Millie led the way onto the interplanetary traveling machine, followed by Salazar, Blinky, Burt, and Jasmine, with Honey taking up the rear. Inside, it looked a lot bigger than it did on the outside. There were four comfortable looking couches lined up one in front of the other. In the front of the first couch there was a small screen and a slot just big enough to receive a penny, and finally, a red button about the size of the top of a soda can.

Rose followed everyone in and motioned them to have a seat.

“But we are not allowed to sit on the furniture,” Whined Blinky.

“If it is all right with your mother and Millie,” Rose said, “we appreciate it if you would all have a seat. The leather is a special material that has seen more traffic than the front door of an ant hill. There is no need to worry that you will damage the couch and it will make for a more comfortable experience.”

Looking to Millie and Honey, which both nodded their approval, the pups jumped up on a couch and settled down for the ride.

“WOW! This is AWESOME!” Sal remarked as he and Blinky sat down on the second couch. Jasmine and Burt took the third couch while Millie and Honey took the first couch. They all murmured about the comfort of the couches and then were silent to see what happened next.

Rose came to the front, next to the little screen and smiled as it illuminated with several options of planets and a short description of the biosphere,  after which was a list of the activities at each location:

Sky Dome Planet: A large gaseous planet with almost no gravity:

o   Para Sailing

o   High Altitude Dry Air Swimming

o   Cloud Hopping

o   Leap Frog Car Riding

Pink Ocean Planet: A breathable water planet:

o   Underwater Adventure

o   Water Zoo

o   Ocean Gardens

o   Red Fish, White Fish, Blue Fish Rodeo

Genesis Planet: Time is irrelevant here:

o   Create a life form and watch it over 100 generations

o   Back up time to the beginning of the universe

o   Wild Time Vortex

o   Inverse Time

Catatonia Planet: Feline creatures of all descriptions:

o   Ride the falling cat

o   Whip the tail

o   Climb the walls

o   The Leg Rub

“Wait!” Millie exclaimed, “What do all these rides cost? I forgot, but I did not bring any money. ll I have are the two pennies in my shoes. Oh dear me, I am so sorry, I am afraid that we cannot go.” She was sad as she really wanted to go on this adventure and she knew that Honey and her pups would be sad too. The puppies were moaning their disappointment behind her.

“Well, it looks like you have exactly enough for the vacation. One penny for the transportation to and back and one penny donation for the days adventure, as the planets work on donations only, so that everyone may enjoy their planet.” Rose said with a smile.

“YEAH!” A relieved cry came up from the two couches behind Millie and Honey. Salazar and Blinky both put their little paws on the back of the couch and reached up and licked Millie all over her face, as they all laughed. Burt and Jasmine both did a little dance on their couch and then settled down and took a sitting position so they could look at the screen and decide where they wanted to go for their day adventure.

Millie read off all the different planets and the activities and they all discussed which planet they wanted to go visit. After a few minutes, the pups decided they wanted to go to Catatonia, the planet of felines. Honey reluctantly agreed that they would go there, but she had her reservations, “Nothing good can come of this,” she remarked, “You just can’t trust a cat. There is just something about them.”

“Aw, but Momma, they are not “Earth” cats. Maybe their whole culture is different from ours. Besides they are from a vacation planet and they will be cool.” Burt barked.

“Yeah!” Wide eyed Jasmine exclaimed, “Maybe they will all be little kitten sized cats.”

“Or HUGE monster cats, that are bigger than Millie,” Salazar said. They all laughed.

“I am sure that whatever they look like, it will be a great adventure, Millie said. “Then we are decided? We are doing to Catatonia?”

“Cat! Cat! Cat-a-ton-ia, here we come,” Blinky sang. Burt, Salazar and Jasmine all chimed in, “Cat-a-ton-ia, here we come.”

“Well, I guess we need to pay our penny before we choose our destination.” Millie said as she pulled her left foot into her lap and began trying to get the penny out of the front window of her penny loafer. She had a difficult time, until Honey reached over and took one claw and inserted it into the window and popped the penny out into Millie’s hand. “Why thank you Honey!” Millie exclaimed, amazed that she did it so effortlessly.

“You are quite welcome.” Honey replied.

Millie took the penny and put it into the slot, “Is everyone ready to visit Catatonia?” She dropped the penny as everyone yelled, “YES!”

The sound of the penny dropping could be heard through the machine and the screen blinked once with large red letters that said, Please choose a destination” and then the original menu appeared again. Millie pressed the arrow beside Catatonia and then reached forward and hit the big red button.