Cosmic

The next morning, the group isn’t allowed to eat because they’re going to be doing parabolas in a plane (flying up and then down to experience zero gravity). It’s known as the Vomit Comet because people often throw up during the exercise. Liam finds the idea thrilling, but everyone else seems terrified. Everyone’s strapped in, and the plane climbs fast. Next, everyone except Monsieur Martinet unstraps their seatbelts and floats through the plane as it careens toward Earth. They do this several times, and eventually Monsieur Martinet throws up. Florida catches the vomit in her sick bag and finds it quite amusing. Liam handles the experience well. Once again, someone votes for Liam that day, but it isn’t Florida.

Florida researches gravity and astronauts online, and then starts her own version of gossip that Liam deems “astrogossip.” She finds a thrill in learning about astronauts, their relationships, and their children.

Liam finally gets a chance to prove his worth when the group is tasked with riding the Vortex, a gravity machine that spins them up to a force of 15g. While all the other fathers struggle to convince their sons to participate, Liam convinces Florida by explaining how great it will be to be the first ones and watch everyone else be scared.