“So what will you do, Mr. Madison?” I asked, respectfully.
“I am not altogether happy with the events of the Convention so far, but I feel we are close to an agreement. If we can make a compromise, neither the Virginia Plan nor the New Jersey plan will be approved in full,” Madison said.
“But a compromise seems like it would be fair to no one, and everyone would lose,” Tommy said.
Madison smiled again and said softly, “Possibly, but the country will win, and our primary objective is to create a new constitution that will benefit the people of the United States of America. That must always come first. The state of Connecticut has proposed a plan that could be acceptable to all the states.”
Cam started raising his hand frantically as if he were on a game show.
“Oh, can I guess what Connecticut is proposing?” Cam asked.
I was thrilled with his confidence and willingness to take a stab at an answer.
Madison, although shy at first, seemed to inspire the boys, just like George Washington had. “Sure you may, son, but it is rather complicated,” Mr. Madison replied.
“Son?” Cam whispered to me with a twinkle in his eye. “George Washington remembers us and James Madison called me son. We are on a roll.”
I laughed at another keen observation.
“Actually, I think it is better you tell us on this one. I think I know, but I’m not really sure,” Cam said, seeming to lose his nerve. “I was just thinking since Connecticut is a small state they probably want one representative per state or something like that.”
“Yes, you are on the right track. To be brief, Connecticut is also proposing a legislative branch with two chambers. The first is called the House of Representatives, with representation based on the state’s population. The second chamber, the Senate, would allow each state to have two representatives regardless of population.”
“I bet everyone will agree on this one,” Tommy said, winking at me. Of course, he knew that we currently have a Senate and House of Representatives, so it was a good bet. What Tommy did not yet know was that the fight at the Convention was not yet over and the long, hot summer would continue with two major issues: slavery and the Bill of Rights.
“I must say, your students are a joy to spend time with. One day, I see them representing the American people,” Madison said. He stood up as the boys smiled at each other.
We took this as our cue to politely leave dinner. I gave a signal to the boys and we all stood.
“Thank you, Mr. Madison, for the most incredible dinner and conversation. I simply don’t have the words to describe what it means to us,” I said.
“You are most welcome. Thank you for allowing me to synthesize my thoughts verbally. Tomorrow, when the Convention reconvenes, I believe I know how to move forward,” Madison said and shook our hands.
We all smiled and said goodbye to the group.
“If you are still in town, you should come by Independence Hall. I will make special arrangements for you to observe part of the session,” Mr. Madison said.
I could barely believe my ears. Before I had the chance to absorb the invitation, Tommy said, “Yes, we will be there. We can’t wait!”
Chapter 6
We walked out of the boardinghouse into the muggy air, hoping to find Liberty waiting nearby. A misty hot haze rose from the cobblestones, as horse-drawn carriages clomped past. Since we had an early dinner, it was still light outside.
“Where is Liberty?” Tommy asked, repeating the familiar phrase.
We looked left and right but could not find him.
“Let’s wait here for a minute in this spot of shade until he turns up. It should be any day now,” I said smiling.
“Mr. Madison is really awesome. He reminds me of my grandpa,” Tommy said with a look of wonder in his eye. “Madison is always focused and explains things in a simple way. At first he was shy but when he talked about the Convention he made it really interesting.”
“You are exactly right, Tommy,” I replied.
Cam added, “I thought it was a lot of pressure being the head of the dodgeball team, but that’s nothing compared to trying to get all the states to agree on a new constitution. That’s crazy pressure.”
“You are entirely right, Cam,” I said. “If you were James Madison, what would you be thinking tonight, before the Convention resumes tomorrow? Imagine trying to come up with a plan that everyone will be happy with, while not sacrificing your own principles. It is remarkable how many late nights and long hours James Madison worked for the good of the country. The freedoms we know today are based largely on his efforts.”
“I thought you said something about going to see the Bill of Rights? Are we still doing that?” Cam asked.
