24 Apr 2020

Cardboard Rockets and Galactic Imaginations

Kate Markland

One sunny afternoon, with a cardboard box, some paint sticks, and an inspired idea, Gabriel and I decided to make our very own rocket. The base box became our spacecraft, painted in bold colours with paint sticks and decorated with astronaut stickers — Gabriel found the perfect one to be our brave pilot, peeking out of a porthole window. We carefully painted it with flames at the base for a powerful, imaginative blast-off.

Next, we transformed the rest of the cardboard into a launch pad, propping it up against the garden swing. It doubled as our "mission base" for Gabriel to launch from, and conveniently, a shaded spot to rest under as the afternoon heat grew stronger. We worked tirelessly, painting, decorating, and planning our space adventure. By evening, the vibrant setup was in place, shining with colour and creativity.

When night fell, we moved to Gabriel's bedroom window, which looks over the garden. As stars began to appear, we imagined countdowns and radio communications with Mission Control, initiating a countdown for takeoff. With liftoff declared, our cardboard rocket took Gabriel to the stars — or at least as close as a dream-filled view of the garden could allow.

It was the perfect end to a day spent creating, imagining, and traveling beyond the stars, all from our little corner of the garden.

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