Blogging Friends.... Well, this fictional children's book was fun to
write!! How so? One of my characters--Brayden--was named after somebody who I
am in close proximity to. He will turn eleven--gasp!!--in August. I asked
permission to use Brayden's unique name, and he said "yes"!! But not
without one suggestion. Brayden told me not to make his character clumsy!! Roger
that!! However. What I did not expect, was that I'd create my Brayden so much
like the real Brayden.... Love you later.
I know, I know.... I promised
that this fictional children's book would be posted on July 2nd. But here's the thing. This very fictional
children's book was not finished until 10:16 PM that day!! By the way? It took me
five freakin' days to write!! See, my youngest brother, Michael, was exchanging
bedrooms with our sister. He and I are
now roomies!! As I helped move them, there was not a lot of time to write!!
So. Here it is!! "Better late than never", as that phrase goes? Sigh.... This is why I don't do deadlines!!
"Creating beautiful mosaic artwork" with the broken,
shattered pieces of my lifelong dream to be an author....
For my dear Blogging Friends who have children. You may print
this story off and read it to them!!
I am alright with that!! Enjoy!!
"The Secret Project"
Some children go to school, sit in class, learn from their teachers'
lessons and earn straight A's with seemingly very little, if not any, effort.
Others? They work very, very, very hard for their grades. And others? They are
brilliant geniuses!! For these children, being smart simply comes naturally!! That
is what everybody says about eleven-year old best buddies Brayden and Freedom!!
They are brilliant geniuses. See, some
children learn best by working with their hands, rather than just listening to
teachers. Some children learn best by
doing. Some children learn best by experience. Such is the case with
Brayden and Freedom. Because for these two? Their teachers' lessons often go
unheard.
These two best buddies are inventors, creators, and builders. They
can make anything out of scrap metal, from a truck to an Iron Patriot statue. Which
is even painted red, white and blue!! With Freedom's Dad, Adam's help, they
build creations all by themselves. At Freedom's house, there is a huge two-car
garage. That's where he and Brayden build their projects. On the morning of Tuesday,
July 1st, while Adam was working at a scrap metal dump--he brings home leftover
parts--they were upstairs in Freedom's bedroom. His Mom, Olivia, had been busy baking
chocolate chip/red white and blue-colored M&M cookies. Its sweet smell
filled the entire house. Then suddenly Brayden thought of an exciting idea!!
"You know what I have always wanted to do?" said Brayden,
"Build a time machine!!"
"Really?!" said Freedom, with excitement in his voice,
"A time machine?! You mean like on Back
to the Future? Cool!! What time period would you travel to?"
"When dinosaurs still existed and roamed the Earth!!" said
Brayden, "Wouldn't that be awesome?! Dinosaurs come in all kinds of different
shapes and sizes!! Do they have scales on their bodies like snakes? I would
love to see one!!"
Freedom smiled at his best buddy.
"You mean you're dying
to see one." he said.
"What?" asked Brayden.
"You do know that dinosaurs were dangerous creatures,"
Freedom said, "Right? You know that dinosaurs could--and would--eat your
body whole!! So you're dying to see
one. Get it?"
"Ha. Ha. Ha," answered an unamused Brayden, "Some dinosaurs were leaf-eaters!! Besides. That does not stop me from
wanting to see one!! A powerful short-armed tyrannosaurus rex. The weird-looking ceratopsia with his
horny face. A long-necked sauropoda. Besides.
I can run very fast!!"
"Uh, okay...." said Freedom.
"Let's built a time machine!!" suggested Brayden,
"Right now. Because I am bored!! Let's travel to when dinosaurs roamed the
Earth!! Come on, come on, come on!!"
"But my Dad is not home," said Freedom, "We have
never built anything without his help. I don't know about this...."
"But we can do it!!" said Brayden, "Trust me!! We
have build so many things from scrap metal. More than I can count, even!! I
have shelves and shelves and shelves in my bedroom full of our scrap metal
creations!! You've seen them!! I know we can do it!!"
"You are right," said Freedom, "We can do it!!
Besides. Everybody does call us 'brilliant geniuses'!! Okay!! Let's go and build
our time machine!!"
"Can we travel back to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth?!"
asked Brayden.
"Oh, alright," answered Freedom, "But only because
building a time machine was your idea!!"
"How about we make this our secret project?" suggested
Brayden, "We won't tell anybody!! Not our parents. Friends. Neighbors.
Nobody!!"
"Okay!!" said Freedom, "It is our secret project!! I
like that!!"
