GUEST: Author Michael Dolan

Link to Smithsonian articles by Michael Dolan

Link to Michael Dolan’s book on American Porches

Homer tells the other boys he’s loaded his first rocket with “the powder from thirty sky rockets.” He estimates it will fly “Three, four miles.”

“You ready?” asks Homer.

“Yeah,” says Roy Lee and O’Dell.

“Ten. Nine.  Eight. Seven. Six,” Homer counts down.

“Should we get behind somethin’?” asks Roy Lee.

The rocket explodes, blowing off the top of the picket fence, and knocking the boys to the ground.

“What happened?” asks Elsie, running to the front porch.

“My rocket blew up,” explains Homer.

“Are you okay?” asks Elsie.

“I guess,” says Homer.

“My heart’s poundin’,” says Elsie. “I thought the mine blew up!”

She looks at the splintered fence. “Oh, Homer! I waited six months for the company carpenter to put up that fence!” says Elsie. “Didn’t I tell you not to blow yourself up?”

“Yes, ma’am,” says Homer.

“Then let’s not,” says Elsie.

“Elsie?” calls a neighbor down the street.

“It’s all right, Ms. Fields!” replies Elsie. “It’s all right.”

Later, Homer is watching the launch of Vanguard TV-3 on his television, while he composes a letter to Dr. von Braun in his head.

“Dear Dr. von Braun,” he begins.

“Six. Five. Four. Three–” says the TV announcer.

“My name is Homer Hickam. I’m seventeen, and I live in a small mining town in West Virginia.” Homer continues with his letter.

In This Episode

• Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer Hickam
• William Lee Scott as Roy Lee
• Chad Lindberg as O'Dell
• Natalie Canerday as Elsie Hickam