Clues to the Universe

Ro feels completely alone despite the world being full of people. She hears rumors about the fight between Drew and Benji but hasn’t talked to Benji about it. Ro reflects on how her plans haven’t worked out: Her rocket project failed, and her attempts to help Benji were resisted. Ro heads to the general store to find Benji after school and apologize, but he isn’t there. She talks to Mr. Voltz for a minute, and he assures her that Benji doesn’t hate her. Suddenly, Benji’s mom rushes into the store and announces that Benji is missing. Ro realizes it’s the date of the movie premiere and knows exactly where Benji is. She panics, feeling like it’s her fault he left.

Benji is on the bus to Los Angeles, thinking about a career day where one of the students’ dads was a geologist. He talked about all the different ways people have navigated throughout history, including using the stars, nature, or a compass. Benji considers how Gemma Harris managed to cross the universe with a faulty navigator and marvels at the fact that his path has finally led him toward his dad.