By Corbin Davis-Housefield
I place my foot on the ground. A ring of orange dust shoots up to around it, then settles. I look out across the landscape. It is truly wonderful. The rest of my team stands behind me, taking in the beauty. There’s only one Mars, and I’m standing on it. Actually, I’m the first person in history to stand on another planet. And to be standing on this one! I can’t really believe it all happened. But it did, and I got to be the lucky one.
…
Launching in five, I was ready, four, after all, I had waited almost my whole life for this! Three, two, one! We were off, leaving the world behind. I looked out at the Earth from up above. It was an amazing sight! Suddenly the ship turned, it swerved back at Earth and started picking up speed. I had flipped the autopilot button, why was this happening? What was happening?
“Sir, we’re going down” yelled Jack, my copilot
“I can tell! Did you do anything to the controls?” I asked
“No sir, nothing.”
I started sweating, the palms of my hands were clammy. I flipped switches back and forth frantically, nothing worked.
“All right everybody, prepare for a crash landing, the controls have gained a mind of their own!” I yelled across the ship’s loudspeakers. The Earth got closer and closer. We were going to land in the Atlantic. Three, two, one, impact!
“There’s always next time, man. You’re learning, don’t be too hard on yourself!”
I stepped out of the simulator’s small doorway and was hit with a wave of consoling words. I had done this simulation thirty-four times now and still hadn’t mastered it. I was beginning to think I would never understand that simulation. I had already done it 3 times today.
I drove home that night with a lump in my throat. I would do it, tomorrow was a new day, I would do it! My spirits lifted slightly, and then it started raining. I turned the windshield wipers on. The rain was getting harder, and it was getting increasingly hard to see. I turned off onto the road that led to my house, and then it happened. A motorcycle shot out of nowhere and ran straight in front of me. I slammed on the breaks, but it was too late. I jumped out of my car, while dialing nine, one, one, and ran to the front. He was only a teenager. Looked about sixteen. The ambulance got there shortly. They said he had broken his left leg and right wrist. Thankfully it was not as bad as it could’ve been.
I got back in my car and started driving, again. The lump in my throat had grown bigger. I pulled into my driveway and slowly got out of the car. My hand slipped over the key. I clicked a button on it. The car beeped twice, and the lights flashed. It was locked. I walked into my house and set down my keys. I turned on the television and thought to myself, the first ad for food I see, I’ll order.
McDonald’s it was. I finished and now the lump in my throat was in my stomach as well. Never again would I get fast food. I got into bed with all my clothes on. The stars twinkled in the night sky as if they were calling to me. The moon was just a sliver. My eyes slowly shut. I was asleep.
I place my foot on the ground. A ring of orange dust shoots up to around it, then settles. I look out across the landscape. It is truly wonderful. The rest of my team stands behind me, taking in the beauty. There’s only one Mars, and I’m standing on it. Actually, I’m the first person in history to stand on another planet. And to be standing on this one! I can’t really believe it all happened. But it did, and I got to be the lucky one.
I open my eyes, and suddenly I’m not standing on Mars. I’m in my bed, how predictable! I shut my eyes once again, and this time there’s no Mars.
