Rush Revere and the First Patriots: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans Page 4

  That’s when I noticed Cam staring at Liberty with his jaw open.

  “Am I seeing things or did that horse just talk?” he mumbled.

  Tommy, who was standing beside Cam, said, “Oh, that’s right. I should’ve warned you about that. He’s a talking horse.”

  Cam slugged Tommy in the arm again and laughed, “Whatever! Where I come from the horses don’t talk! Nice practical joke!”

  Cam was smiling and Tommy looked at me and shrugged like he wasn’t sure what to say next.

  One of Ben Franklin’s most famous inventions—bifocal glasses.

  Benjamin Franklin on the front of the U.S. $100 bill.

  As a boy in Boston, Benjamin Franklin made a pair of swim fins. In comparison to modern-day swim fins, his version was shaped more like an artist’s palette.

  “Seriously,” Cam continued, “that looked like he was actually talking. That’s got to be the best prank ever.”

  Just then the sky lit up and within a few seconds the sound of thunder made all of us jump. Liberty stepped back and yelled, “I’m out of here!” He bolted away from us and out of sight as he rounded the corner of the school.

  “Everyone, please head inside. We don’t have much time before the bell rings and class is over. So let’s meet back at the classroom and finish up today’s lesson.”

  As we headed back inside, random raindrops started to fall from the sky and by the time we were back inside the classroom the drops had turned to a heavy shower.

  The six Franklin objects were placed on the teacher’s desk and once everyone had settled in their seats again I said, “We only talked about some of the inventions and discoveries that came from Benjamin Franklin. There were many others. But it’s clear that he was devoted to improving life. He was a successful businessman, inventor, scientist, and politician. Why do you think he was so successful?”

  “Because he tried new things?” said a boy in the front row.

  “True, I’m sure that had something to do with it. Anyone else?” I asked.

  “Because he had a wild imagination,” said a girl with short hair and freckles.

  “Yes, it would certainly take a big imagination to do some of the things he did.”

  I noticed Freedom raised her hand and I eagerly called on her. She said, “It sounds like he was a hard worker and kept really busy. He wasn’t afraid to try new things. And I bet he didn’t spend all of his free time playing video games.”

  I replied, “True! Video games, movies, iPads, smartphones, or any of the electronic things that we spend time with today didn’t exist when Benjamin Franklin was alive. Think about how much time kids today spend playing video games or watching TV. Now, these aren’t bad things to do but if you used that same amount of time instead to think like Benjamin Franklin, what might you be able to do? What could you create or invent? Your ideas might very well change the world!”

  “What’s up with Freedom knockin’ our video games!” Cam whispered to Tommy. Tommy and Cam fist-bumped and then Cam raised his hand and asked, “That’s cool how he invented all that stuff, but wasn’t Benjamin Franklin one of the Founding Fathers of America? Didn’t he spend a lot of time defending the rights of the colonies?”

  “You’re absolutely right, Cam,” I said. I had forgotten that Cam’s favorite subject was history. “In fact, right after Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod you could say he was struck with an idea to unite the colonies.

  “You mean, he had a brain-storm?” Tommy said, smiling and reaching out to Cam for another fist bump.

  A flash of lightning followed immediately by a loud crack of thunder overhead made everyone jump in their seats. I could hear the heavy rain on the roof of the school.

  I brought my attention back to the students and said, “Yes, Tommy, Franklin had a brainstorm. Like I said earlier, Franklin was a smart man. He was a genius. He was passionate about freedom and ready to defend America with his wit and wisdom! And it was the Stamp Act of 1765 that convinced him that it was time to tell England what he really thought.”

  “What’s the Stamp Act?” asked a girl in the front row.

  “I’m glad you asked,” I said. “Tomorrow, Liberty is going to introduce us to the Stamp Act with a special musical presentation, something you will not want to miss!”

  “You mean, Liberty, your horse?” asked Cam.

  “Yes. Liberty’s a very talented horse. I don’t want to give anything away. Just be sure to come tomorrow and you’ll be in for a special treat.”

