Contents
Major Tom
Overview
Via recalls Miranda’s longtime tenderness toward August and the “Major Tom” bond they shared. After summer camp, Miranda stops calling and returns transformed in style and attitude, with Ella also subtly changed. On the first day at Faulkner, their trio’s dynamic shifts, leaving Via sidelined and emotionally shaken.
Summary
Via opens by recalling how Miranda was always especially kind to August, including giving him an astronaut helmet and singing “Space Oddity,” calling him “Major Tom.” This memory underscores Miranda’s past closeness to the Pullman family.
Over the summer, Miranda breaks her pattern of calling after camp. Via’s texts and online chats get minimal response, and Miranda offers no explanation. They make tentative plans that fall through, so they don’t reconnect before school starts.
On the first day at Faulkner, Via is startled to see Miranda radically changed—pink bob, a tube top, and a new, distant demeanor. Ella also shows a subtler style shift. Their lunch together reveals that Miranda and Ella reconnected without Via over the summer, and the trio’s dynamic has shifted.
Trying to hide her feelings, Via fakes nonchalance but grows flushed and shaky. As the bell rings, she forces a goodbye, recognizing that her old friendship circle has moved on without her.
Who Appears
- Via (Olivia) PullmanNarrator; observes Miranda’s distance and Ella’s changes, feels excluded and deeply hurt.
- MirandaFormerly tender to August; gave the astronaut helmet; returns from camp transformed and aloof.
- EllaOld friend; shows a subtler image change and aligns with Miranda, sidelining Via.
- August (Auggie) PullmanAppears in memories; recipient of Miranda’s past kindness and the “Major Tom” helmet.