Benjamin Dragon - Awakening (The Chronicles of Benjamin Dragon) (12 page)

Chapter 30: Propositions

Benjamin didn’t know how to answer. Was Trevane being serious? Benjamin held his breath waiting for the punch line of the joke. None came.

“B-but the drawing,” stammered Benjamin.

Trevane waved the thought away like he was getting rid of a pesky gnat.

“It was always going to be you, Benjamin.”

Trevane’s face had changed subtlety. Most kids probably wouldn’t had notice it. Benjamin did because he’d made a habit of learning facial expressions since he was little. Since he couldn’t read emotions through what people said, he’d found that reading their faces was more accurate. Trevane looked like a man in his element. He resembled a proud hunter that had finally captured a prized lion.

“Why me?” Benjamin choked out.

Trevane laughed and looked at his watch. “I’ll keep this short because my team will be here soon. They don’t know anything about this, and you’d be smart not to tell them or anyone else about this conversation.” He paused to make sure Benjamin understood. “I know all about your gift, Benjamin.”

Benjamin inhaled sharply. Warning bells rang in his head, threatening to destroy his composure. How could Trevane know?

“Let me guess. Kennedy came to see you before camp?”

Fear filled Benjamin’s eyes.

“How do you…”

“Oh, Kennedy came to see me a few years ago too. Back then my career was just taking off. One day he shows up at one of my concerts and tells me the same thing he probably told you. Destroyers, healers, blah, blah, blah.”

“Are you…”

“A destroyer? Yeah I am.”

Benjamin didn’t know whether to be scared or relieved. Trevane’s cold vibe hadn’t changed.

“I mentioned plans a minute ago. Have you watched the news lately? All the war. All the death. We have people in power all over the world that have no idea what they’re doing. I want to change that. It won’t be overnight. I’ve already started laying the groundwork. Everyone loves what I stand for. I get access to almost anywhere I want. I’ve met most of the leaders of the countries that really matter.” He paused to flick a tick off his forearm. It seemed symbolic somehow.

“So why were you looking for me?”

Trevane chuckled huskily.

“Let’s just say I don’t really believe in Kennedy’s way. I think there’s a better way. Right now the rest of our kind are reactive. They
wait
for something to happen. I say we
start
making things happen. It’s time for the world to know that there is another power capable of keeping them safe and happy. In order to do that, I need more people like me. Do you understand the power that we have?”

Without warning Trevane sprang up and jumped off the cliff. It was so fast that Benjamin barely had a chance to catch himself from falling. He was so surprised he didn’t even scream.

A second later a grinning Trevane levitated up and over the lip of the cliff. He landed gently on the large rock, his arms crossed smugly.

“You see? I’ll bet you didn’t know you’d be able to do that!”

Panicky eyes searched for help. There was no way Benjamin wanted to jump off a cliff. Was this all a test? Trevane read his mind.

“Don’t worry,” he soothed. “It’ll be a while before you can do that. I just wanted to show you one of the many things we can do. So what do you say? Want to be like me? I can teach you. I can train you. Just think, you’ll never be bullied again. You’ll never have to worry about finding friends.”

Benjamin looked queasy again. It sounded tempting. He’d never dreamed that something like that was possible. Him friends with Jacee Trevane? What could it hurt?

Before he could answer, a voice sounded from the way they’d come.

“Leave him alone, Jacee.”

They both turned to see Wally Goodfriend strolling up with an ornately carved walking stick. His face was clouded and serious.

“I was wondering if you were going to show up, Wally,” said Trevane. “I thought you would’ve been at the camp.”

“Got caught helping a family of beavers last night. Didn’t get the message from Kennedy until this morning when I got back.”

Benjamin looked between the two men, surprise registering on his face.

“Well, you just missed our little chat. I think Benjamin will be fine. Feel free to head home.” Trevane waved a dismissal.

“I don’t think so.” Wally spread his feet and stomped his walking stick on the hard-packed ground.

Trevane’s eyes narrowed and his smile turned into a tight frown.

“Why don’t we let the kid decide?” Trevane looked down at Benjamin, who by now was looking at his feet trying to pretend he was somewhere else.

