15.09.2023
The driver saw the boy, slowed down, looked at the sky, and pressed the button to hide the top. The convertible top of the Cadillac went back; the driver raised his hand and waved it at Josh.
"Josh, shouldn't you be heading to school?" asked Richard Wonderbild.
"Yes, sir, but … may I ask you something?" a man in the uniform of a space fleet captain with shoulder pads had such a respectable look that Joshua was upset; his enthusiasm began to melt like ice cream in the Sun.
"Of course, Joshua. What bothers you?" the captain encouraged the boy.
"Tell me, please, is it difficult to become a space pilot?" he began uncertainly.
"Difficult?" Mr. Wonderbild looked thoughtful, "I would say that it is not difficult if you study well at school, at the university, do plenty of sports, train... What, are you already preparing to join pilots?"
"Well," Joshua drawled, "you see, we had an argument with Mitch yesterday. This is my classmate, we usually sit next to each other. So he says that there is no space."
"How is it not?" Richard Wonderbild wondered, "And what do we see in the sky every night? And even now — isn't the Sun above us?"
"Well, yes, of course. But Mitch says that going to the moon and stuff… that it's all just a movie," Joshua said doubtfully," that no one is flying anywhere."
"Your Mitch probably comes from a very religious family, no?" Mr. Wonderbild laughed, then asked Joshua.
"Yes, sir," the boy nodded, "How do you know?"
"It's obvious," confirmed Mr. Wonderbild, "it is written about the heavenly firmament in the Bible. But it's okay, son — look, your bus is already at the second crossing. Run, as you could be late. And it's time for me to leave, too."
"Goodbye, sir," Joshua politely responded and turned to look at the bus. It was already approaching.
"Bye, Josh," Captain Richard Wonderbild waved and hit the gas. The electric car was picking up speed rapidly with a soft whistle. The captain had to hurry — everyone was already waiting on the movie set.
To Stars
"Mr. Wonderbild, Mr. Wonderbild!" eight-year-old Joshua shouted and ran to the neighbor, whose car had already rolled out of the garage. The boy was supposed to stand outside his house waiting for the school bus, but today, he had an urgent matter, and school could wait. He was tracking down an opportunity for the second week, and now he got a chance.The driver saw the boy, slowed down, looked at the sky, and pressed the button to hide the top. The convertible top of the Cadillac went back; the driver raised his hand and waved it at Josh.
"Josh, shouldn't you be heading to school?" asked Richard Wonderbild.
"Yes, sir, but … may I ask you something?" a man in the uniform of a space fleet captain with shoulder pads had such a respectable look that Joshua was upset; his enthusiasm began to melt like ice cream in the Sun.
"Of course, Joshua. What bothers you?" the captain encouraged the boy.
"Tell me, please, is it difficult to become a space pilot?" he began uncertainly.
"Difficult?" Mr. Wonderbild looked thoughtful, "I would say that it is not difficult if you study well at school, at the university, do plenty of sports, train... What, are you already preparing to join pilots?"
"Well," Joshua drawled, "you see, we had an argument with Mitch yesterday. This is my classmate, we usually sit next to each other. So he says that there is no space."
"How is it not?" Richard Wonderbild wondered, "And what do we see in the sky every night? And even now — isn't the Sun above us?"
"Well, yes, of course. But Mitch says that going to the moon and stuff… that it's all just a movie," Joshua said doubtfully," that no one is flying anywhere."
"Your Mitch probably comes from a very religious family, no?" Mr. Wonderbild laughed, then asked Joshua.
"Yes, sir," the boy nodded, "How do you know?"
"It's obvious," confirmed Mr. Wonderbild, "it is written about the heavenly firmament in the Bible. But it's okay, son — look, your bus is already at the second crossing. Run, as you could be late. And it's time for me to leave, too."
"Goodbye, sir," Joshua politely responded and turned to look at the bus. It was already approaching.
"Bye, Josh," Captain Richard Wonderbild waved and hit the gas. The electric car was picking up speed rapidly with a soft whistle. The captain had to hurry — everyone was already waiting on the movie set.