Brayden and Freedom excitedly ran downstairs. They loved to build
creations from scrap metal. As a matter of fact. Brayden's Dad, William, and
Mom, Martha, often joke that the best buddies are "addicted" to
building with scrap metal. Because they cannot go even one day without their
hobby!! Every evening, when Adam comes home from work, the boys beg him for
help with a project. Because after all, this is their one and only opportunity!!
Brayden would need to leave for dinner soon!! And Adam always does help them!!
"What are you two doing?" asked a smiling Olivia.
Brayden and Freedom stopped running. They were now as still as
statutes. For the best buddies knew very well that Olivia could not know about
their secret project.
"Uh.... Nothing, Mom," lied Freedom, "We were
just--uh--we were just going outside to play!!"
Phew!! Freedom thought, That was
not too far from the truth!! Because, seriously? We are going
to the garage. Which is sort of like 'outside'. And we are going to 'play' with
scrap metal!!
"Well, have one of my cookies," said Olivia, "They
are still warm!! Have fun, boys!!"
Brayden and Freedom each happily took one chocolate chip/red, white
and blue-colored M&M cookie. Then they watched sneakily as Olivia bent over
to pull some more out of her oven. Because Brayden and Freedom were so eager
about their secret project!! Finally they ran toward the two-car garage!! As
fast as their legs could carry them!! In the garage, they ate the delicious cookies.
Soon Brayden and Freedom began work on their secret project!!
Building something from scrap metal can take its own sweet time. Brayden
and Freedom began their secret project on the morning of Tuesday, July 1st.
They worked very, very, very hard for hours. Several hours!! For they worked from morning to evening. The best
buddies only took one short break that day {A crunchy peanut butter and grape
jelly sandwich for lunch!!} until adding even more scrap metal parts to their
time machine. When they were finished for the day, Freedom covered up their
secret project with an army green-colored tarp. They use it on camping trips. Then
William picked Brayden up for dinner.
"Ask your parents if you can spend the night at my house,"
whispered Freedom, "Then you and I can work on our secret project as soon
as we wake up!! Okay?"
"Dad, can I spend the night at Freedom's house?" asked
Brayden, "Please, please, please, please, please?"
"Sure, I don't see any reason why not," William said,
"Be good!! And I will see you tomorrow, son!!"
Soon it was the morning of Wednesday, July 2nd. Brayden and Freedom
hurriedly ate sweet sugary Fruit Loops for breakfast. Yum!! Then they watched
sneakily as Adam got ready to leave for work. Brayden and Freedom were so eager
about their secret project!! Finally they ran toward the two-car garage!! As
fast as their legs could carry them!! Soon Brayden and Freedom continued to
build the time machine!! Again, they worked very, very, very hard for hours. Several hours!! For they worked from
morning to evening. The best buddies only took one short break that day {Cheese
pizza for lunch!!} until adding even more scrap metal parts to their secret
project. Again, Brayden spent the night at Freedom's house!!
Adam had noticed something unusual about his son and best buddy
lately. They were no longer begging him to help build scrap metal creations
after he came home from work. So that evening, as they ate some of Olivia's creamy
homemade chicken broccoli alfredo, Adam asked why. Freedom froze as though
somebody touched him in a game of "Freeze Tag". For Adam could not
know about their secret project, either. This time, Brayden came to the rescue
with a little white lie.
"Uh.... We do not like building things with scrap metal,
anymore," he said, "You know how kids go though fazes and
obsessions!! But--uh--do not stop bringing home leftover scrap metal parts....
Just in case we ever decide to like building things again!!"
Soon it was the morning of Thursday, July 3rd. Brayden and Freedom
hurriedly ate some sweet sugary Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast. Yum!!
Again, they watched sneakily as Adam got ready to leave for work. Because Brayden
and Freedom were so eager about their secret project!! Again, they ran toward
the two-car garage!! As fast as their legs could carry them!! Soon Brayden and
Freedom continued to build the time machine!! Again, they worked very, very,
very hard for hours. Several hours!!
For they worked from morning to evening. Again, the best buddies only took one
short break that day {Salty microwaved soft pretzels for lunch!!} until adding
even more scrap metal parts to their secret project.
"We have been working on our time machine for three days now!!"
complained Brayden, "I've counted. This is taking forever!!"
"It's like a work of fine art," said Freedom, "These
things take time!! Remember? Yes, even time machines take time to build!! And
you cannot rush fine art!!"
Brayden smiled at his best buddy.
"Even time machines take time to build...." he repeated.