“Your memory is sharp as a tack. Well done. I thought the alarms at the National Archives would have frazzled your mind,” I joked.
Cam looked at me, lifting one eyebrow.
“Just kidding. Yes,” I said. “The original plan was to travel back in time to witness the Bill of Rights. But I thought it was important to first meet and get to know James Madison, and learn about the Constitution as a whole. You see, the Bill of Rights is a part of the U.S. Constitution. In fact, it is the first ten additions to the Constitution. They are called amendments, and include the freedom of speech, religion, and press.”
“Ah, okay, but I have my eye on you,” Cam said, joking. I remembered the fake eye prank he pulled on the class on his first day in school.
Just then a warm gust of wind blew past us. A distant sound of thunder gently rumbled. Out of the corner of my eye, in the distance, I caught a flash of brown. At first, I could not make it out. But when I focused carefully I saw him in the distance, bouncing along.
“Liberty!” I exclaimed. Surprisingly, he heard me and headed back in our direction right away.
“Hey, what about Freedom and her grandpa?” Tommy said, “We have been in history awhile now. Aren’t they waiting for us? They are going to freak out when they look and don’t know where we are.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “No matter how long we stay in the past, we will time-jump back to the same time we left. We want to find our answers quickly, though, and not change history.”
Seeing the approaching storm and knowing we needed a place to stay for the night, we found rooms at a boardinghouse nearby. Liberty couldn’t stay with us indoors, so I broke the news that he had to stay at a local livery. Liberty reluctantly agreed, so long as he was well fed.
The next morning I awoke rested to the sound of a rooster crowing. The goose down mattress, comforter, and pillow made me feel like I was floating on clouds. However, I knew I would have to go outside to use an outhouse, as indoor plumbing was rare in 1787. On a table, beside the bed, sat a ceramic basin to wash my hands and face.
After preparing myself for the day I exited my room and knocked on Cam and Tommy’s door. “Good morning, boys. Are you up? Rise and shine. We have a Constitutional Convention to visit.” I was anxious to start the day.
As the door opened, Tommy looked refreshed, his blond hair neatly combed. He was smiling widely. “Hi, Mr. Revere. I’m ready, but Cam is moving a little slow this morning.”
Tommy opened the door all the way and I could see Cam with his eyes only half open, barely awake. He pushed himself slowly up and sat on the edge of his bed but was slumped over. He yawned, stretched, and then plopped back down on his pillow. “I just need a second,” he said. “I didn’t sleep much last night ’cause Tommy snores like a horse.”
“That wasn’t me,” Tommy said defensively. “It was Liberty.”
Out of nowhere Liberty appeared against a wall with a guilty expression on his face.
I quickly stepped into the room and shut the door behind me. “Liberty,” I whispered, loudly, “what are you doing in here?”
“How was I supposed to get any sleep with a snoring horse,” Cam complained.
“Sorry,” said Liberty. “But I slept like a baby on
ce I got into your room. Sheesh, yesterday was a long day.”
So much for Liberty staying at the livery. I should have known!
“I slept great, too,” said Tommy. “Then again, my nickname in Cub Scouts was ‘Sleeping Bear.’ ”
Knowing we had little time I said, “Cam, splash some water on your face, get your shoes on, and let’s head outside. You boys probably need to visit the outhouse. We’ll grab breakfast on the way to the Convention.”
“Can I just say I’m really glad I live in the future where we have indoor plumbing?” said Tommy.
“No kidding,” Cam said, yawning. “How did people survive without flushing toilets and hot showers?”
“Yes, we are very spoiled in the twenty-first century,” I said.
Independence Hall, where the Convention was being held, was only a few blocks from where we slept. As we reached Chestnut Street the skies of eighteenth-century Philadelphia looked especially gloomy. A slight hot breeze kicked up some litter that blew up and hit me in the face. A young boy carrying a stack of newspapers pushed past us.
