by Raymond Bean
It was moving so fast I started to feel concerned that it would destroy the mesh and crash to Earth. I held my breath for what seemed like forever as it approached.
Closer...closer...
It made a direct hit with the center of the mesh, which ignited all four rockets. The force of the rockets pulled in the opposite direction that the asteroid was traveling. We worried that the force of the asteroid would tear the mesh away from the rockets, but the graphene was strong enough to hold on. It stretched out a bunch, and kept stretching!
The force of the rockets slowed the asteroid dramatically. The force of the asteroid’s speed and the force of the rockets created an epic battle of tug-of-war. Which would win?
Within a few minutes it was over and the asteroid was gliding safely under the control of the rockets. “Phase two complete,” Sir Robert said sounding relieved.
Dad didn’t say a word. He was sweating pretty heavily. I noticed that his fingers were crossed. “Are you all right, Dad?” I asked.
“About as good as I can be under the circumstances.”
Phase three of the plan was the part I was looking forward to most. The rockets carefully guided the asteroid down toward Earth. We followed behind. We were close enough to watch it with our own eyes. The asteroid was far more massive than I’d imagined. It was like a floating mountain.
I couldn’t believe how well the rockets were working. At the pace they were going we’d be on the surface in a matter of minutes.
“You should probably call Mom,” Dad said.
He was right.
I clicked the screen and dialed Mom. Her face appeared on the screen. “Hi, Mom! What are you doing?”
“I’m working. We just got back to Shiny Desert a little while ago. I made another run back to the farm to pick up more supplies for the town.”
“Great! Do me a favor. Head outside and look up in the sky.”
“Benji, I’m pretty busy. We’ve got a load of supplies that we need to organize.”
“Trust me. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Then I hung up.
“Phase four coming up,” Dad said.
“Phase four on the way,” I said. We were getting low enough that I could see the ground. We were under the clouds. Things were coming into view.
“There,” Dad said. “There’s Mom’s truck.”
I saw the truck and spotted Mom. She had walked out of a building and was looking up at us. I could only imagine what was going through her mind gazing up at a massive asteroid supported by four rockets.
People from the nearby town were pouring out of the buildings too. There was a real commotion.
The rockets safely landed the asteroid on the exact coordinates we’d programmed. It was the perfect spot just outside the town.
The ground vibrated when the space rock made contact. Sir Robert landed our ship near the asteroid and Mom ran over to meet us.
CHAPTER 20
Bright Future
By the time the team sprayed down the asteroid with water and it cooled to a safe level, hundreds of people had lined up for a look. Sir Robert’s team handed him a microphone.
“Citizens of Shiny Desert,” he began. “We at Dransling Industries realize that you’ve fallen on hard times. You’re a hard-working community. You don’t deserve the misfortune that fell upon you when Techron left you without jobs. I wasn’t familiar with your story until a young friend of mine brought it to my attention. Through a series of miraculous events we’ve managed to save the planet from a deadly asteroid and your town all at once.
“Please accept this asteroid as a gift. It should provide adequate income as a tourist destination for many years to come.”
“Additionally,” said the billionaire. “I plan to move a portion of my business here to your town. I’m building my space tourism business, and I’m opening an assembly plant right here in Shiny Desert. Construction of the new plant will begin as soon as possible and we will begin hiring tomorrow. We look forward to a bright future together!”
The crowd cheered.
“This was all your idea, wasn’t it?” Mom asked. “I don’t know what to say. Benji, you managed to solve the town’s problems and save the planet in one swoop. You’re my very own pint-sized hero!”
I was kind of overwhelmed by it all. It had been a crazy couple of weeks. I knew my life would never be the same again, but I also knew I wanted to try to keep from changing as much as I could.
That’s when I heard Sir Robert say, “Folks, I can’t stand up here and take all the credit for today. There’s a young man who was the brains behind this whole thing. He’s here somewhere…”
“He’s talking about you, Benji,” Mom said. “Get ready to go up on the stage.”
I took Mom by the hand and quickly led her out of the crowd. “What are we doing?” Mom asked.
“The hero never sticks around for a thank-you,” I reminded her. “Besides, I have something I want to show you.”
I led Mom over to the ship. “Get a load of this!” I exclaimed.
“Benji, this is very pretty, but we should be getting back.”
“I’d rather show you something else,” I said.
Dad ran up to us. “I lost you guys back there. Benji, Sir Robert is looking for you.”
“Let him take the credit. I’d rather take Mom for a spin.”
“Great idea,” Dad said. He opened the door. “After you, my dear.”
“Where are we going?” Mom asked.
“Trust me,” I said. We all climbed in. I called Sir Robert’s phone. His face appeared on the screen. “Benji, where are you? These people want to thank you.”
“You enjoy it. I’m going to take my Mom for a spin if that’s all right with you.”
“By all means. Just don’t forget to swing by and pick me up when you’re done.”
“Will do,” I said. I hung up and told Mom to get ready.
“Benji, do you know how to control this thing?”
“I don’t need to. It’s already programmed.”
“Programmed to go where?”
“To space,” I said, pressing the launch button. The ship lifted off the ground. Mom screamed and grabbed onto Dad.
“Will I like it?” she asked, looking terrified.
“You’ll love it,” I said, and the ship bolted up toward outer space.
Mom let out another scream, and then she said, “Benji, you’re too much! What on Earth are you going to accomplish next!”
“I have no idea,” I said. “But I can’t wait to find out!”
Raymond Bean is the best-selling author of the Sweet Farts and School Is A Nightmare series. His books have ranked #1 in Children’s Humor, Humorous Series, and Fantasy and Adventure categories. He writes for kids that claim they don’t like reading.
Mr. Bean is a fourth grade teacher with fifteen years of classroom experience. He lives with his wife and two children in New York.
Benji Franklin: Kid Zillionaire
is published by Stone Arch Books,
a Capstone Imprint
1710 Roe Crest Drive
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
www.capstoneyoungreaders.com
Copyright © 2014 Capstone.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on the Library of Congress website.
ISBN: 978-1-4342-6419-0 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-4342-9621-4 (ebook)
Summary: After inventing a bestselling computer app, twelve-year-old Benjamin “Benji” Franklin becomes the world’s youngest and, well, only ZILLIONAIRE. But this tiny tycoon qu
ickly discovers that life isn’t all about the Benjamin. He decides to use his newfound wealth for greater good—like saving the world from killer dinos and building superpowered rocket ships!
Graphic Designer: Brann Garvey
Creative Director: Heather Kindseth
Production Specialist: Laura Manthe