Soon it was the morning of Friday, July 4th. Brayden and Freedom hurriedly
ate some sweet Cocoa Puffs for breakfast. Yum!! Again, they watched sneakily as
Adam got ready to leave for work. Because Brayden and Freedom were so eager
about their secret project!! Again, they ran toward the two-car garage!! As
fast as their legs could carry them!! Soon Brayden and Freedom continued to
build the time machine!! Again, they worked very, very, very hard for hours. Several hours!! And at last, their scrap
metal time machine was coming together!!
"Soon we will travel back to when dinosaurs roamed the
Earth!!" said Brayden.
"Yeah!!" said Freedom, "In a time machine that we
built.... All by ourselves!!"
"It is pretty awesome!!" said Brayden, "See? I told
you we could do it!!"
Brayden and Freedom opened the two-car garage doors. They sat in
their time machine's seats. Together Brayden and Freedom positioned the steering
wheels. Like trained pilots, they then pushed buttons to assure liftoff. This
was it!! Brayden and Freedom were going to see actual real live dinosaurs in a
matter of time!! Like powerful short-armed tyrannosaurus rexes. Weird-looking ceratopsians with their
horny faces. Long-necked sauropods. And even more dinosaurs!! The two best
buddies were getting very excited!!
"It feels like we are astronauts flying to outer space, not
time travelers!!" said Freedom.
"10.... 9.... 8.... 7.... 6.... 5.... 4.... 3.... 2....
1," Brayden joked.
"Blastoff!!" they yelled together.
Just then, their time machine moved, and flew out the garage doors!!
It seemed as though "blastoff" was a magic word!! The time machine
moved fast at 100 miles-per-hour!! Everything then became a colorful blur of
red, white and blue. It was as though they were flying toward an American flag!!
The colors then started to spin in circles of red, white and blue. They spun faster,
faster, faster, faster. Then, during seemingly far less time it took to build
their secret project, Brayden and Freedom landed!!
They opened the door. What their eyes saw
next shocked and surprised them both.... There were no dinosaurs roaming
around. Not even one!! No ceratopsians. No tyrannosaurus rexes. No sauropods. Nothing!!
"Wait. What?!" said Brayden, "This cannot be right.
We were travelling to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth!! Where are they? What
happened?"
Freedom cringed.
"Um.... I might have--maybe--quite possibly--pushed the wrong
button?" he confessed.
"What?!" yelled Brayden, "You pushed the wrong
button?! How?"
"I do not know!!" answered Freedom, "There were so
many different buttons...."
Brayden calmed down.
"Well, where are we?" he asked, "What day is
it?"
Just as those very questions were asked, a man riding his black-colored
horse rode up to Brayden and Freedom. He was wearing clothing that looked like
something George Washington would wear. A buttoned jacket. Baggy pants. Buckled
shoes. The man rode up to Brayden and Freedom, stopped his horse, then handed
them each two copies of paper with lots of words. Brayden and Freedom looked at
them.
"Liberty throughout the land, liberty to all people!!" he
announced, "Behold!! I present to
you the Declaration of Independence!!"
"Wait. What?!" said Freedom, " The Declaration of Independence?!
Is this.... July 4th, 1776?!"
The man scowled at Brayden and Freedom. There was a confused look
written on his face. Because how can they possibly know about The Declaration
of Independence or July 4th, 1776 already?! He just sat there on his horse for several
seconds and did not say a word.
"Where are we?" Brayden asked the man, "What day is
this? July 4th, 1776?"
"Aye!!" answered the man, "It is the evening of July
4th, 1776!!"
"You are in Philadelphia lads," he continued. "Where the Declaration of Independence {These very important papers
which I have handed you} were previously written. But do please excuse me. I
must hurry and spread this happy news throughout the thirteen colonies!! Farwell!!"
Then, just like that, the man rode away!!
"Wow. Just wow!!" said Freedom,
"We traveled back in time to July 4th, 1776!!"
"Yeah!!" said Brayden, "Let's
jump on a horse and follow that man!! Then we will observe real life American
history!!"
And that was exactly what Brayden and
Freedom did!! Because some children learn best by working with their hands, rather than
just listening to teachers. Some children
learn best by doing. Some children learn best by experience. There were no
beautiful red, white and blue-colored fireworks exploding in the Philadelphia
skies that July 4th night. However. Brayden and Freedom did hear the Liberty
Bell ringing. DONG. DONG. DONG. DONG. DONG. It rang of America's independence loud
and proud!!
That was a wonderful story Raelyn, you really captured the children's excitement at building and travelling in their time machine. Good luck with getting it published!
ReplyDeleteLynne x
Lynne....
DeleteThank-you for the comment, Friend!!
"That was a wonderful story Raelyn, you really captured the children's excitement at building and travelling in their time machine." Thanks!! I am glad you enjoyed it!! ;op