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The Janitor in Space | Amber Sparks | Summary | Neb English Support
The Janitor in Space
ABOUT THE STORY
The Janitor in Space by Amber Sparks
"The Janitor In Space" is about a woman who works as a cleaner in space. She is the main protagonist of the story. She keeps the space station clean after the astronauts. She is so skilled at her job. The janitor notices that the astronauts are good, but are not very clean. She doesn't interact much with them but sees the night watchman. She admits lying to her pastor, saying she was going to space to be closer to God, but the truth is that she just wanted to escape Earth. She was very tired of waiting to be recognized by others. She wanted to be alone away from humans. She doesn't prefer to talk much. She prefers being away from people, making space ideal for her. When the astronaut interviewed her for the job of janitor, he asked if she'd be lonely in space. She admits that she'll be lonely but mentions that she's always felt that way. The janitor replies that she feels comfortable beyond the skies and likes the quiet of the stars. In the end, she says that loneliness is the one thing that truly belongs to her.
The story explores various themes like cleanliness versus goodness, true love versus obsessive desire, equality in relationships, and moral dilemmas.
MAIN SUMMARY
The Janitor in Space by Amber Sparks
"The Janitor in Space" is about a hardworking cleaner who works on a space station. She's responsible for keeping things clean and organized in space station. The janitor enjoys her job. She carefully cleans the station, deals with space dust, and cleans up after messy astronauts. She thinks about her decision of leaving the Earth, seeking comfort from the chaos and anonymity she experienced there.
The janitor notices that astronauts in the station have messy habits, like leaving salt spills, used tampons, and dirty clothes everywhere. Even though she doesn't see them often, she imagines how they look and wonders if they change their skin like insects, getting a tough, black outer layer.
During her usual tasks, the janitor meets an older night watchman who can't speak and often watches explicit stuff in the security office. Even though she knows, she doesn't say anything, thinking about whether astronauts also engage in similar things. Her lonely past on Earth and the wish for recognition made her select this solitary space job.
Her choice to work in space is shown as a way to get away from Earth, not because she truly wanted to be closer to God like she stated at first. She remembers talking to her friend at the government-owned liquor store who asked her about her motivations. She likes working at night and avoiding crowded places because she doesn't like the chaos caused by people, which comes from her past sentimental experiences.
Throughout the story, the janitor deals with who she is and things from her past that hurt her. She admits feeling lonely since she was a kid. She realizes that she's "clean" but not automatically "good." Even though she says that she's connected to God, she wonders if those beliefs matter or not. She thinks whether it's right for women to trust in a higher power.
The story explores the janitor's memories of being locked up, where she learned to be helpful by using a mop and broom. She thinks about how getting noticed is often just about looks. Being in space makes her feel free from the problems she had in past. The space station's lights are always bright, and even though there's darkness in between, it gives her a cozy feeling like Christmas lights on Earth.
While the janitor washes and tidies up, she thinks about what her work symbolizes, wondering how much cleaning it takes to empty herself of the past. The story talks about theme of atonement through tough, truthful work and the big space inside people for sadness. The janitor wonders if there's a correct way to handle so much sadness and if atonement is even possible.
Even though the janitor's first said she came to space to be near God, she confesses that now she feels more farther from Him than before. Her current joy in the dark green shadows of the space station and the hum amid the stars is different from what she used to think about God, showing what people believe about heaven doesn't match the reality of her life in space.
The story ends with a touching scene where the janitor and the night watchman play Blackjack. A Russian astronaut with a beard passes by, talking quietly about not knowing where they are in space. The janitor thinks about death as the opposite of understanding and secrets, finding something beautiful in the loneliness she now has in the cold and bright beginnings of her life in space.
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