“I think you’d better head back to camp, Jacee,” suggested Wally. His face was as serious as Benjamin had ever seen it.

Who was Benjamin supposed to believe? If he was to believe Jacee, his life would change in unimaginable ways. He could be
someone
.

If he sided with Wally, his path was still uncertain. His mind wandered as he imagined what the always decisive Nathan would do. Would he have to leave home?

The decision was made not by Benjamin, Trevane or Wally. Instead, the film crew emerged from another wooded trail fifty yards away with cameras rolling. Trevane immediately plastered a grin on his face. “I was wondering where you guys had gone!” he yelled good-naturedly.

“Got a little turned around back there,” said the lead assistant. “You told us to take a left at the fork.”

“Sorry about that,” said Trevane. “I must’ve gotten my wires crossed.”

The film crew stopped when they noticed Wally standing off to the side. One of Trevane’s security staff stepped around the rest of the group to get a better vantage point and assess whether the large man was a threat to his boss.

“Don’t worry, Johnny,” Trevane calmed. “We just met Wally. He lives up here and saw us passing by. Thought he’d come say hello. Nice guy. Helps out at the camp sometimes, right, Wally?”

Wally nodded and tried to soften his features. He knew how imposing his massive frame could be. “Didn’t mean to startle you folks. It’s like Mr. Trevane said. Was just out for my daily stroll when I happened to see them up here. Just being neighborly,” answered Wally with a tense smile.

The security guy relaxed along with the rest of Trevane’s entourage.

“How about we all get back. Benjamin here tells me he doesn’t want to miss any of his afternoon classes.”

Benjamin knew the last comment had been for the benefit of the cameras. He hadn’t said anything about wanting to get back. In fact, he’d rather stay where they were and continue the conversation with Wally and Jacee.

+++

They’d said goodbye to Wally before heading back down the hiking trail. Although the big man had gone, Benjamin could’ve sworn he kept seeing glimpses of his friend in the woods.

Trevane didn’t seem to notice and spent the return trip joking and chatting as if nothing had happened. Benjamin tried to play along, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Was this little adventure a part of his chosen path?

+++

After returning to camp greeted by the cheers of campers happy to see their idol, Jacee thanked the staff and Benjamin for the hike.

“I’ll have to tell all my friends about it. Maybe they’ll come with me next time!” said Jacee.

As he said his goodbyes, Trevane shook Benjamin’s hand. There was something in it. He bent down to Benjamin’s height. In a voice only the ten-year-old could hear he said, “Remember what I told you, Benjamin. We could do BIG things together. Think about it. That’s my card. It has my personal cell phone number on it. Call me when you get home.”

Benjamin looked down at the thick white business card in his hand. I was blank except for
Jacee Trevane
printed on one side and a handwritten phone number on the other. A thrill of excitement coursed through his body.

“Thanks, Jacee.”

“No problem, buddy.”

He patted Benjamin on the back, turned, bowed to the crowd and hopped in the black SUV. As they drove off, Benjamin was mobbed by fellow campers anxious to hear about his once in a lifetime experience. Little did they know that the hike would be just the beginning.

Chapter 31: End of Camp

For two days, Benjamin lived like a celebrity. Girls touched him for no reason. Boys asked to be in pictures with him. He reluctantly accepted the adulation.

Luckily he’d remembered to get Trevane to sign a couple things for his friends. He particularly cherished the look on Emily’s face when he handed her a smooth river rock signed by the famous singer.

“Thank you so much, Benjamin!” she squealed and hugged him.

He wished he had a thousand more signed river rocks for Emily.

The excitement died down gradually. Nathan somehow made it known that his friend no longer wanted to be bothered. The few people that didn’t get the hint were shooed away by either Nathan or Aaron.

They were nearing the end of camp and everyone was trying to soak up their last bits of freedom.

+++

Benjamin visited Wally two more times before leaving for home. The first visit felt awkward. Neither one knew quite what to say and they just sat in front of the fire sipping steaming cups of hot chocolate.

During the second visit, Wally’s mood lightened. It made Benjamin feel better. He thought he’d done something wrong. Benjamin was curious about the confrontation on the hilltop.

