“Godspeed, Rush Revere,” said Samuel.
“Godspeed, Samuel Adams,” I said in return.
As I walked back toward my little band of time travelers I noticed that Tommy, Elizabeth, and Liberty had walked over to a group of boys about thirty yards away. It looked like they were taunting and teasing Elizabeth and, no surprise, Elizabeth wasn’t standing for it.
As I got closer I began to hear their conversation.
“You don’t belong in America!” said a large colonial boy.
“I was born in America, you idiots!” shouted Elizabeth. “You all stink like pigs. It’s like you haven’t bathed in days!”
The boys thought that was the funniest thing ever. “We do not bathe,” they all said.
“But we think you should jump in the sea and swim back to your precious England,” said a boy with red hair.
“Hey, maybe we should send her back with a little gift for the King,” laughed a scrawny kid who was missing a front tooth and carrying a wooden bucket.
The other boys cheered him on and before I could interfere, the scrawny kid ran up to Elizabeth with the wooden bucket. My fears were realized when I saw a mess of soupy mud launch from the bucket with deadly aim toward Elizabeth’s face and dress. Suddenly, everything stopped and everything was silent. The mud hung in the air like an ugly piece of modern art. The boys pointed and laughed like they were colonial statues. I looked for Liberty, certain he was behind this. Unblinking, Liberty’s eyes were focused like lasers on Elizabeth. Although everything in the past had ceased moving, those of us from the future were still free to act. In a flash, Tommy quickly moved Elizabeth several feet to the left and that’s when Liberty finally blinked and everything went back to normal.
The mud splashed to the ground and the boy with the bucket looked shocked that he had missed his target by that much. His friends laughed at the scrawny kid like he was the one that got covered in mud.
Elizabeth was stunned and confused at the same time. “What just . . . how did . . .”
“It was Liberty,” said Tommy. “He can do more than just open a portal to the past.”
As we walked away from the boys, Liberty stood between Elizabeth and the menacing boys like he was protecting her.
“Why did you do that?” Elizabeth asked Liberty. “Why did you help me when I’ve been so mean to you?”
“Maybe we aren’t friends yet,” Liberty said. “But we could be. And I wanted to show you that I don’t hold any grudges. America is a land of the free where people, like the Pilgrims and the colonists, were able to start over in a new place with a new life.”
“True, but it’s not free of bullies,” said Tommy.
“No,” said Liberty, “unfortunately, there will always be bullies. But that’s why friends are so important.”
“That’s right,” I said. “When the colonists in Boston were bullied by King George and his Intolerable Acts, twelve other colonies were willing to help and support their sister colony.”
“We’re sort of like secret sisters now,” Liberty chuckled. “Well, except I’m a male and we don’t have the same mother and if we did that would be really weird.”
“This whole thing is weird!” said Elizabeth firmly. “I-I think I just want to go back to the school now.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” I said.
Within minutes we found a secluded place to time-jump. Within seconds we were back at Manchester Middle School. Elizabeth quickly dismounted and ran off like Cinderella at midnight.
“That was weird,” said Tommy.
“Maybe she had to go to the bathroom,” Liberty said.
“I think Elizabeth is at a crossroads right now,” I said. “I believe her greed for power and her need for friendship are battling inside of her.”
“Well, I hope the good Elizabeth wins,” said Liberty. “The evil one scares me.”
“Thanks, again, Mr. Revere,” said Tommy. “And thanks, Liberty. It’s been another amazing adventure through time.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” I said. “And I almost forgot, you better take these with you.” I pulled out the three musket balls from my coat pocket. As I did, I purposefully let a small seed packet slip from my pocket and land in front of Tommy’s feet.
“You dropped something,” Tommy said.
“Oh, clumsy me,” I said. “I’d only meant to give you these musket balls for good luck. They seemed to help you with your last game so I thought you might enjoy having these before your next one.”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot about those. Thanks!” said Tommy. He eyed the small packet I had in my other hand and asked, “So what’s with the little packet? Hey, does that say ‘From B. Franklin’ on it?”
“Oh, this?” I said, innocently. “Yes, well, these are from Benjamin Franklin. I’d forgotten he gave these to me the last time we visited. It’s an experiment he’s been working on and he said he finally succeeded in creating the first spaghetti seeds.”
“Spaghetti seeds?” Tommy asked.
“Yes,” I replied, “apparently these seeds can grow spaghetti noodles in your garden.”
“That’s amazing!” Tommy said. “That guy can do anything! Any chance I could try them in my mom’s garden?”
“I don’t see why not. Just take these and bring me back what you don’t use,” I said, handing Tommy the packet.
“Awesome, thanks! See ya!” he said as he jogged up the stairs and into the school.
As I watched Tommy leave, Liberty said, “When do you think he’ll discover that those spaghetti seeds are fake? Personally, I’m surprised he fell for it.”
