SE BURLARON DE ÉL, HASTA QUE HIZO HISTORIA !

This story is inspired by Homer Kickam, the young man who went from being a miner to an engineer at NASA.  A group of mischievous boys dreamed of building a rocket and, driven by recklessness, lifted an entire section of the train track with a lever .  Before they had finished dragging him away, the whistle of a locomotive suddenly boomed.

  Everyone panicked and hurriedly tried to put the rail back in place, but the iron bar was too heavy and with their limited strength there was no way to lift it. As the machine came straight towards them, the group jumped, ran, and stood in front of it to try to stop it.  They advanced shouting, running towards the train that was coming at full speed and only stopped when they were a few meters away from it.

  They stood still, watching, unable to do anything as the locomotive continued on its route.  At that very moment, the convoy took another detour. Luckily, that train wasn’t running through there.  It turned out that that section of the road had been abandoned for a long time. They reattached the rail and dragged it until they sold it at a scrap yard.

  Finally, they would have the means to buy materials to build their rocket.  They had been so reckless because the previous afternoon they had done a test launch and almost caused a serious accident with a guy who was watching.  That man had served in World War II.  Seeing that the base seal of the rocket had melted, he explained that for a rocket to work, special materials capable of withstanding very high temperatures are needed.

  But those materials cost a fortune.  To get quick cash, the group came up with the idea of dismantling the track and selling it. The boy who was leading the charge was named Homer and lived in West Virginia, United States.  He was an ordinary student in the coal-mining town of Colwood.  Generation after generation, the people there survived thanks to coal mining.

  The only way to escape that place was to pass the university entrance exam.  To achieve this, one had to study exceptionally well or excel as an American football player.  But Homer did poorly in class and with his thin, weak body he had no physical power.  On the playing field, he almost always ended up being the target of ridicule.

  His older brother, on the other hand, was strong and robust, an outstanding athlete.  With sports, he had half the path guaranteed to get into a good university.  The father placed all his hopes on the brother.  For Homer, it held no.  That man was a foreman at the town’s mine and hoped that when Homer finished high school he would take over his position.

  But the deposit was gradually being depleted. Homer did not want to repeat the fate of so many others, burying his life in a well. In 1957, when the Soviet Union put the first artificial satellite into orbit in the United States , the alarm was raised about falling behind.  It wasn’t just discussed at every dinner table; in the classroom, the teacher would repeatedly play news reports from the Soviet satellite.

  Upon seeing that light tearing across the night sky, Homer silently made a decision.  One afternoon, during family dinner, he announced what he wanted to do.  His mother only warned him to be careful.  His father showed obvious disdain, and his brother burst out laughing .  Even so, Homer was not discouraged.

  He recruited two of his best friends, they put 30 firecrackers into a flashlight and tied the flashlight firmly to the fence.  They lit the fuse and, while counting backwards, ran away.  The explosion was thunderous; all three ended up on the ground, and a huge hole was left in the fence .  The explosion made his mother’s hands tremble.

  It became clear that they lacked knowledge.  Homer went to the town library, but in a place where everything revolves around coal, there were no books on rocketry.  Then he thought of the smartest boy in his class. His name was Quentin Wilson.  He knew about everything, from astronomy to geography, but he was so eccentric that they called him a bookworm.

  In class many students avoided him, and at lunchtime he sat alone.  When Homer stood in front of him, the whole room began to murmur.  Homer, however, only had rockets in his head and ignored them. The clever boy brought specialized manuals for the group.  The four of them started their experiments in the basement of Homer’s house.

  It didn’t take long for a rocket to take shape, but in the final step they had to fix an electronic ring to the base.  Nobody knew how to weld, and they didn’t have any tools either.  Homer took the rocket to the welder at the mine.  Upon hearing that he wanted to build a rocket to make it fly, the welder, even at the risk of getting into trouble, helped them finish the welding.

  But when Homer took it to school, the principal labeled it a dangerous object, banned it, and even wanted to confiscate it.  Luckily, the teacher arrived on time, explained that it was a project for the science fair, and saved him from the problem.  After calming the situation, the teacher told them that if they won first place at the school fair, they could qualify for the national fair.

