Two Astrophysicists at Bus Stop

On a snowy night in Ithaca, two coated figures stood on the platform watching the taillights of the next to last bus pull away. 

"You've got to listen to the voice inside you."  One pulled something out of his coat pocket as he turned to the other, a younger man, and continued. "If you think Cornell is it, we'd love to have you and we'd do a lot of good.  It's not an easy decision you have, but remember that some of the greatest things happen by accident."  He presented the object in his hand and looked at the sky as if to catch a glimpse of stars beyond the clouds.  "Got a light?" 

The young man looked at the object and back to his companion's face.  "Is this a test, sir?" 

"What? Oh, no.  Just a way to pass the time until your bus.  We grow it in the back garden."

The young man's expression changed quickly from surprise to amusement as he fished a matchbook from his back pocket.  "All right, well I just want you to know I would never do this in the lab or before class or anyth-"

"Neil, it's all right.  May I?"

He lit it, rolling the tip through the bright match flame before bringing it to his lips.  The ember glowed like the receding taillights as the men passed it wordlessly, watching snow flakes settle softly to the earth in long, straight paths.

"They kind of look like stars passing if you squint."  Neil made his eyes into slits as he drew in smoke.  He let out slow, misty breath.  "When I was a kid, on snowy days I would stand in the yard looking straight up, pretending I was flying through space. Wouldn't come in for hours, drove my mom crazy. 'Why don't you play?'  She'd say, 'build a snowman!'  But I was playing." 

Carl gave a soft laugh. "Playing at meeting your distant physical relatives, more distantly related than anything we can know here on earth.  Even most meteorites come from our own system." 

"That's right! People don't even realize their connection to animals, much less the sun or any other suns."  He felt suddenly embarrassed.  Who was he to affirm Sagan? 

"Similar ingredients, different pots."  Carl grinned, examining the blunt in his hand.  "We are the universe smoking itself."

Neil breathed a short laugh and Carl stepped off the platform towards his car, pausing to look up through snow. 

"Hey, you're right.  Call me if your bus doesn't come."