“Me, too,” I chuckled. “Let’s go and get some breakfast. How about bagels and cream cheese?”
“Sounds good to me!”
As we started to leave the school, I was surprised to see Elizabeth again. She had already changed into her modern-day clothes and was waiting for us by the big oak tree. As we got closer she quickly handed me a small disk.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Just take it before I change my mind,” Elizabeth abruptly replied.
I reached out and took the disk.
“It’s the memory card from my video camera,” Elizabeth said.
“The blackmail video?” Liberty asked.
Elizabeth sighed. “It sounds so mean when you say it like that. But, yes, it’s the video of you and Mr. Revere jumping through the time portal.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth,” I said, sincerely.
“Yes, thank you,” said Liberty. “What happened? I mean I don’t know if you realize this or not but what you’re doing right now could be considered, um, well, it could be considered a nice gesture.”
“Whatever,” Elizabeth said as she looked around to see if anyone was watching.
“Seriously,” Liberty continued. “If word got out that you were doing nice things for other people, well, your reputation could be ruined.”
Elizabeth kept her head down and her arms folded. I could tell she was trying to decide what to say next. Finally, she lifted her head and looked at Liberty. Her voice cracked just a little when she said, “You protected me. You know, back in Philadelphia. So I . . . I wanted to thank you. You helped me and now I’m helping you. Now we’re even.” As she turned to leave she looked one last time at me and said, “Mr. Revere, just to be clear, you and I are not even. I believe it was your plan to throw me into that pond at Windsor castle. Anyway, you haven’t seen the last of me. And I can’t wait until our next adventure,” she said with a smirk. With a flip of her long blond hair she turned and walked away.
“Don’t you just love happy endings,” said Liberty, smiling.
Happy endings? “Maybe for you,” I mumbled and decided that maybe I should start sleeping with one eye open.
* * *
As we walked away from Manchester Middle School, Liberty asked, “Who did you enjoy visiting the most? Benjamin Franklin? Patrick Henry? Samuel Adams? Paul Revere . . .”
I l
aughed and said, “Well, they were all very different. Benjamin Franklin’s creative energy, his calm wisdom, and his brilliant mind were certainly gifts to America. His speech in Parliament may have been the reason that the King finally repealed the Stamp Act. And I know he plays a bigger role in the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence.”
“And . . .” Liberty prodded.
“And Patrick Henry’s bold and courageous speeches against the King’s injustice created a spark for the American Revolution. I loved his enthusiasm for life and his courage to defend freedom. Oh, and I must remember to give Cam his high five from Patrick Henry.”
“And did you ever warm up to the Samuelator?” Liberty joked.
“Are you kidding? I loved Samuel Adams! I mean he wasn’t really looking for friends, he was looking for freedom and he never doubted the cause.”
“Well, he always seemed a little angry to me,” Liberty said.
“Some people call it anger. I call it one hundred percent colonial stubbornness! It was a determination mixed with a whole lot of passion. He was always ready to tell people what to believe. He was a fire starter and really good at fanning the flames of the Revolution!”
“And, of course, your boyhood hero, Paul Revere!” Liberty said with a big smile.
“Wow, he was involved in everything,” I said. “He was ready to serve wherever he was needed. He was strong, talented, happy, I mean, what’s not to like! He’s the kind of guy I want as my next-door neighbor. Dependable, always there when you need him. And his courage as a Patriot with the Sons of Liberty is exactly what America needed. Although, I plan to see more of him. I mean we definitely need to time-jump to witness his famous midnight ride!”
“Oooh, I’m all for that!” Liberty nodded.
“What about you?” I asked. “Who impressed you the most?”
“Not who, but what!” Liberty said. “For me it was all about freedom.”
“What’s all about me?” asked Freedom, who surprised me from behind.
“You startled me,” I said.
“I knew you were there,” said Liberty. “I could sense you a mile away!”
“I’m glad you’re back,” said Freedom. “So, what about me?” she asked again as she slung her backpack to her other shoulder. “Liberty said something like it was all about Freedom.”
“Not you,” Liberty corrected. “It’s all about fighting for freedom. That’s what I’ve learned the most the last few days.”
“Me, too,” Freedom said. “I mean I haven’t always believed that. But I think Samuel Adams is right when he said my freedom is worth fighting for. Sometimes we really do have to fight to live free. So starting today I’m going to start living my name! You’re looking at the new Freedom!”
“Good for you!” I said.
“Yeah,” Liberty agreed. “You look different already!”
“Speaking of looking different,” said Freedom suspiciously as she reached out for the Indian feathers still in Liberty’s mane. “What are these? Oh, that’s right. You guys visited the Boston Tea Party! That was so weird that we could talk to each other through time.”
“I know, right?” said Liberty.