  And if they excelled there, universities would be fighting to recruit them.  Homer recorded every word. That was the exit route from the town. After classes, they went to an open field to do the throwing test.  To their shock, the rocket went straight towards the mine area and almost hit several workers.  He ended up falling right in front of his father’s office.

  When he saw him, the man became furious and gave Homer a monumental dressing-down.  You’re already doing poorly in your studies and now you’re getting involved in risky experiments that are pointless.  Faced with a father who never acknowledged him, Homer remained silent.  In the end, the rocket ended up in the trash.

  That night, the father emptied the basement completely.  Homer discovered that he had thrown everything out into the open and went out in the rain to pick it up piece by piece.  The next morning, his two friends became discouraged and left. Since Homer’s father had forbidden them from continuing with the rockets, they thought their fate would be the same as always, never leaving the town.

  There’s nothing wrong with being a miner, they said.  That enraged Homer even more .  How many miners get sick each year from the dust? How many terrible accidents happen underground?  In the end, he managed to convince them.  If they couldn’t experience it near the mine, they would walk more than 10 km to the neighboring village.

  On a hill there was an open field, perfect for throwing tests.  They planted a flag on the summit and even erected a security booth.  But when they returned to school, their classmates made fun of them.  If even the country can’t manage it, how are students from the provinces like yourselves going to achieve it?  That day in the chemistry lab, the bookworm mixed sugar with potassium chlorate, took a spoonful and heated it over a burner.  A large burst of flame appeared.

Before celebrating, the professor approached.  To avoid a mess, they poured the mixture down the sink and rinsed it out. They thought no one had seen them.  But the next second, the laboratory erupted into chaos with a small explosion in the pipes.  Homer and his friend let out a nervous laugh; their fuel ratio was working.

When Homer brought the rocket base to the workshop, Mr. Bowen informed him that his father had reassigned the welder to underground work.  Homer felt he had wronged him, but the welder smiled.  Don’t worry, we need it at home .  Underground they pay double what they pay above ground.  Actually, your father did me a favor.

  The pity was that I could no longer weld them.  At Homer’s insistence , he agreed to teach him how to weld.  At the next launch, Mr. Bowen even brought his son along to watch.  After ignition, the rocket spun in the air and shot off towards Bowen. Fortunately, he reacted in time and moved away. Homer ran to help him, and he, far from being scared, said that it reminded him of his days in the service.

  In the past, Bowen was in the Air Force.  The bookworm redesigned the lower nozzle and the trials continued, but time and again the rocket did not fly well. When the material ran out, they would climb the mountain again for more rails. Eating improved their welding, but the rockets either spun and failed instantly or rose for a couple of seconds and disintegrated.

  In short, they either failed or were about to.  Until one day one finally rose straight up to the sky.  Everyone held their breath, but then it went straight towards the security booth like a projectile almost hitting their heads.  After several scares, the bookworm started to analyze.  Perhaps bubbles remained trapped in the fuel and, when burned, acted as internal micro-combustion chambers, generating ruptures.

The next day, wearing protective gear, they added alcohol to the binder, heated it over a fire, and obtained a new fuel. When they returned to the field, they were surprised to see the place full of spectators.  His brother had brought several classmates.  They came to see the show. After so many failures, they finally had an ignition system.

  With everything ready, the group ran to take refuge in the booth, remembering the previous scare. Homer asked to take cover behind the car. They pulled the pin, started the countdown, and all eyes were fixed on the rocket.  This time it rose steadily towards the blue sky.  The teammates shouted with excitement and the group was left in disbelief.

  In an instant, Homer became the class idol.  On her birthday, the teacher gave her a book on rocket design principles .  Although it was full of difficult formulas, Homer thought it was the best gift.  She promised to study hard to be up to par, but the principal went to tell the teacher that she had to focus on academics and not nurture impossible dreams.

