My father was busy fixing Belinda’s spaceship all afternoon. In the evening, I went to the landing place. “Dear Father,” I said politely. “Have you found Belinda’s parents yet?”

“Not yet, my dear.” He shook his head.

I felt relaxed. I didn’t want to meet Belinda’s parents—they might be ten times as loud and bossy as she was.

But Belinda had followed me.

“Not yet?” she shouted. “Why not? I’ll send them a message! They’ll listen to me!”

Belinda ran to the radio. She shouted into it so loudly that I had to cover all my four ears. “Mummy! Daddy! I’m on an awful spaceship full of purple people! Come and find me now!”

“Poor Belinda!” my sister came and said. “Her parents must be missing her.”

“Huh!” I snorted (发出哼声). “Missing her? You’re joking! Who would want such a bossy kid back? They probably lost her on purpose.”

Belinda’s face clouded. I thought she was going to shout again, but she didn’t. Instead, something very strange happened — her eyes began to water!

“Oh, help!” said Roa. “Is she dying?”

I felt terrible. “Don’t die, Belinda! I didn’t mean it.”

Then Belinda opened her mouth wide and shouted, “What if it’s true? What if they’ve gone away and left me here forever?”

We were all so busy comforting Belinda that we didn’t notice the soft knock of a ship landing outside. We didn’t see two tall people come out of it until Belinda ran out in excitement.

“Mummy! Daddy!”

Belinda’s parents were even uglier than she was, but they looked polite. “Hello, dear,” the female said. “We’re sorry we kept you waiting.”

We smiled as the three of them boarded their spaceship. “Goodbye!” shouted Belinda. “Goodbye! Thanks for taking care of our baby girl!” said her father.

None of us answered. We waved (挥手) cheerfully as the ship took off and went far away into the stars.