Louie & The Rocket

Hello,

My name is Jacqueline and I am a very proud grandma.

I write stories for my grandchildren and I'm very happy to share them with you too.

So make yourself comfortable,

Settle back because my story is about to begin.

Louis and the Rocket Louis lives with his mummy daddy and older sister Kelty in a cottage on the edge of a forest.

Louis loves his sister and enjoys the time he spends with her.

He also loves playing with his toys,

Especially the large space rocket his mummy and daddy gave him for his birthday.

It is a red rocket with a large gold number one on each of the tail sections and tiny windows at the front and along the sides of it.

There is a little door between the windows on the left side which when opened shows two seats situated in front of a large control panel.

Louis often wonders what it would be like to fly up into space inside his rocket.

He runs around the house holding the rocket high above his head and pretends he's going on an adventure to somewhere fun and far away.

Sometimes Louis takes his rocket out into the forest where he runs through the trees as fast as he can with Kelty and her little dog Duggee up to the big oak tree.

Here Kelty helps Louis build a launching pad for the rocket from twigs and leaves.

Once it is high enough they place the rocket on the top,

Stand back and shout five,

Four,

Three,

Two,

One,

Blast off at the tops of their voices and then imagine where the rocket will fly to.

Louis often likes to find a worm or a bug to put into one of the seats inside the rocket before they blast it off into space.

He thinks this makes the adventure much more fun.

Kelty always makes sure that he takes it out before they go home.

This evening it is raining.

It has been raining for most of the day and Louis is sad that he hasn't been able to go outside and play.

He stands at the kitchen window with his favorite toy in his hand and watches the raindrops race each other down the window pane.

As he stares out he wonders what it would be like to fly in his rocket through the rain.

All of a sudden the gentle sound of the rain pitter-pattering on the window is interrupted by a big flash of lightning which is quickly followed by the loud noise of thunder.

This scares Louis so much that he runs away from the window and hides behind Kelty who is doing a jigsaw puzzle at the kitchen table.

Kelty turns around and tries to reassure her brother just as another flash of lightning comes.

Louis squeals and runs over to his mummy quickly jumping onto her lap cuddling his rocket tightly while she tries to comfort him.

It's okay Louis she says gently we are safe indoors but but but the noise is so loud whimpers Louis just as lightning flashes brightly through the window again followed by an enormous clap of thunder which rumbles overhead.

Louis buries his head in his mummy's shoulder.

Don't be scared she says holding him tightly it will be over soon.

Eventually the rain stops and it is time to go to bed.

Reluctantly Louis tucks his rocket under his arm and gives his daddy a hug before going upstairs with Kelty to their bedrooms.

Louis changes into his favorite blue pajamas and goes to the bathroom to clean his teeth then ready for bed he shouts out goodnight to his sister just as his mummy comes upstairs to tuck him into bed.

You can't sleep with your rocket darling says his mummy seeing that Louis still has his rocket under his arm as he's about to get into bed.

Why don't you put it on top of your toy box and then you can see it from your bed.

Okay mummy Louis says softly he places his rocket on his toy box and then climbs in between the covers and pulls them up to his chin as he lies back onto the pillow.

Looking at his mummy he whispers I still feel a little scared of the thunder and lightning what if it comes back again.

You'll be okay she says gently sitting on the edge of his bed.

Just close your eyes and go to sleep the thunder and lightning has long gone.

She hugs him tightly and then kisses him on his forehead.

Sweet dreams my darling I'll see you in the morning.

As she stands up she ruffles his hair tenderly before leaving the room she turns off the bedroom light and closes the door behind her.

Lying in bed in the quiet of his room Louis doesn't feel very happy.

He normally falls straight to sleep as soon as his mummy turns off his light but tonight the thunder and lightning has really scared him.

He closes his eyes tightly but no matter how hard he tries he can't fall asleep.

He sits up and looks around his bedroom which is softly lit by the moonlight.

He sees his rocket on top of his toy box.

He quietly gets out of bed and grabs it which makes him feel much better.

Back in bed he holds the rocket high above his head and looks at it.

He really does like this toy.

After a few minutes he yawns feeling quite tired now.

To take his mind of the thought of the storm coming back he holds the rocket close to his chest closes his eyes tightly and starts to imagine himself climbing into his rocket.

Inside the rocket there are two blue seats with very high backs and lots of straps attached to them.

Louis climbs onto one of the seats and tries to strap himself in but there are so many straps that he can't figure out which ones go where.

Suddenly he hears a noise behind him.

He looks round and sees a girl about his age coming from the back of the rocket.

She has long blonde hair which is tied in pigtails and a very smiley face.

Hello Louis she says cheerfully as she goes over and closes the door to the rocket.

Louis rubs his eyes thinking he must be dreaming all of this but it feels so real as if it is really happening.

He is inside his rocket and the girl is talking to him.

Hello replies Louis a little nervously.

