OLIVER: So, I guess we should do one of these for you, too, don't you think?

MIA: Ok.

OLIVER: Name and age?

MIA: Mia, 3 years old, 7 in Earth years.

OLIVER: What did your parents do?

MIA: My dad worked in Building 15, steel production.  My mom worked in food production in Building 4.

OLIVER: Did you ever see them at work?

MIA: Not my dad, but I did see my mom sometimes.

OLIVER: Do you remember anything about it?

MIA: Some of it.  She didn't let me do all the steps, though; some of them she said I was too little.

OLIVER: Wait, your mom let you help her at work?

MIA: Sometimes, mostly if Isabella's dad was not there.  Some of it I was too short to be able to see.  But I got to measure out stuff, and punch in the recipes and hit the start button.  But the mixing and carrying stuff was mostly too heavy or you had to be taller than I was.

OLIVER: Oh.  I don't think many of the kids got to do much at their parents' workplace.

MIA: Then sometimes we would do it again on a smaller scale back home in our kitchen.  The smell of bread was so yummy, all our neighbors would show up and want some.

OLIVER: You baked bread in your home?  How did you get the flour and yeast?

MIA: We took it from Building 4, where mom worked.

OLIVER: Wow, I didn't know that happened.  That stuff smells amazing.

MIA: Yeah.

OLIVER:  Was that actually, you know, allowed?

MIA: I don't know.  It happened, so I guess so.  None of the neighbors complained, but then they got to have some.

OLIVER: Did your dad ever talk about his job?

MIA: Not really.  He did say that he thought they were going to do some great things when the new alloys started, but I guess that's something that never quite happened.

OLIVER: New alloys?

MIA: There were some rare elements that they hadn't found on Mars before, that you can use to make better steel, but they had just found a source for them, so they were planning to start making more different alloys.  I guess they had done some experiments, and it had worked well, so they were making plans to scale it up to make more.  He was kind of excited about it, but then it kept getting postponed, and then he left in the Evacuation because he found out they were going to shut down Building 15.  Plus, he and mom weren't getting along.

OLIVER: Is there anything you would like us to ask Earth?

MIA: Wouldn't I have just asked you when we go to the communication workstation every day?

OLIVER: Well right, but I normally ask everybody if they have any questions for Earth.  Plus, who knows, maybe you had a question in mind but just never asked.

MIA: I ask you questions every time, I think.

OLIVER: Yeah, but I don't think they are able to talk to the ship right now.  Or at least, the person we're talking to on Earth isn't, I don't think.  Earth is a big place, you know, and we're only sending messages to whoever's at the station set up to receive them.  Anyway, besides asking about your dad, is there anything you would like to ask Earth?  You can just say 'no', if you want.

MIA: Let me think.  Yes, I want to know about the alloys.

OLIVER: The ones your dad was talking about?

MIA: Yeah.  Or if they don't know about it, maybe they could find someone who can talk to the ship, so they could ask my dad.

OLIVER: Ok, I'll ask if they have any information on that.  Anything else?

MIA: Probably, but not right now.  I'll ask you when I think of it.

OLIVER: I bet you will.

MIA: Do you like when I ask you questions?

OLIVER: Sure!  Sure, I do.

MIA: Because sometimes you look like you don't like it.

OLIVER: I do, Mia, I just...I guess, sometimes I look that way because I don't know the answers, and I get feeling frazzled because there's so much to do.  But you should keep asking them.

MIA: Are you sure?

OLIVER: Yes.  You ask good questions, Mia.  It makes me think better, I think, having you asking me those things.  So keep asking.