“Well, I better get to my first class,” said Freedom, laughing, as she skipped toward the school. “But tell me all about your trip on my way to school. You know, telepathically! Oh, and bye, Mr. Revere! Great seeing you! Did I mention that having freedom is a great feeling!” she yelled, skipping backward. “And it’s worth fighting for!”
“Well, that was fun!” said Liberty. “For the record, I think your students really like you as their substitute history teacher, especially Freedom, Tommy, and Cam. Oh, and we never got to tell Cam about our adventure at the First Continental Congress! Maybe I’ll meet him for lunch and give him all the details. Hmm, I know it’s still early, but lunch sounds really good about now.” Instantly, Liberty looked panicked and said, “Wait a minute, have we eaten breakfast? With all the excitement I almost skipped a meal!”
The excitement has just begun, I thought as I patted Liberty. America was definitely feeling growing pains. It was plagued with evils like slavery and burdened by a tyrant king. It was clear our country was not perfect and neither were our Founding Fathers. But our visit with these exceptional Americans had reminded me what it means to fight for freedom and endure hard things. More than ever I was ready for our next adventure and the truths we would learn about the American Revolution!
Be sure to explore the Adventures of Rush Revere at www.twoifbytea.com!
David and Rush
Acknowledgments
There isn’t a single day when I don’t sincerely appreciate my loyal, unwavering audience, great people who make me eager to wake up each day and join them on the radio. The bond of loyalty that has developed over the past twenty-five years still has me in awe and I am more motivated than ever each day to meet and surpass their expectations. You really have no idea how much I appreciate and love you all. My heartfelt appreciation further extends to all of the children, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles across America who love this phenomenal country like I do. Their support over the years has allowed me to want to take on new projects like this one because I know we are unified in our mission to teach the younger generations why the United States is a place to be cherished.
Once again I give thanks and have tremendous gratitude to my wife, Kathryn, for developing and shepherding this series. She manages and coordinates all aspects of the assembly of the many parts that make up each book. She is tireless and devoted beyond a level I deserve. Her intelligent creativity and insight are unparalleled. I am indeed a lucky man.
Writing a book for children is brand-new for me and I could not do it without our incredible small team pouring their very hearts into every aspect of the undertaking. It requires countless hours going over every detail. Nothing is farmed out, nothing is phoned in. There are no half measures taken. Their commitment and passion make this something special to be part of. Thank you to Christopher Schoebinger for your creativity, adaptability, and devotion from day one. You are the Best. Thank you to Chris Hiers for the unbelievable attention to detail and perfection in every illustration. Spero Mehallis defines loyal and hardworking.
Jonathan Adams Rogers has been indispensable. There aren’t many about whom that can be said. I sincerely appreciate his dedication and help, which was limitless while also being great.
My brother, David Limbaugh, grants us all peace of mind. His unwavering support of every endeavor and positive attitude is a constant inspiration.
After hearing about the idea to create a children’s series, my good friend, the late Vince Flynn, put me in touch with Louise Burke at Simon & Schuster. Thank you to Vince, Louise, and everyone at Simon & Schuster, especially Mitchell Ivers, who helped bring this vision to life.
Liberty Asks . . .
“How Smart Are You?”
(Beware—He Thinks He Can Stump You!)
1. What kind of animal is the Manchester Middle School mascot?
2. How many colonies were there in 1774?
3. What is the prank that Tommy and Cam played in front of the class?
4. Who invented swim fins?
5. What is Liberty’s favorite type of food in Boston?
6. In what city can the Palace of Westminster be found?
7. What were the British soldiers called?
8. Who played the fiddle in the tavern?
9. True or false, the Stamp Act meant that no one could use postage stamps on their envelopes?
10. In what country can Windsor Castle be found?
11. In what city did the famous massacre take place described in this book?
12. Which patriot is Rush Revere’s idol?
13. Who identified that there is electricity in lightning?
14. Who lived at Windsor Castle?
15. True or false: the Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonists to house British soldiers?
16. Wh
at did members of the crowd shout at Patrick Henry when he spoke in the Virginia House of Burgesses?
17. What was Paul Revere’s profession?
18. What did they throw off the boats in Boston Harbor?
19. What famous American spoke in front of British Parliament about the Stamp Act?
20. What is the meeting that Rush Revere, Ben Franklin, George Washington, and others attended at the end of the book called?
Looking for answers?
Visit the Adventures of Rush Revere at www.twoifbytea.com!
Do you know what this is?
An obelisk engraved by Paul Revere and erected under Liberty Tree in Boston to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act, 1766.
RUSH LIMBAUGH is host of The Rush Limbaugh Show—the nation’s highest-rated talk-radio program, with an audience of more than 20 million—and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Visit www.rushlimbaugh.com or follow Rush on Twitter and Facebook.
FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: authors.simonandschuster.com/Rush-Limbaugh
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Rush Revere and the First Patriots: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans Page 16
