Imagination can sometimes be better than reality...Ray Bradbury's "The Rocket"

An anthology including The Rocket.

Plot [Wikipedia]...

The story begins with Fiorello Bodoni, a poor junkyard owner, who spends his nights admiring nearby rocket launches bound for the Moon, Venus and Mars. After six years, he has finally saved enough money to send one of his family members to Mars. However, when he presents the opportunity to his wife and children, they quickly realize that none could bear the guilt of experiencing such a wonderful journey while the rest stay behind. Bodini dejectedly returns to his business, but after a stroke of luck, is offered the chance to purchase a mock-up rocket.

He decides to spend his savings on the mock-up and secretly spends the night building a replica rocket with a theater in the cabin using color film, mirrors and screens. He then excitedly tells his family that they will all be able to make the journey to Mars and back. Despite his wife's hesitations, he takes his children on a convincing trip to outer-space, one that they say they will "remember... for always."

In the end, his wife realizes what a wonderful memory he has given their children, even though the rocket never left the ground, and agrees to share a short trip in the rocket with him in the future.

Audio presentation...

NBC Short Story's The Rocket by Ray Bradbury [1952]

NBC Presents: Short Story [Wikipedia]