Benjamin Dragon - Awakening (The Chronicles of Benjamin Dragon) (4 page)

Chapter 9
: Practice Makes Perfect

Benjamin stood in shock. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about it, especially after the pencil thing. But he didn’t feel any different. Shouldn’t he at least feel
something
? 

“That’s impossible,” said Benjamin.

“Has anything else weird happened?”

“I don’t think so,” mumbled Benjamin. The look on his face gave him away.

“I thought so!” smiled Nathan, triumphantly.

Benjamin wanted to melt into the ground.

“So what was it? Did you fly in the air or stop time?” asked Nathan, his face a mask of unbridled curiosity.

“I…it was nothing, I think.”

“Tell me, dude.”

Benjamin finally looked up at the larger boy and told him the story about dropping the pencil in class.

“That’s awesome!”

Benjamin smiled sheepishly, but then a look of dread replaced the grin.

“You can’t tell anyone,” pleaded Benjamin.

“Why not? This is gonna be so sweet!”

Benjamin’s fear-filled eyes stopped Nathan’s exultation.

“What is it?”

Tears welled in Benjamin’s eyes.

“What’s wrong?” asked Nathan cautiously.

“I don’t want to be a freak. They always make fun of me. I don’t want to make it worse.”

“Come on, it won’t be that bad. You’ll be so popular. Besides, if anyone tries to mess with you, I’ll take care of them.”

He punched his palm with his fist. The
smack
almost made Benjamin jump.

“You have to promise me you won’t tell anyone, Nathan.”

Nathan stared at Benjamin with a stupid smirk.

“Fine,” he said finally. “But I get to be your sidekick.”

After swearing to keep the secret, the two boys spit into their hands and shook on it. Benjamin’s secret was safe.

“So what should we try to do first?” Nathan asked excitedly.

Benjamin shrugged.

“I don’t know how to do it.”

“It’s probably just like those movies. Concentrate on something really hard and make it move.”

Nathan picked up a small brown rock and held it in his open hand.

“This should be easy. Try it!”

Benjamin looked around the park to see if anyone was watching. They were the only ones there.

Benjamin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to concentrate.

“Here goes…”

+++

Benjamin tried to move the small rock for almost an hour. Sometimes he would just stand and stare at it, willing it to move. Other times he tried putting his hand about six inches above it. One time Nathan said he thought he felt something, but it turned out to be a breeze blowing through the deserted park.

“It’s okay. Why don’t we try again tomorrow?” suggested Nathan. “Here, catch.”

The tiny rock lobbed its way toward Benjamin, who wasn’t expecting the throw. He moved to shield his face. Instead of hitting him, the stone stopped in midair, pivoted and rocketed back at Nathan.

“Ouch!” yelled Nathan when the pebble pegged his chest.

Benjamin hadn’t seen it.

“What happened?” he asked, frightened.

Nathan was rubbing his chest, but smiling.

“You did it.”

“Did what?”

“The rock stopped in the air and flew back at me.”

“I did that?” asked Benjamin, in shock.

“Yeah.”

The huge grin on Nathan’s face made Benjamin smile back. He looked down at his hand. It didn’t look any different. There weren’t any trails of smoke or scorch spots. Wasn’t that how it worked in the movies?

“What were you thinking when you did it?” asked Nathan.

“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want it to hit my face.”

Nathan snapped his fingers.

“Have you ever heard about how people get like super strength and stuff when there’s an emergency?”

“You mean like when a dad lifts a whole car off his kids or something?”

“Yeah! Maybe you’re doing the same thing.”

“I don’t know, Nathan. It doesn’t make me feel any different. I think I remember reading it’s all adrenaline when that happens.”

“So?”

“So when it’s over the person feels really tired. I don’t feel tired or anything.”

“Hmmm. Maybe your powers are just stronger. Maybe you won’t get drained.”

They could’ve kept talking about theories but Nathan’s cell phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out.

“It’s my mom. Shoot. I better go. Try again tomorrow after school?”

Benjamin nodded.

“Cool. See ya, Dragon!”

Benjamin watched him go. He’d told the truth. He didn’t feel any different. Maybe a little scared. What if his weird powers hurt someone? What if they happened when he didn’t want them to? What if someone found out? What if his parents found out?

As he turned and walked home, Benjamin Dragon vowed to not let his parents or anyone other than Nathan know. He didn’t want to be a freak.

But a small part of his mind started to think about the possibilities. What would his powers let him do?

Chapter 10
: The Note

Over the next few days Benjamin and Nathan spent every afternoon together. Sometimes they would go to the park and other days they would go to one of their houses.

They called it their ‘practice.’ The whole throw-something-at-Benjamin thing didn’t work much. Benjamin suspected that it was because he wasn’t surprised anymore. He knew Nathan was throwing a ball, a Cheeto or a stick at him.

Their practices got shorter and shorter as Benjamin’s gift seemed to disappear.

“Maybe your brain’s just tired,” said Nathan one day.

“Maybe.”

Benjamin didn’t like disappointing his friend, but part of him was almost relieved. Sure it was cool to have a special gift, but he couldn’t shake the fear that he might hurt someone without even knowing it.

On their last day of practice, Benjamin finally mustered the courage to bring up the subject with Nathan.

“What do you think would happen if someone got hurt?” asked Benjamin.