  She remained convinced that her students would achieve something and not spend their whole lives in the mine, ending up in the darkness of coal.  That same day, a university representative arrived at his house.  They invited Homer’s brother to join the football team on a full scholarship. Looking out the window and seeing only the dust cloud from the mine, Homer wrote a letter to his mentor and promised to prove himself with his rockets.

  When they were preparing for another pitch, Homer wanted his father to make time to watch it, but he made an excuse.  Job.  Homer was discouraged.  He complained that his father never missed his brother’s games, but never went to his pitches.  The father, visibly moved, remained silent and barely said that he could hardly do it.

  Just then an incident occurred in the mine and he rushed out to resolve it.  Their previous success had made them well-known.  This time a lot of people came.  Even a group of cheerleaders joined the count.  The rocket shot through smoke and fire and broke through the clouds.  He held on for about 12 seconds while a reporter was recording him.

  Soon her story appeared in the newspaper.  The boys were nicknamed the Rocket Boys of the town, and even the most popular girl became a fan.  He insisted that Homer sign the note, but before he could finish, several police officers arrived.  A nearby forest had caught fire, and they suspected the rocket was the cause.

  The boys were taken to the police station.  Since Homer was a minor, his father had to take him into custody.  That further fueled the anger of a father who never acknowledged him. Besides scolding him, she made him feel very embarrassed.  One of the group’s friends was even assaulted by a drunk man.

  Luckily, his father saw him and was able to help him.  After that, Homer took a can of gasoline to the field, lit it, and threw it inside the shed.  In seconds it was completely engulfed in flames.  The dream was reduced to ashes.  That same night, a major collapse occurred at the Colwood mine. The welder died and the father was injured during the rescue.

  Other miners told Homer that without his father’s timely intervention, dozens would have been trapped.  Homer blamed himself for what happened with the welder.  That made him hate the black mouth of the mine even more.  And misfortunes never come alone.  The father’s health worsened and the company refused to cover his treatment.

  The weight of the house suddenly fell on the two brothers.  The older boy said he would leave university to work in the mine, but he would lose his scholarship.  At that point, Homer had to step up and his mother said nothing.  Perhaps he thought it was the best thing to do at that moment.  Homer signed the contract with a cold expression.

 When the teacher, who had always supported him, found out, she was so disappointed that she stopped speaking to him. As the elevator descended, Homer gazed at the starry sky.  That was his dream, and now he was descending, moving away from it step by step.  His father told him that he had offered the welder a return to the workshop, but because he was being paid double underground, the welder refused.

  So Homer shouldn’t take all the blame.  As the months passed, Homer adapted to life in the mine. Hard work made him stronger. Although the four of them still met, nobody wanted to talk about rockets anymore.  The father, once recovered, returned to the mine.  He told Homer that even though he never went to college, everyone in the crew listened to him because he knew the mine inside and out, as if he had been born for it.  And I know you do too.

  Homer remained silent that afternoon.  When he got home, his mother gave him some tough news. Her teacher had been diagnosed with lymphoma and time was short.  She told Homer that he couldn’t live at the mercy of what others expected, that he should listen to his inner voice.  Don’t bury yourself in the mine for the rest of your life, your goal is bigger.

  With that hope in his teacher’s eyes, Homer stayed up all night, took out the book she had told him about, and began to recalculate the height and range of the last throw.  At night or during breaks, he dedicated every free moment to doing calculations.  After countless days, he concluded that the supposed point of impact of the rocket did not correspond to the burning forest.

  Now they needed the bookworm to fine-tune the coordinates and find the missing fragment.  If they found that rocket, they could clear his name.  After many sleepless nights , they calculated the exact spot and went out to search.  After more than 120 measurements, they finally found it. Homer took the rocket to school and, using complex formulas, presented his case to the principal.

  The burned forest was more than 5 km from the platform and his rocket could barely travel two.  So what started the fire was not his rocket, but an aerial flare.  With his innocence proven, the principal not only allowed Homer to return to classes, but also authorized the group to compete in the science fair.  That night, while they were preparing the project, the father burst in abruptly and kicked them out of the house.

  He reprimanded Homer for quitting his job and becoming obsessed with rockets and ordered him to return to the mine immediately, but this time Homer didn’t comply.  The mine is your life, Dad, not mine.  I won’t go down again .  I want to look at space.  The father said nothing more and turned away.

