Read Benjamin Dragon - Awakening (The Chronicles of Benjamin Dragon) for Free Online

was, until a very old man with a gnarled wooden cane stepped out in front of him.
     
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    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?”

Chapter 12: Lessons
     
    Benjamin’s mouth opened and closed with no words coming out. He looked like a bug-eyed fish that had just been surprised by a great white shark.
    “I take it you got my note?” the old man said with a slightly European accent that you might hear from someone who’s lived all over the world. The man smiled from ear to ear. His teeth were a little crooked, but brilliantly clean, like the insides of a seashell.
    Somehow Benjamin managed to move his head up and down.
    “Good. Are you hungry?”
    “N-no, s-sir,” Benjamin stuttered.
    “Don’t worry, my boy. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to help you!”
    The look on Benjamin’s face showed his reluctance to believe the stranger.
    “It would be a lot easier if you did believe me and started talking,” said the man.
    “O-okay.”
    “Good!”
    The bright-eyed visitor snapped his fingers and Benjamin’s arms flopped down to his sides. He looked down at them in wonder.
    “Let’s go grab some ice cream,” suggested the man.
    Without turning to look back at Benjamin, he stepped off the curb and headed toward the town center. His step was as graceful as a cat’s. It was interesting that the man carried a cane. He didn’t look like he needed it. Maybe it was just an old man thing, like for decoration.
    Once he’d gathered his wits, Benjamin followed.
    Soon they arrived at the small ice cream shop run by a large man with a black beard. He looked like he would’ve been more at home in a pizzeria.
    “What can I get for you?” the owner of the shop asked.
    “I’ll get a scoop of rainbow sherbet and a scoop of bubble gum,” the old man ordered.
    “And you, young man?”
    “I…I’m okay.”
    “Benjamin will have chocolate fudge brownie please,” said the man in the brown suit.
    Benjamin looked up in shock. How had the stranger known his favorite ice cream? All he got in response was a quick wink from a wrinkle wrapped eye.
    They waited in silence as their ice cream was scooped and served in matching white paper bowls. The man with the cane paid and ushered Benjamin to a small table next to the front window. They were the only customers in the shop. The owner told them he’d be in the back office doing paperwork if they needed anything else.
    “I’m sure you have some questions for me, eh?” the man asked between bites of ice cream.
    Benjamin nodded. He was finally starting to relax and enjoy his dessert.
    “First, my name is Kennedy.”
    “Is that your first or your last name?” asked Benjamin.
    The man shrugged. “It’s the only name I can remember.”
    How could that be? Didn’t everyone know their own name?
    “Why do you only have one name?”
    “I decided to live by one name a very long time ago, but that doesn’t really matter. As I said earlier, I am here to help you.”
    “How, Mr. Kennedy?”
    “Not Mr. Kennedy, just Kennedy.”
    “Oh.” Benjamin face reddened. Kennedy didn’t seem to notice.
    “Where was I? Oh yes! Your gift.”
    “My what?”
    “Don’t give me that, Benjamin. I saw what you did with that car.”
    A sneaky grin