“What do you mean?” asked Nathan, whose mouth was full of puffy Cheetos. It was one of the perks of coming to Benjamin’s house. His parents let him eat anything since he was so skinny.

“What if I accidently hurt someone with my power? I’ve already given you bruises three times.”

Nathan thought about the question as he continued to shove the cheesy snacks in his mouth.

“We’ll keep practicing until you can control it. Don’t be such a worry wart.”

Benjamin wasn’t sure he could control it. He hadn’t yet.

+++

The next day at school was just like any other. Benjamin opened his dinged blue locker to get his brown bag before lunch. His mom still liked to pack it for him. Benjamin didn’t mind. She always bought him expensive organic food from the only specialty store in town. Mrs. Dragon thought it would make him healthier.

Benjamin’s friends gave him a hard time about the bagged lunch until they saw what was inside. They always wanted to trade. So instead of his packed lunch, Benjamin would always have an ample supply of school cafeteria pizza, French fries and ice cream. He liked it better anyway, and it made him look a little cooler in the eyes of his new friends. Sometimes they fought over who got what. It was pretty funny. That way he kept his mom and his friends happy. He was happy too.

As he reached to the back of his locker for his food, Benjamin noticed a weathered note taped to the inside of the locker door. It was folded neatly, and his name was printed on the outside in beautiful calligraphy.

Benjamin glanced around. Was someone playing a trick on him? He nervously tore the note from the tape. The paper felt old and heavy. Its edges were a dull brown.

He opened the folded note and almost dropped it in fright. Inside, in the same neat handwriting, it said:

I know. Meet me in your backyard after school.

Benjamin shook as he read the note three times, four times, five times. He probably would’ve cried if he hadn’t been so scared. Shoving the note in his pocket, he closed the locker and headed to the cafeteria.

+++

His face was pale gray when he sat down. The other boys had their lunches, but had waited to see what Benjamin had in his brown bag.

“Where’s your lunch?” asked Little Mikey. Despite his small size, he somehow always ate more than anyone else.

“I call dibs on your dessert!” said Funny Paul, making a face that looked like a rabid dog.

Only Nathan seemed to notice the look on Benjamin’s face.

“What’s wrong?” asked Nathan.

“I…I’m not hungry.”

“Feeling okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I think I ate something funny this morning.” Benjamin grabbed his stomach to show them. “My mom made me some goat cheese omelet’s.”

The other boys made faces.

“Gross!” said Funny Paul.

“Nasty!” said Little Mikey.

Everyone except Nathan dug into their food now that they wouldn’t be able to trade with Benjamin. Nathan scooted closer and whispered, “Are you sure you’re okay?” He knew Benjamin’s looks. They’d gotten to know each other well. Nathan sensed that something wasn’t right.

“I’m all right. I think I’m gonna go see the nurse.”

“Want me to come?”

Benjamin shook his head. “No. I don’t want you to see me if I puke.” He forced a tiny smile on his face and got up from the table.

Nathan watched him go, his face furrowed with concern.

+++

Benjamin stayed in the nurse’s office for the rest of the school day. She said there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him, but even she couldn’t ignore the pale face and sweaty palms.

“Maybe I’ll feel better if I just lay here for a while,” suggested Benjamin.

“I think I’d better call your mom, Benjamin. Maybe she can take you to the doctor.”

“No! I mean, I have Mrs. O’Brian for last period and she’s giving a quiz. I don’t want to, uh, miss it.”

The nurse shook her head and smiled warmly. “I wish all of our students were as serious about their school work as you, Benjamin. Okay then, why don’t you take a little nap and I’ll come check on you every half hour or so.”

She winked and patted him on the head. There were perks to being a good kid in school. Teachers tended to believe you if you were smart and not getting in trouble.

Benjamin tried to close his eyes, but the note in his pocket seemed to be burning a hole in his brain.

I know. Meet me in your backyard after school.

Should he tell someone? Should he bring Nathan? Who could know? How could anyone else know about his powers?

Benjamin’s mind whirled with possibilities.

Chapter 11
: The Visitor

After school, Benjamin told Nathan that he had a lot of homework to do and wouldn’t be able to hang out. Besides, he still wasn’t feeling well and looked the part with his sunken eyes and pale skin.

“Hope you feel better. See you tomorrow,” Nathan waved as he boarded the school bus.

Benjamin waved back and sighed. The walk home would give him some time to think. Maybe whoever had left him the note would be gone. Maybe the person was waiting for the school bus and would leave when Benjamin didn’t get off at his stop. Maybe, maybe, maybe…

The walk home felt like forever and all too quick at the same time. Benjamin clutched his hands nervously as he walked. He barely paid attention to his surroundings as he moved on autopilot. That was, until a very old man with a gnarled wooden cane stepped out in front of him.

+++

Benjamin went to move around the man, but stopped. He didn’t stop himself. He couldn’t move his legs or arms. They were paralyzed. His head could move and he lifted it to look at the old man. The ancient white-haired man had a neatly trimmed beard and long hair that ran in two braids that cascaded over his shoulders. He was wearing some kind of brown suit, with a t-shirt underneath that said
‘Live For Now.’
There seemed to be a million wrinkles on the man’s face and hands that were tanned and craggily. Benjamin inhaled sharply as he noticed the man’s eyes. They were a brilliant blue-green, the color of the Caribbean Sea in the shallows around little islands. They shone and even looked a bit mischievous.

“You weren’t thinking of avoiding me, were you, Benjamin?”