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Language:
English
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Published:
2026-04-06
Updated:
2026-04-17
Words:
4,648
Chapters:
7/?
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"...is a hero to me."

Summary:

When the Beetles return to Earth, and the footage is set to be released to the public, Ryland Grace's former students plan a reunion to watch and celebrate together, and remember the teacher who inspired and guided them.

A story told in emails, transcripts, text messages, and other documents.

Chapter 1: Email #1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me."

- Fred Rogers

 

FROM: [email protected]

TO: [email protected]

SUBJECT: Interview request (former student of Ryland Grace)

Sent at 10:09 AM on 03-02-54.

Dear Mayor Reed,

Hello! I hope this email finds you well. I'll keep it brief, since I know you're busy. My name is Joya Zhang, and we used to go to school together. I doubt you'd remember me, we were never close, but we were in the same grade and attended Eastwood Middle School — I attached a scan of both our photos from the 25-26 yearbook. I can't remember for sure how many classes we had together, but one I know for certain we overlapped in was Mr. Ryland Grace's eighth grade science class, the one he left halfway through the year to go on the Hail Mary. (I also attached scanned yearbook pics taken in Mr. Grace's classroom, in case you wanted to see them again. 🙂)

I've been reaching out to everyone who was in that class with us, and a few other people I know were in Mr. Grace's class, because with the footage from the Hail Mary set to go public later this year, I thought it would be nice to have a little class reunion so we could all watch it together. In addition, I am currently working on a documentary about Mr. Grace. I'm sure it'll be one of several, and I admit I'm new to the field of filmmaking, but I think there ought to be a story told from the POV of those of us who knew and loved Mr. Grace before he went up. It seems like the best possible way to honor his memory; I know history will remember him as one of the astronauts who saved humanity, as it should, but I also know that Mr. Grace loved us and loved teaching and would want to be remembered for that, too.

If you're interested in appearing in the documentary, please let me know. If you're not, you're still welcome to any class reunion I can put together—I'll likely be taking footage for the movie there, but I won't include any with you in it if you don't want me to.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Joya

PS: I don't know if it helps, but I voted for you. 🙂

Notes:

So it begins! Not 100% sure of where this is going, I'm operating off vibes at this point, but I have some ideas. I hope you all enjoy the ride with me!

First bit of "director's commentary", as it were: I chose the name Eastwood Middle School after Alice Eastwood, a botanist who worked for California Academy of Sciences. She's a big deal in botany and worked until she was in her 90s.