Newsletter MARCH 2025 | Page 58

HONORS Karina Eide Young Writers Awards

Spirit Rocket (continued):

I asked him how and why was he here and was he alive or was this a ghost? And was I really in a spaceship floating high above Earth, and finally I asked, “Is this a dream?” Then he said, “No. This is not a dream.” Then I was hit with the realization that this guy was my grandfather. My dad also finally snapped back to reality. He said, “Dad!” 

 

My grandfather (you can call him Poppy) told us everything about what happened and how he ended up here.  He said, “When I died, I woke up in a cloud and in front of me was a yellow portal and since I like to try things, even if they lead to death, I just jumped in without thinking. I landed at the entrance to a staircase and there were a bunch of people standing in front of me in a line, so I had to wait years to finally make my way up the steps and meet what I thought was God. But it was just a guard angel. Still, I realized I was in heaven and a wave of emotions came over me just like the emotions that you felt.

 

After a long explanation (no offense to Poppy) we asked him a few unimportant questions and then he told me that we could visit him any time. We just had to call for him on the balcony of our house. And then just as we were about to say bye, we woke up on the floor of our house, me and my dad just lying there.  My mom was on the phone with a doctor it seemed. And then she hung up on him. When she saw us, she literally burst into tears. She said she thought we were dead.  Dad said, “Was that all a dream?” I said, “Probably. Too good to be true.” I started crying and hugged Mom and said, “I miss Poppy. I want him back!” After that, Mom put me to bed, but at night I heard static again and I smiled.

 

UNDERSTANDING

HONORS Karina Eide Young Writers Awards