  Just then, the school bell rang and the students started gathering their backpacks and exiting the room. Freedom, however, came to the front of the classroom. She looked rather panicked and whispered, “Mr. Revere, we have a situation.”

  “Oh?” I asked. “What seems to be the problem?”

  “It’s Liberty,” she said. “Right after that loud thunderclap I reached out to him with my mind. I sensed he was scared. That lightning and thunder felt like it was right on top of us. Anyway, he’s in the teachers’ lounge waiting for us.”

  “That’s quite the gift you have, Freedom,” I said. “Very convenient. And I wasn’t aware that your telepathic ability to speak to animals could reach beyond just a few yards.”

  “Well, usually, it can’t,” she said. “But I’ve grown a strong connection with Liberty so it’s easier. In fact, he’s learning to speak to my mind as well.”

  “Well, thank you for telling me,” I said sincerely.

  Freedom still looked extremely worried as she glanced over her shoulder waiting for the final students to exit the classroom.

  “Is there something else you needed to tell me?” I asked, almost afraid to hear what she had to say.

  Freedom opened her mouth like she was about to say something but didn’t know how to say it.

  Benjamin Franklin in his printing shop.

  “Just spit it out, Freedom,” I said, encouraging her. “It’s about Liberty, isn’t it?”

  She silently nodded. “He’s not alone in the teachers’ lounge. He’s with, um, he’s with Benjamin Franklin.”

  “Excuse me?” I asked, clearly not hearing her correctly.

  “Liberty’s not sure how it happened,” Freedom exclaimed. “One minute he was hiding in the teacher’s lounge, hoping there wouldn’t be any more lightning. He said that all he could think about was Benjamin Franklin and his invention of the lightning rod. He concentrated really hard and thought that if Ben Franklin were here we’d all be safe. And that’s when the lightning flashed right over the school and the next second, BOOM! Benjamin Franklin appeared out of nowhere!”

  I stood there staring at Freedom like she was a ghost.

  “Mr. Revere,” Freedom asked softly. “Did you hear what I said?”

  I snapped out of my trance and took a deep breath. I exhaled and asked, “Liberty told you all of this?”

  “Yeah, I mean telepathically he did,” she said. “And he’s really scared that you’re going to be mad at him.”

  “Tell him I’m not mad,” I said. Was I stunned? Of course. Worried? Yes. Feeling like the course of world history may have just been altered? Absolutely. “And tell him we’re coming to help.” I took out my phone and texted Tommy: “Need your help. TTWL. Meet in teachers’ lounge ASAP.”

  A copy of Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette, May 9, 1754. His newspaper was the most successful in the colonies.

  Chapter 3

  Freedom and I raced down the hallway to the teachers’ lounge. I could still hear the rain coming down outside but thankfully the lightning and thunder had ceased.

  When we stopped in front of the door Freedom said, “I better wait out here and keep guard.”

  “Good idea,” I replied. I quickly slipped inside the teachers’ lounge. Sure enough, Liberty was standing over a man dressed in colonial clothing who was awkwardly lying on a long orange couch.

  “Are you sure you’re not angry?” Liberty asked timidly.

  “I assure you I’m not mad,” I
said, forcing a smile. I walked closer to get a better look. The middle-aged man appeared to be unconscious but his face looked surprisingly peaceful. “Whoever this is, he’s a dead ringer for Benjamin Franklin,” I said.

  “You mean he’s dead?” Liberty shouted, sounding panicked.

  “Who’s dead?” Tommy said as he walked into the room. “What the . . . who’s that?”

  The door opened again and Freedom peeked inside. “You should try and keep it down . . . Wow! So it really is Benjamin Franklin!” She slipped in all the way and put her back to the door.

  “Benjamin Franklin!” Tommy exclaimed. “You killed Benjamin Franklin?”

  “He’s dead?” Freedom panicked.

  “Yes! I mean no. I mean I don’t know, it all happened so fast!” Liberty whimpered. “I’m going to prison for killing Franklin, aren’t I!”

  I kneeled down to feel the man’s pulse. “He’s not dead. But how did he get like this?”

