Summary: As the young men from the BCMA began to build their blockhouse, they noticed that they needed some materials. Now, Sonny could have asked his father, Homer, but he knew he would only be wasting his breath. Though, in reality, I believe Homer would provide Sonny with whatever he desires, considering he’s-his-son-and-all. The boys of BCMA had learned many things ever since they began to build rockets, and trading well as not one of them. The men who had the supplies the boys needed demanding certain items in exchange. Sonny did not do a good job in negotiating because he just brought the men whatever they wanted.
When everything was collected, the boys began to finish building their blockhouse. And, in a matter of days, Cape Coalwood was finished. (Cape Coalwood is what Sonny had decided to name the land where his father told him it would be safe to launch his rockets).
Jake, one of the engineers that come from Ohio every year to the mine, has become good friends with Sonny. Their friendship is very unique. It’s unique in the sense that Jake is much more of the ladies man, and hooks up with the secretaries of the mine. As for Sonny, he can’t even keep a very close relationship with a person from the opposite sex, other than his mother of course. Despite their major differences, Sonny likes to be around Jake. And he especially loves to look into Jakes telescope. With his fascination of astronomy, Sonny would try to visit Jake’s telescope as much as possible.
Things are going pretty well for Sonny. He’s building rockets like he’s dreamt of doing, and more importantly he’s making more progress with every one. It seems as if with each Auk that gets built, the elevation bar keeps getting higher and higher. Though only a few people are staying to watch the show, the boys kept motivating themselves.
Miss Riley, a new science teacher, will be in charge of the science fair this year. She heard about Sonny and the BCMA from the Big Creek High principle, Mr. Turner. Ever since the first day she met Sonny, she advised him to take part at the science fair, but Sonny always said no because he ‘wasn’t ready’. Wasn’t ready? Now, if you can launch a rocket more than a thousand feet up in the air, when your in high school, your more than ready. Ever since Sonny began to use rocket candy, a type of chemical that he put in the rocket to make it fly, his rockets were shooting up into the air with haste. Though Sonny knew his rockets were going to make a good presentation, he decided to not jump into conclusion about going to the science fair. First of, he didn’t have a book to explain what was going on while the rockets shot up well. In a science project an individual must know what their talking about, unless, they don’t want to try and win the competition. To his luck, Sonny received a book from Miss Riley which he really needed if he was to participate in the science fair. The book helped him and Quentin better understand rockets, and how it’s crucial to have the right weight depending on how powerful the chemicals are.
Life for Sonny has been getting somewhat more complicated now. He has had much on his mind. For example, he has watched the girl he believed he was in love with go to the dance with Jim (his brother). Also, Sonny’s good friend, Mr. Bykovski, passed away at the mine. The mine is a dangerous place, and the men who work at the mine know that their playing with death the moment they step into it. What happened was that one of the engineers had made a miscalculation, and all hell broke loose. With the slightest miscalculation, the engineer can endanger the lives of many because parts of the mine can collapse. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened in the Coalwood mine. Right away I began to think about the conversation I had in my English class with my fellow classmates: How knowing that death has taken a close person/thing that you cared about can make you lose your childhood. To me, it seemed like that’s what exactly happened to Sonny. He didn’t want to talk to no one, not even his parents at home. For a few days he lost the desire to learn more about rockets, and seized the building of them. Sonny was dead inside… he felt nothing.
Quotation: "'We've worked our tails off on your rockets. So you think you can just come down here and treat us like we're nothing? If that's what you think, come on, get up. I'll knowck you down again!" (Hickam 301).
Reaction: When Roy Lee, a member of the Rocket Boys, said this quote it really made me see how Sonny had just treated his friends. Its not mentioned in the quote, but Sonny had said that he's the leader of the group, so he'll be calling the shots. And, if he says that their going to use a type of chemical for the rocket, then their going to use it. After Sonny made those remarks, Roy Lee struck him in the chest. It's important that Roy Lee brought Sonny back to his senses. No one should take advantage of others, especially if they're their friends. Its not only the concept of taking advantage of a person, its respect. And when Sonny said that the group will do something because he said so, there wasn't much respect going across to the other guys. The other members of Rocket Boys did work their tails off to help Sonny launch the rockets he's been able to launch.
Also, the BCMA almost reached a mile in altitude with their latest rocket, Auk XXI.
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