“Independence Hall is up ahead,” said Liberty. “As your tour guide I’d also like to point out that on this same street is the home of the one and only Dr. Benjamin Franklin—the famous inventor, printer, publisher, and Patriot.”
“Awesome,” said Tommy. “Maybe we’ll see Dr. Franklin at the Convention. This time please don’t bring him back to modern day like you did when we first saw him.”
“That was a mistake, and I have already apologized for that! It won’t happen again for sure,” Liberty exclaimed, clomping along on the cobblestones as we walked.
I really hoped we could enter a room called Assembly Hall, where the delegates were meeting.
“Do they have beds at the Convention?” Cam asked. “I seriously need to catch some z’s.”
I was so busy looking at the ground to avoid potholes that when I looked up I was caught by surprise. Against a cloudy sky, the spire of Independence Hall stood before us.
“Liberty, there’s a large tree near the corner of the building. I suggest you wait there. We will be back outside soon. Hopefully, we can get a glimpse of the Convention.”
Liberty looked up at the storm clouds. “Okay, but don’t take too long. Those are cumulonimbus clouds.”
“I haven’t seen any lightning, so I’m sure we’ll be okay,” I said as I reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a special treat I had prepared earlier. “Here,” I said. “I cored out the middle of this apple and filled it with a few sugar cubes.”
“Yummy,” said Liberty, licking his lips. “It’s like my very own Tootsie Pop. Hmm, I wonder how many licks it will take me to get to the center?”
Once Liberty was preoccupied with his apple, Cam, Tommy, and I walked up the steps to Independence Hall. I was thrilled. Eleven years before, in 1776, Cam and I visited the same location to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I took a breath and pushed through the large double doors.
There was a crowd milling in front of us. We made our way through and walked down the hallway to the left. I saw a set of two large white doors that looked familiar. I was sure I had seen them before in a famous historic painting. “That must be it, Assembly Hall. The delegates should be inside,” I said.
Before I could stop him, Tommy raced over to the doors, but luckily they were locked. We certainly couldn’t bolt in and make a huge scene! I had to figure out a plan to get James Madison’s attention, without disturbing the debates.
As Cam started to nod off on a nearby bench, Tommy rubbed his hands together and asked, “So what’s the plan, Mr. Revere?”
Just then the doors opened and two delegates walked out dressed in dark coats and breeches, similar to mine. One delegate looked at us quickly and then turned back to his fellow delegate as they briskly walked down the hallway.
“Oh man, I recognize that look,” said Cam, who was wide awake now and standing next to us. “It’s the same look my mom gives when she is really steamed about something.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be whoever they are mad at,” Tommy added.
“One mom blowing off steam is bad enough. A room full of them, whoa, watch out!” said Cam.
I nodded. “Those men have good reason to be upset. Like Mr. Madison mentioned yesterday, all of the delegates at this Convention are here to represent their state and their people. Each representative and each state has a different idea about how the country should go forward after declaring independence from Great Britain.”
I tried to explain. “Have you ever been with your family and everyone agrees they want dinner, but no one can agree on where to go?” I wiped a bead of sweat from my brow.
“Yeah, that happens practically every time we’re together,” said Tommy. “I always vote for pizza but everybody else likes burgers.”
“Well, the same kind of debate is happening here right now, but it is much more serious than where to go for dinner,” I said. “Keep in mind they just fought a war for independence. They sacrificed greatly for their freedom. And they’re fighting to keep it.”
“So why doesn’t James Madison or George Washington do what my dad does? He says that if we put up a fuss about where to eat he will make us peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I mean he throws down the law,” Tommy said.
I chuckled. I was impressed at their ability to make such a complex idea understandable.
“Very shrewd, Tommy, but there was so much passion about what the Constitution should be and the how the government should be organized that it wasn’t easy for Mr. Madison to tell them to hurry up and decide. But he certainly held his ground,” I said.
