the biggest plastic bag she could find and snuck outside without mom noticing.

Mom finished washing the dishes and went to the living room to watch TV.

Suddenly, the front door flew open and Mia ran inside, plastic bag in hand. She ran straight to the living room.

“Mom, look! I am almost ready to go to the moon! I have my own air and all I need now is a rocket!” stated Mia excitedly, expecting praise for her good work.

Mom stared at Mia who had a big plastic bag in her hand that had a neat knot on the top with a puzzled look.

“What do you mean you’re almost ready to go to the moon?” asked mom. “Well you did say that we should ask for the moon, so I thought I’d go ask for it!” answered Mia.

Mom burst out laughing, having understood the whole situation.

She hugged Mia tightly and laughed even more. Upon hearing laughter, Marten stuck his head out of his room and quickly shuffled towards her, seeing that mom’s mood had lightened. Mom hugged both kids.

“Well, since we have a bag full of air ready, I think the broken dishwasher in the kitchen will also work as a rocket – otherwise it’s worthless. Let’s get going then!”

The kids were shocked at first, but then understood the joke and started laughing. They promised mom that tomorrow (or the day after) they will definitely wash their dishes. Well, if they aren’t still having fun on the moon.