[For my daughter, Emmy.]

Emmy sat down on the cool grass in her backyard, looking up at the evening sky. The moon and stars were beginning to peek from their cloaked hiding places.

“I see you,” Emmy said with a smile as the cosmic light bulbs twinkled in her eyes.

It wasn’t long before she saw a shooting star. Then another. And another. It was like they were in a hurry to get somewhere, or to get away from something. Yes, that’s it. They were darting away from the moon, running as fast as they could.

“Huh!,” gasped Emmy. “They’re playing tag, and the Moon’s it.” She smiled big and bright, like a crescent moon.

In a flash, Emmy vanished from her seat on the cool grass in her backyard. She looked around. Space! She could scarcely take in the light show before her—stars dashing here and there, leaving behind a trail of pixie-like dust, and planets orbiting as fast as they could out of the Moon’s quicksilver reach.

The Moon stopped to catch his breath and noticed Emmy out of the corner of his eye. He spun toward her. “Well, hello there, Earthling. I hope you come in peace.” The Moon chuckled, flickering brighter with each laugh. Emmy smiled in return.

“You can’t catch me,” taunted Emmy. And off she went, running here and there—for, you know, she had special space boots on. The Moon chased and chased, and Emmy ran and ran. She even caught a ride on a shooting star, and hid behind one of Jupiter’s moons. But ‌the Moon was old and wise and had some tricks up his sleeve. So, he speedily devised a plan to tag this quick-booted Earthling.

The Moon pretended to be chasing a shooting star in a direction opposite from Emmy. Then, when Emmy least expected it, he slingshot himself around Mars, gaining speed in Emmy’s direction.

“Got you,” said the Moon.

Emmy fell back upon the cool grass in her backyard, giggling. “That tickles,” she said. She yawned as she continued looking up at the night sky and the game of tag still at play in the cosmic field. Using your imagination is a tiring sport.

“Goodnight, Moon. I’ll get you tomorrow.”