"Timber - Space Cowboy"

We're the only spacecraft in this quadrant to have Timber on board. Nobody uses lumber any more...

Of all the things on Earth, you would think that wood would have outlasted most things, like plastic, or glass. Wood makes fire. But no.

Nothing makes sense here. The people of Earth used up all the wood. All of the trees died, and the air along with it.

That's why we're here, hundreds of thousands of miles away, in a wood-less spacecraft, with Timber on board.

Apparently Timber's special. Apparently Timber's going to save the human race. I don't know why... to me, he's just an irritating little brother.

He cries all the time. I know he's only like, three months old, but still. He's always crying. And it's not like I can get away. He's always been a space baby – well, almost always. He was the last person ever to be born on Earth. As the people ascended, town by town, country by country, the poor and the huddled masses were left to find space wherever they could. My parents thought we were doomed, until a crazy old lady saw Timber being born. 

For some reason, Amber (the crazy old lady), thought that he was a sign. A sign that life could go on, no matter what. She had a battered old spacecraft, that had once been used for minor explorations, like to Mars, and she offered our family a place. There's barely enough room to swing a cat in here, but it'll do. That's what my parents say when Amber's not listening. When she is listening, they praise this craft like there's no tomorrow, for if it weren't for this, there wouldn't have been a tomorrow for us.

Again, I think it's strange that wood hasn't lasted, when you consider the things that have. Somehow, we still have other plants. We have vegetables, and no matter how much I try to convince my mother that we need to conserve them, she still makes me eat at least one portion a day. How did they survive? And why?!

Another thing that has outlasted it's uses, is the profession of my parents – cowboys. I'm technically a cowboy too, but apparently I'm not old enough yet. Even when I argue that am a cowBOY and they would be cowADULTS. But whatever. They make no sense to me.

If there aren't any trees up here, there certainly aren't any cows. And even if there were, they wouldn't need herding, because there's nowhere for them to go!

Timber's still crying.

My parents are putting their herding skills to good use, though. To pay our way on this ship, they've started a business with Amber. Now we herd vessels that need a little more guidance than others. When we left Earth, I thought we were in the worst little tinpot ship in the universe, but seeing some of the lost people wandering the darkness out there, I suppose I'm thankful for this place.

I'm going to have to get up, if my mother doesn't do something about my brother soon.

I've been learning the “tricks of the trade” as my dad says. I've been watching on the big screen, as the adults have communicated with the new people we're looking after. I've even been on one or two of the other ships! I've watched first aid, when people were injured, and I think I might want to be a doctor one day.

Seriously, someone needs to get me some ear plugs.

I hope that one day, I'll be able to get this family a ship where we can each have our own rooms, and I can have some peace. Doctor's still earn a lot, even though money doesn't mean as much any more.

That's it, I'm getting up.

As I look down at my little brother, he stares up at me. His eyes are such a deep blue, that they reflect the night sky I miss so much. Maybe there is something special about Timber. Maybe he's just young enough, and happy enough, to save us. We'll have to land somewhere, someday, and I hope Timber will be the one with the biggest smile. He's always smiling. Even when he's crying. Maybe he knows something we don't... We'll just have to wait until he grows up a little to find out...