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In Nkosenhle’s moonlit bedroom, the boy stands by the open window, eyes wide as a sleek black rocket sparkles outside against the night sky, his glowing planet drawing still on the desk beside scattered crayons.
Nkosenhle finished drawing the planets. Suddenly, his picture began to glow and shine. A rocket ship appeared outside his window, sleek and black. "Come with me!" called a cheerful voice. Nkosenhle ran to see. The rocket sparkled under the stars.
Under starlit suburban darkness beside the rocket, Nkosenhle faces an energetic golden dog in a silver space suit leaping from the open hatch, its tail wagging while neon cabin lights cast playful colors on their excited faces.
The rocket door slid open with a hiss. Out jumped a golden dog in a silver space suit. "I’m Astro," barked the dog, wagging his tail. Nkosenhle grinned in wonder. "Let’s explore the planets together!" said Astro. Nkosenhle nodded with excitement.
Inside the rocket’s glowing cockpit, Nkosenhle grips a chrome chair while an energetic golden dog in a silver space suit presses a big green launch button; rainbow console lights illuminate their eager smiles against the vast starry window.
Nkosenhle and Astro climbed inside the rocket. Buttons and lights twinkled everywhere. "Ready for lift-off!" Astro barked joyfully. The rocket soared into the night sky. Stars sparkled all around. Earth slowly grew smaller below them.
On dusty red Mars under a bright orange noon sky, Nkosenhle kneels drawing a large shining star in soft sand with a stick, while an energetic golden dog in a silver space suit watches, tail raised beside scattered pebbles.
First stop was Mars, all dusty and red. Nkosenhle giggled as he bounced in the soft sand. "Look, Astro!" he cheered. He drew a big shining star in the sand with a stick. Astro wagged his tail. The sky was bright and orange.
Within the rocket’s panoramic window, swirling golden rings of Saturn gleam against deep space as Nkosenhle sketches them in his notebook, an energetic golden dog in a silver space suit bracing joyfully beside him amid floating glittering dust.
Zooming past Saturn, its golden rings spun around and around. Nkosenhle watched in awe. "Hold on tight!" laughed Astro. Nkosenhle quickly drew Saturn’s swirling rings in his notebook. The rocket zipped between the bright bands. Glittering dust sparkled everywhere.
On icy Pluto beneath gentle starlight, Nkosenhle pats a tiny snow sculpture shaped like an energetic golden dog in a silver space suit; the real dog stands opposite, wagging amid drifting silver snowflakes next to the landed rocket.
At last, they landed on cold and tiny Pluto. Snowflakes danced in the air. Nkosenhle built a snowy little dog beside Astro. "That’s you!" Nkosenhle laughed. Astro barked happily and wagged his tail. Pluto gleamed under the soft starlight.
In the dim cockpit glowing with control lights, Earth’s blue curve fills the windshield while Nkosenhle studies his crowded notebook of space drawings; behind him, an energetic golden dog in a silver space suit spins happily in mid-air.
It was time to go home. The rocket zoomed back toward blue Earth. Nkosenhle peeked at his notebook filled with space drawings. "We did it, Astro!" he cheered. Astro woofed proudly and gave a happy spin. The adventure was almost done.
Back in Nkosenhle’s softly lit bedroom at night, the boy sits on the floor hugging an energetic golden dog in a silver space suit, finished planet drawings taped across the walls while distant stars twinkle outside the open window.
Back in his room, Nkosenhle hugged Astro gently. "Thank you for the adventure!" he whispered. Nkosenhle looked at all his planet drawings with a smile. Astro curled up beside him, still in his tiny suit. "I have real space stories now!" said Nkosenhle. Stars twinkled outside his window.
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