The First

In Short

Edward W. Ludwig’s short story presents a bustling 1982 Earth celebrating the launch of the Lunar Lady, hailed as mankind's very first moon flight. Unbeknownst to the cheering public, fifty-six-year-old Jeffrey Simon was part of a top-secret military operation that successfully established bases on the moon decades earlier in the late 1950s. Armed with a glowing lunar rock and an old photograph as proof, Jeffrey sets out to expose the lie. However, upon seeing how much hope the upcoming voyage gives humanity, he quietly decides to take his secret to the grave.

The Story

The city of April 1982 explodes in jubilation as thousands gather to celebrate Captain George Everson, a double-amputee veteran of rocketry who is set to command the Lunar Lady on humanity's supposed first journey to the moon. Yet while the populace marvels at Everson’s courage, Jeffrey Simon wakes up in his small apartment filled with bitterness. At fifty-six, Jeffrey harbors a secret that haunts his solitary life: he was part of Project Pandora, a covert military mission initiated by the United States government in 1957 to build missile platforms on the moon to counter Soviet nuclear threats.

Jeffrey retrieves his evidence from a bureau drawer: a glowing green lunar stone chipped from Mount Pico and a wrinkled photograph of the rocket Marilyn resting on the moon's surface. Driven by a desire for truth and recognition for the men who died during those early missions, Jeffrey leaves his apartment to present his proof to the United States Bureau of Interplanetary Research. Upon arriving, he encounters Lieutenant Andrews, the officer of the day. As Jeffrey begins summarizing the secret history of Project Pandora—explaining how monatomic hydrogen fuel allowed early moon landings and how decades of nuclear deterrence ended when the moon base was eventually dismantled—the officer grows uncomfortable and walks away, ignoring his pleas.

Refusing to give up, Jeffrey attempts to share his story with news outlets throughout the afternoon. After repeatedly being turned away, he visits the office of The Mirror, a sensationalist tabloid paper. He shows the editor his photograph and stone, finally recounting his complete story. He details how he remained on the moon for years, surviving the loss of comrades and eventually undergoing hypnotism and memory-washes like the rest of the crew. When the Soviet Union collapsed in the mid-1970s, the moon base was scrubbed clean to hide its existence from global history, leaving Jeffrey as a lone keeper of truth whose memory treatment gradually wore off.

The cynical editor greedily accepts the story, seeing it not as an act of justice, but as a scandalous scoop that will ruin the national mood and boost paper sales. Realizing that destroying the lie would rob humanity of its heroes, dilute its sense of wonder, and turn a day of unity into one of suspicion, Jeffrey experiences a change of heart. He snatches his stone and photograph back from the desk and leaves the editor stunned. As night falls, Jeffrey stands among the crowd watching the Lunar Lady ignite its engines. As the rocket ascends into the night sky, Jeffrey cries and laughs at the same time, accepting that the celebration belongs to the true spirit of pioneering, including his own quiet legacy.

How It Unfolds

The enchanted parade Captain George Everson rides through a cheering city surrounded by marching bands and confetti. The populace prepares to celebrate the evening launch of the silver rocket Lunar Lady, believing it will carry the first human beings to the moon.

A secret remembered Jeffrey Simon wakes up to the blare of brass instruments and decides to end what he views as a monumental public lie. He gathers a glowing green moon-stone and a photo of the rocket Marilyn from his dresser to prove he already went to the moon.

Rejection at the bureau Jeffrey visits the Bureau of Interplanetary Research to present his evidence to Lieutenant Andrews. He explains the origins of Project Pandora, but the officer dismisses him as a nuisance and walks away mid-conversation.

The cynical editor After being turned away by mainstream newspapers, Jeffrey brings his story to an editor at The Mirror. The editor eagerly agrees to print the tale, not out of respect for Jeffrey's sacrifice, but to ruin Everson's glory and sell tabloids.

A change of heart Jeffrey realizes that releasing his proof will destroy mankind's needed hope and reverence for space flight. He snatches his artifacts off the desk, walks out on the editor, and decides to leave the public's inspiration intact.

The rising silver needle At dusk, Jeffrey joins the awe-struck crowd as the Lunar Lady thunders into the sky. He weeps and smiles simultaneously, recognizing that the public's celebration honors the spirit of all pioneers, including himself.

The People

• Jeffrey Simon: A wizened, fifty-six-year-old veteran of the secret Project Pandora. He desperately desires recognition for himself and his fallen comrades who reached the moon in the late 1950s. Standing in his way are the public's indifference, the bureaucracy's dismissiveness, and his own moral dilemma over whether to destroy a national ideal. He begins bitter and desperate to expose the truth, but ends up choosing selflessness and quiet pride over personal fame.

• Captain George Everson: A legless space pilot whose resilience inspires the globe. He represents the public face of human bravery, wanting to lead humanity to its new horizon on the Lunar Lady. Although he faces physical limitations, he has the backing of an entire planet. He remains an unblemished hero in the eyes of the world because Jeffrey keeps his secret.

• The Mirror's Editor: A balding, small-eyed newspaperman who seeks a sensationalist headline to sell papers. Unconcerned with truth or the public good, he views Jeffrey's revelation merely as a profitable trick to ruin Everson's moment. His cynical excitement acts as the catalyst that changes Jeffrey's mind.

In Its Own Voice

"That's the music," Jeffrey Simon muttered, "that should have been yours."

Jeffrey looks out his apartment window at the grand parade, bitter that public praise is directed toward a new pilot rather than his own forgotten crew.

"To think that those little three-cent letters would go all the way to Luna would have seemed a lunatic's dream to them."

Recounting his service on the moon during the 1960s, Jeffrey reflects on receiving everyday mail while stationed at a secret base 240,000 miles away.

"Look, Mommy," she whispered. "Look at that funny old man. He keeps saying, 'This is for you,' and he's crying and laughing at the same time!"

A young girl observes Jeffrey standing in the crowd, overcome with emotion as he watches the silver rocket ascend into the night sky.

What It's Really About

The story explores the tension between historical truth and collective myth. It asks whether society requires shared heroic narratives to inspire progress, even when those narratives are built upon concealed facts. Ludwig contrasts the harsh, militaristic reality of early space research with the romanticized ideal of space exploration. Jeffrey's internal struggle demonstrates that true selflessness often means surrendering personal glory so that others may hold onto faith, wonder, and courage in the face of the unknown.

Why Read It Today

This short work appeals to readers who enjoy reflective science fiction focused on human emotion rather than technical hardware. It feels intimate and poignant, capturing the quiet dignity of an aging veteran forgotten by history. The prose moves fluidly, creating a vivid contrast between the bright, carnivalesque atmosphere of the celebration and Jeffrey's shadowy, solitary journey through dusty newspaper offices and government corridors.

While the premise includes speculative elements of 1950s Cold War technology, such as rapid memory-washing and nuclear lunar missile bases, these period details give the narrative an endearing retro-futuristic quality rather than undermining its punch. Readers will be moved by Jeffrey's final realization that inspiring future generations matters far more than setting the record straight.