  “Like—I told—Freedom,” Liberty tried to explain through gasps of anguish and despair. “The lightning flashed, the thunder boomed, and then Mr. Franklin appeared out of nowhere. I think I wished him here.”

  “Sort of like how you can stop time when you concentrate hard enough,” Freedom explained.

  “The shock of traveling through time must’ve been too much for him and he passed out,” Tommy said.

  “I was close enough to push him onto the couch. He almost collapsed onto the floor. That must count for something, right?” Liberty said pleadingly.

  For the first time I looked closely at the face of the supposed Benjamin Franklin. He had wrinkles in his broad forehead and under his eyes. He had a large head and the little hair he had was blond but graying. His leather shoes, cream stockings, and sea-green breeches and coat were clean but somewhat plain. For the first time the realization that I was kneeling above the legendary Benjamin Franklin hit me like a ton of bricks.

  “What’s in his hand?” Tommy asked.

  In his left hand were several pieces of parchment with cursive writing on them. I quickly browsed the pages and after reading several sentences a sense of panic overcame me. “Oh my,” I gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” Freedom asked.

  “This appears to be notes for a speech. If I’m correct, we may have just snatched away Benjamin Franklin before he could persuade the English government to repeal the Stamp Act.”

  “And that’s a bad thing, right?” Liberty worried.

  “I don’t know yet,” I said. “What I do know is that we have to get him back to the past immediately. Lucky for us it doesn’t appear that he’s completely aware of what’s happened. Let’s try to get Mr. Franklin onto Liberty’s saddle. Liberty, move over here so it’s easier for us to hoist him up.”

  As Liberty moved his large equine body, someone tried to enter the teacher’s lounge. The door pushed open only a few inches and Freedom pushed back to close it. “Hey! Open the door,” Elizabeth yelled. “I saw Freedom go in there and I’ve been listening to your conversation. Let me in!”

  Liberty backed up to the door and helped Freedom keep it shut.

  “What do we do?” Freedom whispered.

  “We stick with our plan,” I softly said. “Tommy, Freedom, on the count of three we lift Mr. Franklin onto the saddle. Liberty, keep that door shut.”

  “That I can do!” Liberty said firmly.

  “Hey! I said open the door! I can wait out here all day if I have to,” Elizabeth threatened. “I know I heard Mr. Revere and his circus horse. And I’m pretty sure I heard Tommy’s voice, too. And from the sound of it some dead guy named Franklin. So I’m going to give you thirty seconds to open the door. After that, I’m bringing my dad and you know how big he is. He’ll have this door open in no time!”

  As Elizabeth finished speaking we adjusted Franklin’s body onto the saddle and I slipped on behind him.

  “I’ll try and be back in a flash,” I said.

  “We can’t let Elizabeth catch us in here,” Tommy said.

  “Um, she already has,” Freedom whispered matter-of-factly.

  “No, she hasn’t,” Tommy replied. “Technically, she only saw you come in.”

  “She said she heard our voices,” Freedom said.

  “Well, when she only finds you in here she’ll think again,” Tommy said, smiling.

  “So you’re leaving me here?” Freedom whispered with wide eyes.

  “It’ll be worse if Elizabeth finds all of us together,” Tommy pointed out. “If she just finds you, well, just tell her you were sleepwalking and ended up in the teachers’ lounge.”

  “Sleepwalking?” Freedom shook her head. “That’s a lame excuse.”

  “You’ll think of something,” Tommy said.

  Freedom sighed, “Fine, just go. I’ll figure it out.”

  “Do we have enough room to time-jump in this small room?” Tommy asked.

  I hesitated and said, “Well, we’ve never tried it with this much space but—”

  “I can do it,” Liberty interrupted. “I’ll do anything to get us out of this mess.”

  I turned to Tommy and said, “You’ll need to jump right behind us. We’re headed to England, 1765!”

  Tommy raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, “Cool.”

  “Let’s go, Liberty,” I said.

  In his loudest whisper, Liberty said, “Rush, rush, rushing to history!”