  They won the championship at the school fair .  The teacher and the principal stood up to applaud.  The four of them became the center of attention at the event.  Then the director announced that it was time to prepare for the national fair, but due to budget constraints, only one representative could travel.  The other three chose Homer to represent them.

  Meanwhile, a large miners’ strike broke out in the town .  Homer’s father did not join in and was ambushed by armed men. Fortunately, they failed.  Homer tried to approach his father to show him support, but he was met with sarcasm.  Don’t you have more important things to do?  Even his brother intervened.  Why don’t you give up on the fair?  This time Homer couldn’t hold back and raised his voice.

  I regret what happened, but it wasn’t my fault.  If I win at the national fair, I’ll have the opportunity to leave.  This dusty town doesn’t hold me back, and everyone knows it, except you.  They had a heated argument.   Do you want me to leave?  Okay, I’m leaving.   I will go far away and I will not look back.  The next day, Homer took the bus to the national fair.

  At the event, his model attracted a lot of attention. Everyone assumed he would win, but when he returned to his table, the model had disappeared.  The jury would evaluate the following day.  Without the model, everything would fall apart.  Homer called his friends to make another one immediately. To enter the workshop they needed their father’s permission.  Mr.

 Bowen secretly warned the mother to go to the father’s office, but he refused.  In the end, she had to stand her ground. She threatened to separate from him so that he would help Homer.  Reluctantly, the father agreed.  The new model was ready on time.  After sending it, the mother called Homer.  You’ll have it tomorrow morning.

   It was thanks to your father and the people of the town.  Homer left the booth with a huge smile.  The next day, at the national fair, it was no surprise that Homer won first place.  Upon receiving the award, the audience erupted in applause.  Several universities invited him at the same time.  He didn’t even recognize his role model when he approached to greet him.

  Upon returning to the village, he was greeted by a massive celebration, with one notable absence: his father.  Homer went straight to the hospital to give his teacher the news.  She was deeply pleased and asked him to continue on the path of science.  As they passed the mine, Homer saw his father and got out of the car.

  First, he thanked him for his help and invited him to the final launch.  Again, the father said he was very busy.  Homer, feeling a little sad, was already leaving.  When the father said, “I heard you ran into your role model. It’s a shame you didn’t recognize him.”  Homer stopped and turned around. We see things differently.

  I will not succeed by being different from you, but because I am like you.  We have the same stubbornness and the same conviction.  My role model is a great scientist, but he is not my hero. You’re my hero, Dad.  With that said, Homer left .  Seeing him share the joy with everyone, that stern father became thoughtful.

  To thank the town, Homer decided to launch one last rocket before going to college.  This time it was several times bigger and had a large dedication to Miss Riley.  That day the whole town gathered .  Homer spoke first.  Without you I would n’t have made it to the fair or won a big prize.  This medal is also yours.

  At that moment, the father, who almost never acknowledged him, stepped forward.  Homer was frozen.  To launch a rocket, someone has to press the button, and the most suitable person was his father.  He placed the button in her hand.  When the countdown ended , the father pressed the rocket like a fire ace soaring high into the deep blue with an indomitable spirit that seemed to reach for the horizon.

  All eyes followed the trail of light with heavy hearts, not only because of the beauty of Homer’s dream, but because in it they saw the possibility of another life.  With that achievement, Homer finally earned his father’s proud look.  Years later, the Rocket Boys left the town.  Quentin became a petrochemical engineer.

  Roy ended up as a car dealer and banker.  Oddel became a farmer and also the owner of an insurance company.  Miss Riley died of Hotchkin’s lymphoma at age 31. Homer’s father died in 1976 from miner’s lung disease. Homer became an engineer at NASA and the pride of the town.  Life in the village was small.

  Outside the world was immense.  In times when it is easy to get lost, only those who think for themselves find their heaven.  When the whole world disagrees with you, stay the course.  Follow your path regardless of what they say.  If you liked the video, leave a like, comment, and subscribe.