Everyone laughed when the State of Texas declared they were starting a state funded space program. Everyone scoffed when the State of Texas declared they were going to colonize a satellite of Jupiter. Everyone mocked the State of Texas for declaring that they would be renaming Jupiter and it’s satellite upon arrival. But we are laughing now from Planet Texas and Texas minor. Of course most of us lived on Texas minor but our private capital is on planet Texas. Astronomers were mad about the renaming and claimed that if we ever removed our presence on the planet the name would revert back. But we had no intention of leaving. The United States attempted to claim the planet as theirs but we fought back stating that they hadn’t funded the operation. Texas one that battle allowing the U.S. to claim any other satellites around Planet Texas. Other states tried to follow suit after the huge success of Texas but NASA took over for them. The only other country that claimed an entire planet was the United Kingdom. With planet Scotland and Planet England.
The surface of Texas minor was uninhabitable and cold. So our cities are in the oceans of what use to be Europa. The water gives an insulation that allows our city to be whatever temperature we want as long as we pump heat in to the city. The temperature best for the plants we brought with us into the underwater dome was 80 degrees so of course we set the thermostat for 90. We had saloons much like our Texas ancestors.
That’s where I come in to play. I was a bootlegger running shine to planets like the United States of Space and the United Kingdom. It wasn’t a dangerous trade unless I went to planet England or landed on dry docks on any US planets. I sat down at the bar. “One sas, bill.” I said. My girlfriend of 6 months left me last night. I was on a run and when I came home there was a not on my pillow.
“Why the long face Doug?” Bill said as he grabbed a mug.
“My girl left me last night.” I said. I still had the note in my hand. I hadn’t read it yet. I wasn’t prepared for that level of disappointment.
“What is that… Three this week? And what, this was finally the one?” Bill replied.
“The last girl was six months ago and she was just a good lay, you dick.” I said annoyed.
“Hey you were the one who asked for sass.” Bill said setting a mug of sarsaparilla in front of me.
“Just the drink you fucking clown.” I said taking the drink. I took the drink, it was a refreshing take on the old soft drink made with wine. Of course moonshine replaced the wine in modern drink. It did hit a little harder but we Texans can’t have a drink with booze with exception of our children. That would be crazy. I drank it down with a huge gulp. The burn of the whiskey hit almost immediately. I gave off a quick cough and the set down the mug. I wasn’t ready for the note.
When she would leave my place to go to work she would make the bed and put my clothes in the hamper. Then she would lean in and give me a kiss. I was usually asleep when she would leave in the morning. This time she left my clothes on the floor. She still made the bed. “Can I get another drink?” I asked Bill. He poured me another whiskey. I tapped the note on the bar.
“Whatcha got there?” Bill asked.
“It’s the note she left before she ran off.” I said. I drank the whiskey finishing it as fast as the first.
“Ya’ ain’t read it yet? What if she were kidnapped?” Bill asked.
“That’s worse. I ain’t got shit of value.” I said.
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