Not your average Joe.

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At an airfield, in a secluded northwestern region of the Rocky Mountains, worked a little known airplane mechanic named Joe. Joe was a creative individual who had a knack for fixing just about anything with wings, and an engine. He spent his days doing repair and maintenance work on all types of aircrafts, but his true dream was to become a pilot for the United States Air Force. He had tried to enlist in the Air Force, but was ineligible because he had a learning disability called dyslexia. This meant that Joe had trouble reading words because the letters would appear jumbled to him. Joe was heartbroken, but he continued to do what he loved...working on aircrafts.


Joe poured his heart and soul into his work. Everyone loved him, and came to Joe when they needed his help. He always gave every repair his special attention to ensure that the job was done right. It was never hard to find him when he was needed, because he lived in the back of the hangar where he worked at. He worked long hours during the day, and spent his nights dreaming of what it would have been like to become a United States Air Force pilot, serving his country and protecting the people.


One night in the hanger Joe searched around and found a door that was covered up by his tool box. Joe never knew that this door existed. He was curious and moved the tool box. Slowly Joe grabbed the doorknob, gave it a turn, and pushed on it with a hard shoulder. The door sprung open. Joe stood there in awe. The room was huge; he wondered how it had gone unnoticed for so long. It was dark, and cluttered. He saw crates full of airplane parts and tools scattered all over the ground. There was barely enough room for him to walk. Joe wanted a better look, so he flipped on the lights. Immediately, Joe's eyes were drawn to two neglected airplanes that were covered with old, torn, and deteriorated canvas tarps. One airplane was a biplane, similar to what was used to fight in WWI. The second plane looked like it was some sort of jet prototype from the WWII era. Both were complete, but Joe could see that they were in need of some serious repairs.

Joe was shocked by the spectacular spectacle of the airplanes. He did not know what to think. He decided to keep the presence of these airplanes a secret. He would repair them until they were in working condition. After that, who knew what he do with them.

Joe feverishly went to work. He spent countless hours a day working on the planes. Some nights he even went without sleep. He loved this project dearly and put special care into making sure that the repairs were done right. Finally after many weeks of hard labor he was finished.

At last, the planes were operational. Now that the planes were fully assembled, running strong, and safe Joe knew what he needed to do next. He would fly them.


Joe decided to fly the WWI airplane first. It was a thrilling experience. He felt as free as bird. The engine purred as Joe began to test its limits. He soared high into the clouds, and came screaming down into barrel roll maneuvers. Joe showed flight skills comparable to the infamous Red Baron. As Joe flew,he realized that his true calling in life was to become a pilot, regardless of his dyslexia. Joe knew he needed to find a way to overcome his disability and prove his worth to the United States Air Force.

Joe landed the biplane, and took the jet for a wild flight. He did several upside down passes, a nose dive,and reached speeds over mach 1. He felt like a kid in a candy store. Flying made Joe feelcarefree, and gave him the courage to overcome any obstacle that stood in his way.


Once both planes were back in the hangar, he drove around town in his pickup truck searching for anyone who might be capable of teaching him how to overcome his dyslexia. Joe decided the perfect place to look would be at the local grade school. He knew most learning disabilities were probably recognized by a person's teacher at a young age. There he found the right person, Ms. Sally Robertson.

Ms. Robertson was an elegant young woman with long brown hair, a light tan complexion, and a beautiful smile. She was well spoken and a respected teacher. What intrigued Joe the most, was finding out that she too had to overcome dyslexia. Joe explained to Ms. Robertson his dilemma, and asked if she would be willing to help.


Ms. Robertson was flattered by Joe's request, and knew how much he meant to all the pilots that he had helped over the years. Ms. Robertson told Joe that she would be honored to teach him. She spent countless hours with Joe showing him different techniques to overcome his dyslexia. With Joe's determination, and Ms. Robertson's patience, they worked hard to defeat his disability. It wasn't easy, but after several weeks, Joe was now able to read without difficulty.

Joe was so grateful for everything that Ms. Robertson had helped him to accomplish that he asked her to come celebrate with him.

Joe made plans to take Ms. Robertson out for a nice dinner. When he arrived at her house she was taken by surprise. Joe pulled up in his biplane, wearing a United States Air Force uniform. Joe was smiling from ear to ear. Ms. Robertson couldn't believe her eyes, and was overwhelmed at his grand appearance. Joe yelled out "I did it, I owe everything to you!", and said " Hop in, we're running behind our flight schedule to Paris. I know a great place for French Fries."

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⏰ Last updated: May 22, 2014 ⏰

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