I'm selected for the Moon

I’m Selected for the Moon

Chapter 1

I walked down Winston Avenue toward my house, thinking about what the teacher had just told us students in class.

“Every year, NASA sends one person to the moon.”

 So far each person in my grade was being selected each year to go to the moon. There was a drawing at the end of the final semester for the grade to determine which student would be sent. How lucky, I thought, each time someone went up there, and came back; they were the instantly popular. But only for a time, as everyone would settle down and return to normalcy.

I walked into my house with my brothers watching television. As I looked at what was playing I could already see Don Costello, with Abbot; trying to back up a car.

My brothers kept laughing hard each time Abbot gave him a direction and Costello would over react. The thoughts about the flight to the moon kept coming back. I wondered if I’ll be next. I thought as I went up to my room to work on my homework from science.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it, as I sat there at my desk with staring at the little NASA space craft that was on a stand. Tomorrow Mister Tyler would draw the raffling ticket at one thirty before the final class.

Finally I worked on my homework; finishing just as our parents arrived home from work. I heard my brothers welcome them home. Quickly I ran down to greet them.

“Hi Joe!” Dad exclaimed. “You finish your homework?”

“Yep”

“Well good. Now help your mother with supper”

Shoot. I was hoping to go and play outside with my friends.

“Okay”

“Claire. What are we having for tonight?”

“Spaghetti and green beans, Wade”

Dad stuttered when he tried talking with Steven, my younger brother.

“Would you mind turning down the tube? I can hardly hear my self think.”

“Sorry Dad”

“Spaghetti and green beans?”

“Yes”

“Joe, go get the meat browning”

“Sure pops”

Dad looked at me funny.

“Uh, okay Dad”

Shaking my head I got the meat on the pan, and fired up the stove top.

My mind quickly began thinking about space, and the moon. Gosh. Wouldn’t that be cool. I imagined floating in space, and traveling to different planets. But then, I was interrupted.

“Joe the meat’s done!”

“Huh?”

My mom looked at me with concern.

“Oh, okay”

Quickly I turned off the burner and drained the grease into a jar.

“Anything going on at school?”

Uh oh, I thought. Here it comes.

“The raffle ticket for the school is happening tomorrow”

She looked puzzled “What raffle ticket?”

“The one for being sent to the moon”

I could instantly hear my dad laughing in the other room.

“To the moon huh? That’ll be the day”

“I-have a good of chance as any kid there dad”

“You do huh?”

“Yes-sir”

“Mhm” Dad looked back at his newspaper.

“I’m sure you’ll have a chance Joe” My mom said.

“And if you keep that up about the moon; you’ll be in the dog house for sure!”

“Pasta will be ready shortly Joe”

“Where’s the drainer mom?”

“To your right”

“Here mom”

“Thanks sweetie. You can get the table set. Boys, go help your brother!”

Tim and Blake both complained.

“I said do it!”

After supper, I was back in my room peering through the telescope. I could clearly see the moon, with all of it’s outlines.

“You know Joe. If you quit looking at the moon, maybe you wouldn’t be thinking about going to the moon as much?”

I knew who it was without taking my eyes off the moon.

“Seriously”

“So; and what’s your hobby?”

He scowled but I said nothing. Hearing him walk out, I began to think how cool it would be if I got the ticket the next day. I’d be so popular. But then I got to thinking. What would mom and dad think? I don’t even think they can afford to take me to the NASA space station. I shrugged and kept on looking.

Chapter 2

The next day at one o’clock, everyone was talking about getting the chance to get to go to the moon. Mister Tyler. He was older than my dad with hardly any hair on his head except on the sides. That reminded me of my grandpa.

“Okay class, can I please have your attention!”

Everyone stopped talking.

“Now before we begin the ticket drawing in a half hour I will be handing out a pop quiz, that is regarding the moon. This is not a requirement but extra credits for those who get the answers correct.”

“I bet Joe will get it.” Steve, the class jokester mocked.

“Shut up Steven!”

“Whaa!” He made a face while the other students laughed and giggled.

When I received the paper and read the first question I instantly knew it.

Who was the first man in space?

Quietly I said “Yuri-

But I was interrupted from my thoughts when Steven yelled again.

“Ha, Who was the first man in space. Joey Nerd!”

Everyone laughed as I focused more on my assignment.

Quickly it seemed that I marked off each and every question. I walked up to Mister Tyler and gave him the completed assignment.

As I was walking back I noticed Steven was watching me the whole time.

“Already?”

I simply nodded and sat back down.

“Nerd”

My mind quickly drifted back to winning the raffle ticket. I don’t know how long it was until-

A paper wad hit my face.

“Got yeah!”

Quickly I threw back at Steven who turned his back.

“That’s enough!”

“But he started it!”

“I don’t care who started it. You both won’t be a part of the drawing, when your sent to ALR!”

I saw Steven turn around about to say something but Mister Tyler raised his voice.

“And if you don’t stop Steven, I’ll quickly send you to Principle Snyder!”

“Yes sir”

“Now in a few minutes we will be drawing the raffle tickets. I want everyone to pass up they’re quizzes to me so I can grade it later.”

Everyone quickly got up and turned them in, and sat back down.

Mister Tyler pulled out an empty plastic ice cream container partly filled paper slips.

“Miss Becky. Could you please do the honors of drawing the slip”

“Yes Mister Tyler”

She walked up and was about to take one out of the container but was stopped.

“With eyes closed”

She closed her eyes and pulled out a couple but held onto one as the rest fell out and read the name.

“Joe”

Everyone gasped.

I was stunned and speechless.

“Congratulations Joe. You have been selected to go to the moon. The school will pay for your flight travels.”

I was still tongue tied. But then I was afraid. It was my turn. I wanted to hide in terror. But now it was my turn to go in the rocket.

I knew from last night my dad wasn’t happy with the drawing. He thought it was nonsense.

What would my parents think?