“So what’s Jacee all about, Wally?”

The large healer huffed and threw another log on the fire. Sparks flew as the wood bounced and then settled.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on him for a while. I won’t tell you he’s a bad kid…it’s just that we get the feeling that he’s up to no good.”

“Like how?”

Wally stared into the fire, his features twisting in contemplation.

“I probably shouldn’t…I just…Kennedy would be really mad if I told you.”

“Told me what?”

“Now that’s enough about that. I don’t even know everything. How about you ask Kennedy about it the next time you see him?”

And with that Wally changed the subject and dodged further questioning.

They ended the visit promising to stay in touch. Benjamin scribbled his email address on a faded yellow lined pad sitting on the kitchen table. Wally did the same and ripped it off and gave it to Benjamin.

“Now you take care, okay?” said Wally, offering his hand.

“I will,” Benjamin promised, shaking the hand that was three times the size of his own.

+++

Summer camp ended all too soon. The final camp fire was filled with skits by campers and staff. One of the favorites was when campers impersonated camp staff. One boy did a hilarious impression of Mr. Hendrix manning his bull horn. Even Mr. Hendrix laughed until his stomach hurt.

The next morning new friends cried as they said their goodbyes. Tribe mates signed the backs of the tribe pictures they’d taken earlier in camp. Nathan wrote something funny on his fellow Tomahawk’s pictures. Benjamin just wrote,
‘See you next summer, Benjamin.’

Mrs. Dragon and Mrs. Pratt arrived in a flurry of hugs and kisses.

“My goodness! You boys look like you’ve grown a foot!” exclaimed Mrs. Pratt.

When they were finally able to pry their moms off, the two boys made their last trip to the camp store. Nathan only had five dollars left in his account and spent it on a camp postcard and some candy. Benjamin was surprised to see that he still had almost one hundred dollars left in his account. He looked at Nathan, who grinned back.

Ten minutes later, the two boys emerged with matching rabbit skin pelts, rabbit’s feet, camp coins, small bags of fake snakes and loads of candy, of course.

“You boys ready?” asked Mrs. Dragon.

Benjamin and Nathan looked at each other and nodded with suddenly droopy dispositions. Goodbye, Camp Wahamalican!

Chapter 32
: Back to Reality

Benjamin sat on his bed twirling Jacee’s business card in his hand. He hadn’t moved from the spot for close to an hour. His cell phone sat ready beside him on a pillow.

He’d been home for almost a week. After the final talk with Wally, he thought for sure Kennedy would have called, emailed, something! What was he supposed to do?

Frustration and impatience was making him grumpy. Even his dad had noticed. It didn’t help that he was bored. Compared to the constant activity at camp, summer life at home was downright dull.

Benjamin looked at the handwritten number one last time then rose from his mussed bed and repined the card in the middle of the corkboard next to his desk.

“He probably wouldn’t remember me anyway,” he muttered.

+++

After a snack of crackers and cheese, Benjamin decided to go for a walk. He would’ve asked Nathan to come with him if he didn’t have to work at his dad’s shop during the day to pay back the money for camp. Aaron was out of town with his parents and Emily was busy at dance camp.

With his parents at work all day, Benjamin was left on his own. Mr. and Mrs. Dragon knew he wouldn’t get into trouble. He hadn’t before. They trusted him to stick close to home and call if he needed anything.

Benjamin shoved his cell phone in a pocket and left out the garage door. He could get back in by entering a code that would open the automatic door.

Not really having a destination, Benjamin headed in the general direction of the small town center. Maybe he’d stop in at the little hobby shop. There were a bunch of cool things to look at. Besides, he had money burning a hole in his pocket. He’d hoarded his weekly allowance for months. Maybe there would be a new model airplane or metal figurine he could buy. He liked the ones that were molded into fire-breathing dragons, of course.

+++

The hobby shop only had a couple people roaming around. Benjamin walked in and let the cool air conditioning sweep over his body. He’d worked up a sweat just walking there. It was getting midsummer hot outside.