  Like before, the circular portal of swirling purple and gold instantly began to open. I held tightly to Liberty’s saddle and Benjamin Franklin and said, “London, England, 1765, let’s return Benjamin Franklin to the Palace of Westminster.” With a hop, skip, and a jump Liberty bolted up and through our door to the past.

  As we landed the jolt caused Benjamin Franklin to stir. Groggily, he began to come to.

  “Quickly,” I said, “help me get him to the ground.”

  With Tommy’s help we lowered him to a freshly cut lawn. Immediately, I noticed a heavy fog that surrounded us. I couldn’t see much but I could hear the distant sound of horses. Yes, in fact I could see a faint outline of two horses pulling a carriage. Large trees bordered a nearby dirt road that disappeared into a fog bank.

  “Who are you?” Benjamin asked as he looked up at me from the grass.

  “Let me help you up, Mr. Franklin,” I said with eagerness. I grabbed Ben’s hand and pulled him to his feet.

  He stood, brushed himself off, and said, “I’m afraid I’m a bit disoriented. I was riding in a carriage and on my way to give a speech to Parliament and then . . .” He paused. “Let me think, oh yes, there was a brilliant white light and for a second I remember staring at . . . at a horse.” He turned his head and stared at Liberty. He pointed, “That horse!”

  I tried to divert his attention and loudly exclaimed, “Benjamin Franklin! You really are Benjamin Franklin! It’s a great honor, sir. You’re a legend. An American hero. And we’re standing here! With you! Right now! Talking. With you.” He was a very big deal back then. It’s sort of like running into the president! Not exactly, but a big deal.

  “I don’t think we’ve met, sir,” said Benjamin. “You seem to know my name and though I’m flattered by your compliments I’m afraid I’ve much more to accomplish in my life to ever be called any of the things you’ve mentioned. So, tell me, what is your name? And who is this fine young man with you?”

  I was giddy at the sight of one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was shorter than I was, probably about five feet nine or ten inches, but he was larger than life! Standing right in front of me! He put me at ease as he smiled and waited for my response.

  When I continued staring, Tommy grabbed my arm and shook it a little, “Mr. Revere? This is the part where you introduce yourself.”

  I snapped out of my momentary dream and then realized it wasn’t a dream. Benjamin Franklin was actually speaking to me. I took a deep breath and said, “Yes, of course, I’m Rush Revere, history teacher and fellow American.”

/>   “Ah, yes,” said Benjamin. “I thought you might be from the thirteen colonies as your accent sounds a little non-British.”

  Franklin as chief of the Union Fire Company of Philadelphia—the first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia.

  “Oh, yes,” I said, laughing, still feeling a little lightheaded. “I’m from the United States of America.”

  “Pardon me, the united what?” asked Benjamin.

  Tommy whispered, “Mr. Revere, the United States hasn’t been invented yet, remember?”

  “What an interesting thought,” Benjamin said. “I’ll have to try and remember that.”

  I composed myself and said, “It truly is a great honor to meet you. I apologize for sounding like a bumbling idiot.” I turned to Tommy and said, “This is one of my students, Tommy.”

  Liberty cleared his throat for attention and sidestepped close.

  “Oh, and, of course, this is Liberty,” I said with a little bit of apprehension. I was worried that Liberty’s enthusiasm to meet any historical figure, especially one from his own century, might cause him to forget our secret that he was a talking horse. And just like I suspected, he forgot.

  “It’s a great honor, Mr. Franklin, I’m just glad you’re not dead,” said Liberty with great enthusiasm.

  “Fascinating,” said Benjamin as he began to closely examine Liberty like he was an exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. “Absolutely fascinating!”

  “Oh, yes,” Liberty continued. “You can’t begin to know the relief I felt when I found out you were still alive! Whew! Seriously, seeing you standing here brings me a lot of joy! Yes, sir. Joy with a capital J.”

  Benjamin looked into Liberty’s mouth and then into his ears and nose. He finally said, “I’m thoroughly impressed. It appears you have the ability to reason and can fluently speak the English language.” He turned to me and asked, “Is this an invention of your doing?”