The W. J. Manares' Reader

Flyblown Fly-by

Dr. Bill Joyride was an offbeat, yet brilliant military scientist known for his eccentric inventions. While his colleagues laughed at his outlandish ideas, Dr. Joyride never let their mockery dampen his spirits. He was determined to make a mark in the scientific community, even if it meant being the laughingstock of inventors worldwide.

As Dr. Joyride sat in his cluttered workshop, inspiration struck him like a bolt of lightning. "What if," he pondered, "we could fly without the need for pesky airplanes or cumbersome wingsuit contraptions? Ah, jetpacks! That's the answer!"

Excitement buzzing within him, Dr. Joyride tirelessly began designing and tinkering with his revolutionary invention. He gathered metal, wires, and a concoction of chemicals that no one in their right mind would dare to mix. For weeks, his workshop echoed with clanking, hissing, and the occasional - albeit small - explosion.

Words spread throughout the scientific community about Dr. Joyride's project, fellow inventors couldn't help but scoff at the notion of a jetpack. They gathered in huddles, whispering about the foolishness of his endeavor, blaming it on an overzealous imagination incapable of grasping the laws of physics.

"Why would anyone risk their life strapping a glorified rocket to their back?" exclaimed one naysayer, choking on their laughter.

"Oh, dear Bill," chimed another, "always entertaining us with his madcap escapades. Someone should really put a stop to it before he blows up a city block!"

However, not all scientists took jest at Dr. Joyride's efforts. Dr. Eli Cebmi, an open-minded inventor with an appetite for adventure, secretly admired his unorthodox approach to invention. He believed that sometimes, the greatest discoveries lay beyond the boundaries of what was considered possible.

With his jetpack prototype finally complete, Dr. Joyride anxiously strapped it on and walked out of his workshop to reveal his creation to the world. His heart pounding with nervous anticipation, he switched it on, feeling the hum of its engines reverberate beneath him.

Onlookers gasped while holding back chuckles as they watched Dr. Joyride rising into the air. A whirlwind of laughter swirled through the crowd as doubters exchanged smirks, waiting to witness the inevitable catastrophe.

But fate had other plans.

As Dr. Joyride gained altitude, the skeptical laughter transformed into stunned silence. He began to execute complex acrobatic maneuvers with grace, soaring through the sky like a bird freed from its cage. In that precise moment, the world witnessed something remarkable unfold before their disbelieving eyes.

Dr. Joyride's jetpack wasn't just an eccentric idea; it was sheer brilliance encased in a metal frame. The laughter turned into applause, and once-scoffing scientists found their jaws dropping in awe. The skies became a playground for Dr. Joyride, a testament to his unwavering determination and imaginative genius.

Soon, the once-laughing inventors began to acknowledge Dr. Joyride's groundbreaking achievement. They sought him out, not to mock, but to collaborate and learn from his unbounded creativity. Jetpacks became a must in everyday life, revolutionizing transportation and granting humans the ability to fly freely.