1 “Is it really that tall?” Simon asked the guide. “Of course it’s really that tall,” the guide responded. “You’re really looking at it.”
2 “Wow, that’s the rocket that sent people to the moon?” Simon questioned. “Well, Simon, that’s not the rocket that went to the moon” the guide explained. “The actual rocket that went to the moon was used up. It fell back to Earth in pieces. This one is a replica, but it’s exact to every detail.”
3 Simon couldn’t believe how tall the rocket was. It stretched higher than any building he had ever seen up close. “You seem impressed by the size,” the guide concluded. Then he said, “It’s taller than the Statue of Liberty.” Simon’s jaw dropped. He had never really seen the Statue of Liberty, but he knew it was huge.
4 “Can we go inside?” Simon wondered. “Inside the rocket museum?” the guide questioned back. “Inside the rocket?” Simon questioned, hoping the answer would be yes.
5 The guide laughed softly and said, “No, but there is a real Saturn V rocket in the museum. We can’t go in that one either.” Simon sighed in disappointment. The tour guide saw the look on his face and continued, “But we can walk under it. It’s lying flat, held up in the air with strong cables.” Simon’s attitude and face perked right up. “Let’s get in there,” he said.
6 The inside of the museum was more amazing than Simon could ever imagine. There were tons of rocket replicas, and even an actual capsule that carried astronauts safely home from the moon. “This one is the real deal,” the guide assured Simon.
7 When Simon’s parents told him they would spend their summer vacation visiting a museum, he didn’t think it would be fun at all. In fact, he tried to convince them to go to an amusement park, or a water park, or to go see an erupting volcano. The tour guide saw how happy Simon had become in the museum. Then he said, “Your parents didn’t tell you it was a rocket museum, did they?” “Nope,” Simon replied. They sure didn’t.