I've been waiting ages for you the girl continues getting into the seat beside him.

You're normally on time.

Oh sorry I didn't realize he splutters not really sure what is going on.

Oh that's okay she says as she starts twiddling knobs and flicking switches on the control panel in front of her.

You're here now.

Strap yourself in and let's get going.

The girl is wearing a white spacesuit and Louis notices her name Molly embroidered on the front of it.

Pleased that he doesn't have to ask her name he watches how she buckles herself into the seat and then does the same for himself.

As he works on his buckles he realizes he is no longer wearing his blue pajamas.

Instead he is wearing a white spacesuit the same as Molly with his own name embroidered on it.

Okay announces Molly we are ready for takeoff.

She presses a button on the control panel and the countdown begins.

The numbers light up on the screen in front of them.

Five,

Four,

Three,

Two,

One.

The rockets start shaking and suddenly whoosh they take off.

Louis looks out of the window as they soar into the night sky.

He isn't quite sure how they got out of his bedroom.

In fact he isn't quite sure how any of this is happening but he decides to enjoy it.

Molly starts flicking some switches and turning some knobs on the control panel.

I want to show you a beautiful light show she says as the rocket flies amongst the stars.

Louis has never seen so many stars and is amazed how brightly they shine up here in the deep black sky.

Slowly the rocket changes direction and then lands gently on the ground.

Molly undoes her seat belts and beckons to Louis to do the same.

Come on she says as she moves over to the window.

The show is about to begin.

Louis stands next to Molly at the window and wonders what is going to happen.

The sky is very dark and the silence is kind of eerie.

Suddenly the show begins.

It is a lightning show.

Thunder roars and the streets of lightning are quite spectacular.

At first Louis begins to feel scared and goes to hide behind Molly.

Realizing that he is scared Molly holds his hand as she reassures him.

It's okay Louis as long as we stay inside we are quite safe.

Louis feels a little braver and relaxes when he sees Molly smiling as she enjoys the show.

Deciding there must be nothing to be scared of he asks do you ever go outside and watch it?

No replies Molly.

Lightning is dangerous and could really harm us if we are struck by it.

Louis looks out of the window.

Wow look at that he exclaims as the lightning flashes across the dark sky lighting its path with such brilliance.

They watch the show together with eyes wide open taking in all the splendor.

The lightning flashes as it slashes through the black sky then the thunder booms as it bursts the cocoon of silence.

A few seconds later the lightning streaks across the sky again making zigzag shapes as it goes.

It is quickly followed by the groaning thunder as it once again shatters the silence.

The show continues for a short while longer until eventually the brilliant radiant lightning fades from the dark sky and then after one final rumble of thunder peace and quiet finally resumes.

Wow that was amazing exclaims Louis looking over at Molly.

Yes it was replies Molly.

Turning to him she says did you know there are nearly 2,

000 thunderstorms every day on earth?

No I didn't Louis says.

But why does lightning happen?

He asks curiously.

Molly explains lightning happens when ice and water particles bump around inside thunderclouds as they bump into each other they create an electric charge and when this connects with electrical charges on the ground lightning strikes.

So why is the thunder so loud?

Asks Louis quite fascinated.

When lightning strikes Molly continues it makes a hole in the air called a channel.

After the lightning is gone the hole collapses and the sound we then hear is thunder.

Louis thinks about this for a second and then says the lightning looked so close to us.

It wasn't really replies Molly we can see lightning up to 100 miles away and we can hear thunder from up to 15 miles away.

Thank you so much for bringing me here and explaining it all to me Louis says happily thunder and lightning isn't scary at all it's all part of nature and one of the magical things we have no control over explains Molly.

Instead of being scared of something we should learn more about whatever it is so we can understand it.

It's the unknown which causes us to worry and then our imagination gets carried away.

When we understand things we realize there is really nothing to be worried about.

Hmm that makes sense says Louis.

Now I know the reason thunderstorms happen I will enjoy the amazing show they put on and I won't feel scared at all.

Great exclaims Molly now it's time for us to leave and they return to their seats.

Strap yourself in she says we are about to take off and the countdown begins.

Lying snuggled in his bed Louis opens his eyes to the sound of his mummy's voice.

Good morning Louis she says as she opens the curtains allowing the sunshine to fill the bedroom.

Did you sleep well my darling?

She asks going over and ruffling Louis's hair.

Yes I did Louis replies remembering the night's adventure.

I had a great dream about my rocket.

Well you can tell us all about it downstairs.

Breakfast will be ready in 10 minutes and she leaves to wake Kelty.

Louis glances over at his rocket which is lying at the bottom of his bed and smiles.

What an amazing adventure that was he says to himself.

I wonder if I'll have another adventure tonight.

Thanks for listening to my story I hope you enjoyed it.

Before you go I'd like to ask you a question.

Which of your toys would you like to have an adventure with?

Thanks again for listening and come back soon to hear another story from grandma.