We heard more raised voices from the Assembly Hall. Curiosity got the best of us so we tiptoed toward the doors.
“I got this,” said Cam. One of the delegates forgot to close the door fully on his way out. Cam took advantage of the moment and opened the door a sliver farther so he could peek inside. Cam turned back and mouthed, “Whoa.”
“What? What’s happening?” asked Tommy.
Before I knew it, both Tommy and Cam were peering through the cracked door watching the debate. All three of us were now crowded at the door, peering in with one eye each. I had to take my tricorner hat off to get close enough.
A Convention delegate was standing up at his table, talking, while everyone else was sitting at little desks facing him.
Cam whispered, “I think I see George Washington and James Madison at the front of the room.”
“Cool!” Tommy exclaimed.
Beads of sweat dripped down both sides of my face. It was definitely hot, but I was also nervous. This Convention was top secret. In my history research I read that one delegate got in trouble for leaving his notes out in public, and General Washington lectured everyone about it.
Just then a man came bolting toward the door heading right in our direction. “Someone is coming,” I blurted, turning from the door. We scurried away like cats on a hot tin roof.
Tommy and Cam made a beeline for the exit. As I backpedaled I tripped and landed on my backside. Lightning flashed outside and two seconds later, thunder. I scrambled to my feet as quickly as possible. As I tried to get up a familiar voice from behind me said, “Mr. Revere, is that you?” I was shocked to hear someone calling my name. I turned around to see, of all people, George Washington.
“Sir, oh my goodness, General Washington, it is a pleasure to see you again.” I was once again starstruck. General George Washington had already won the Revolutionary War and within two years he would be voted the first President of the United States. Unfortunately, I had no idea how I was going to explain our arrival eleven years after we first visited. Luckily, Tommy and Cam, who were the same age as when we last visited, were far enough away that I would not have to explain.
“It is good to see you again,” said Washington. “James Madison mentioned you were in town.”
Surprisingly, he appeared very calm and collected for having just
been in the middle of the highly confrontational debate room. George Washington was the definition of a leader—steady on the surface but likely boiling inside.
“Mr. Revere, you seem as youthful as I remember you last,” he said.
“General Washington, I could say the same about you,” I replied. He stood straight, but despite my words I noticed he had a tiny stoop in his shoulders. I asked, “How are your horses?”
At this, General Washington smiled. His countenance had a faraway look. “I wish I were with them right now at my home in Mount Vernon,” he replied. “But the Articles of Confederation need to be changed so we are here, ensuring the freedom we won in the Revolution is guaranteed today and, hopefully, for generations to come.”
The smell of rain wafted through an open hallway window. I hoped the boys weren’t getting wet outside. I hoped Liberty wasn’t a nervous wreck. And I hoped I was not gawking too much at the exceptional American standing again in front of me.
George Washington put his hand on my shoulder and whispered, “I know you are a true Patriot and we trust you. I would like to invite you into the Assembly Hall to hear a few minutes of the debate. But I must warn you that we must maintain the strictest secrecy. James Madison tells me we are creating a new world.”
“I would be most honored,” I replied.
“Excellent. The debates will begin again shortly,” he said as he reentered the room.
Just then Tommy and Cam came running down the hallway. Breathless, Tommy said, “Mr. Revere, you won’t believe what we just saw.”
I could hardly contain my joy. “You’re telling me! George Washington just invited us to hear the debates. Well, technically, he just invited me, but if you both are quiet you can slip in behind me. Let’s go.”
As I turned to leave, Cam tugged on my coat and said, “Wait, Mr. Revere. There’s something we have to tell you.”
“Is Liberty all right?” I asked. “He didn’t run away, did he?”
“No, he’s still outside, but that’s not—” said Tommy before I cut him off.
“We will only be in the Assembly Hall for a few minutes, just enough time to hear some of the debate. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. Come on, we better hurry before they begin again.”
Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner Page 8