He spent a few minutes perusing the aisles looking to see if there was anything new since the last time he’d been in. Stopping at a large glass case next to another boy his age, Benjamin peered in. There were two opposing armies of painted metal figurines lined and ready for battle. One side had knights, archers and a king and queen. The other had orcs, goblins, trolls and a dragon.

Benjamin always thought it was interesting that dragons were on the bad side in most stories. Why couldn’t there be more good dragons…like him?

+++

He left the craft shop after paying for his new model M1A1 Abrams tank and miniature dragon. At least it would give him something to do for a day or two. Benjamin thought about painting the dragon red before adding it to his collection. He had nine others hidden in an old box in his bedroom closet. Maybe it was time to take them out and put them on display.

+++

Without even realizing where he was going, Benjamin looked up and noticed he’d somehow made it to the park he and Nathan liked to hang out at. It gave him an idea.

He found a secluded spot and sat down. There were a couple parents with kids at the jungle gym, but they were talking or checking their phones.

Benjamin decided to start easy. He picked a blade of grass and held it in his palm. After closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he focused on the one-inch piece of greenery. He stared and stared. He tried to will it to move. He whispered, “Float.” Nothing. No movement. Not even a flutter.

Wally said it took practice. Benjamin silently promised himself that he would practice each and every day. That way, whenever he chose his path, his ‘gift’ would be ready to be used.

Taking another steadying breath, Benjamin refocused on the object in his hand. This time, instead of trying to make the grass move, he pretended he was the grass. A second later he felt a funny sensation. The grass hadn’t moved, so he looked around. He was floating a foot off the ground!

His surprise was complete. As quick as it had happened, it ended. Benjamin’s rear thumped down onto the ground. He hastily looked around to see if anyone had noticed. No one had.

Grabbing his shopping bag, Benjamin made the wise decision that maybe practicing in the privacy of his fenced-in backyard would be better. Excited about the prospect, he ran all the way home.

+++

Benjamin grabbed a glass of ice water on his way out the back door. Finding a quiet spot on the grass underneath a weeping willow, he sat down anxiously. A couple deep breaths got his heartbeat under control. He now knew how Jacee had levitated. It was simply a matter of making
himself
float like the object. In a roundabout way he could fly, but not really. It should be simple.

Closing his eyes, Benjamin imagined himself rising. He peeked once through squinted eyes. Still on the ground. Next he thought of things that were light like feathers or balls of cotton. He tried to make his body just as weightless. Nothing.

He thought that maybe if he fully relaxed it would be easier, so he lay down on his back with arms spread wide. A bird singing in the tree distracted him. The red breasted sparrow chirped and quipped, ignoring him completely. Still he couldn’t make himself rise in the air.

Benjamin thought back to what he was thinking about when it had happened at the park. The grass!

He sat up and pulled a dark green strand of grass. Holding it in his hand, he closed his eyes, hoping it would work. It did! A second later he was floating lightly in the air. He had a better grasp of it this time. Instead of plunking down, he controlled his thoughts and easily glided around the yard a foot above the grass.

At one point he spun himself around so fast that he almost lost control. He laughed at the feeling. His body parts still felt normal. It wasn’t like what he’d read in books. He was simply willing his own body in a way he’d never thought possible.

It was time to try something harder. While still floating, Benjamin focused his attention on a small rock a few feet away. He didn’t get it the first time and knocked his tailbone pretty good when he dropped down.

Making his body rise was effortless this time. He didn’t even need the piece of grass. Sitting in the air cross-legged, Benjamin allowed part of his mind to keep him in the air while focusing another part of his brain to lift the rock. It kind of felt like that old trick where you pat your head and rub your belly at the same time. Benjamin figured he could do the same with his gift.

This time it did work. The stone rose slowly and moved to Benjamin’s silent command bobbing and twirling as if on a string.

“Benjamin!” came the call from inside. It was Mrs. Dragon. Benjamin and the rock fell unceremoniously back to earth. He rubbed his rear from the repeated thumps.

“I’m in the back, mom!” he called back.

A moment later Mrs. Dragon opened the back door.

“What are you doing back here, honey?” she asked.

“Oh, just…hanging out.”