Once there was a boy named John. He had always wanted to go to another planet to live. It was mainly because his sister always annoyed him. He was tired of her bugging him. So he decided that he would build a rocket and fly to Jupiter. The only problem was that he couldn’t build a rocket because he didn’t know how. So he had to learn a lot of things about physics and aero dynamics. So he stayed on earth for ten more years until he had graduated from college for physics. Then he began astronaut training.

The training was hard and long. Every day he had to get up, do exercise, and then spend two hours in a zero gravity chamber. The zero gravity chamber was like torture to him. If he went inside right after a meal, he would be sick. It made him feel terrible, but he had to be comfortable in it for at least two hours. He also had to take training classes that prepared him for worst scenario situations. He had to have test flights as well. If he made a mistake, it would set him back at least half a year. If he did not however, he would have a whole simulation. After that, he would be ready to go into space.

After two years of training, he passed the space simulation, and was ready to go. The only problem was that N.A.S.A. would only let him go to the moon, not Jupiter. They said that it was a ridiculous idea and he would not be allowed. So after all those years of preparing, he was forced to give up. But no, he would not! He would not walk away from twelve years of preparing for space! So he vowed to himself that he would do everything that he could think of to go.

First, he tried to talk to the other space agencies about his trip, but they too had no sympathy. Next, he tried to convince N.A.S.A. again, this time with evidence that it would work, but they wouldn’t even take him seriously. So it was with a heavy heart that he decided that he would be forced to make his own space shuttle. So then he began the campaigning…

He went to schools, governments, campuses, museums, even door-to-door. He spoke at every chance he could get, and after two more years, he had enough, or so he thought. After he had purchased most of the materials and pieces that he would need, he began to plan. He worked and he worked and he finished at last. With help from friends from school, acquaintances from N.A.S.A., and family members alike, he had done it! His own Rocket! Finally, he could go to the final frontier! He could do it, after fourteen years of planning and preparing, he was going to Jupiter! Now all he had to do was raise enough money to buy fuel.

He went back to campaigning and saving. After a while, he had enough money to purchase the necessary amount of fuel for the trip. Soon, the day had come to fly. He had made all of the necessary safety checks, and was ready to go. His friends were helping him in the “command center” of his barn. Suddenly, the voice broke the silence. “Are you ready for the countdown?” “Yes”, he replied confidently. “Okay then. Ten, nine, eight, seven…” As the seconds ticked down, John thought about what he was about to do. “Three, two, and one, we have liftoff!” Jolted out of his thoughts, John promised himself to focus on the task ahead. After all, it wasn’t all walking on the moon and eating astronaut ice-cream.

As the smoke erupted from the rocket engines, John suddenly realized that something was very wrong! He suddenly remembered adding the fuel amounts wrong that night that he was so tired! “Stop,” John screamed. But he knew it was no use. There was no way to stop the launch this far in. He was about to be in space with a little over half of the amount of fuel that he would need to get back!

John frantically ran over his options inside his head. He could hope for the best, or jump out… But no, what was he thinking? He needed to put the shuttle into manual steering and slowly but surely turn it around and back to earth. One thing was for certain, he wouldn’t be going to Jupiter.

As he flipped the switch that would turn the auto-pilot off, and make the steering manual, John realized that after all those years of working, and collecting money, he would lose his one chance to go to another planet because of a silly mistake. How could he have been so foolish! He was so angry with himself for allowing this to happen! As he turned the shuttle back to earth, he gazed at the planet. It was the most beautiful thing that he had ever seen. John was captivated by it! He suddenly had a wonderful idea and inspiration. For all these years, he had been trying to get away from the thing that he really loved. He knew what he would do with his time on earth. I would be the best years of his life!

As he landed, John jumped out of the spaceship and brushed off his friends. He would talk to them later. Right now, he needed to start planning for his house. He realized that he loved nature, and just wanted to be in it. Two months later, he applied for a trail guide job at one of the biggest national parks, Yellow Stone. And he was the happiest man alive. He had realized in the shuttle that he loved to be in nature. Now, he just had to build a cabin in the woods, and enjoy living outdoors.

The Moral of this story is, sometimes your greatest ambition in life, is not what you would be truly happy doing. Thanks for reading this creative writing story. 

-Gabriel