MVP*

MVP* — page 5 — Three centuries after that an evil dictator took over the colony and a century hence civil wars split it into twenty small republics Throughout the twentieth century Babababad continued to shrink from takeovers and land deals until one day a crew simply paved it over for a parking lot Indeed Adam Story although my kingdom cannot be found on certain maps you can be certain that my royal title has been passed down to me through forty generations I reread the business card In October my fifth grade class had learned about Ferdinand Magellan the explorer who led the first fleet of ships that circled the world But what did Ferdinand have to do with a prince showing up at my school What’s the Magellan Voyage Project I asked The man folded his hands on the tabletop He wore three silver rings bearing gems as big as the one on his turban For the past year I've traveled the world on behalf of a certain organization called LORD the League of Royalty without Domains he began Tve searched the earth for a certain twelve year old boy or girl to join my project the MVP I've investigated thousands of youths on every continent The ideal candidate is someone who has excellent knowledge of the world someone who is brave but not foolhardy cunning but not cruel and cuts a unique path without wandering too far Most

MVP* — page 6 — Adam Story I’ve searched for a twelve year old who can stand being alone without being lonely I'm certain that I've finally found a youth who fits that description You Adam Story You are the certain twelve year old I screwed up my face again Certain about what I asked How do you know anything about me Prince Oh turned his head He appeared to share a knowing nod with the mongoose on his shoulder For many months MVP has monitored your computer activity Adam Story he said We know about the geography and travel web sites you visited We accessed your library use and know that every book you checked out was an adventure story We viewed the list of DVDs you rented and magazines you bought From the school computer we learned that your mother is employed as a cook in the middle school cafeteria That s why you can attend schools in this upper class suburb even though you live in another town one where the schools aren't so good We also know that your grades at this school are outstanding but you've had a tough time making friends What of it I said You have no right to hack into my life Marco Polo left the prince's shoulder scurried around his turban and perched on the other side I'm here to offer you a challenge Adam Story an MVP birthday challenge if you will Prince Oh said his black eyes sparkling We know you long for travel and

MVP* — page 7 — yearn for adventure Well Adam my challenge is one of the greatest travel adventures ever offered to a twelve year old boy That's for certain A challenge I had no idea what this prince wanted me to do Read a bunch of books Run a race Participate in one of the dumb a thon fundraisers my school had about once a month Prince Oh reached into his cape pocket and took out a PDA a portable digital assistant one of those handheld gadgets He pressed some tiny buttons and said Check your computer Adam GPS I looked down A page from the Encyclopedia Britannica appeared on the laptop screen The entry began Story Adam born May 1 1992 Concord CA How’d you do that I asked Read on the prince

MVP* — page 8 — Story Adam born May 1 1992 Concord CA Famous world traveler and adventurer At age twelve Adam became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe by land and sea only and without adult accompaniment I let out a snort of laughter What gives The challenge Adam Story Prince Oh said pressing more buttons History is full of certain individuals who met a certain challenge and became famous for a certain trip Sally Ride is remembered for her first journey in space Charles Lindbergh became famous for one flight across the Atlantic Ocean and every fifth grader learns how Lewis and Clark hiked to the Pacific Ocean one time Now the laptop showed the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle The date was August 24 of this year more than three months into the future A newspaper headline read BOY 12 YOUNGEST TO CIRCLE WORLD ALONE Completes Circumnavigation in 40 Days I shook my head convinced that this man was a loony Here is the MVP birthday challenge Adam Prince Oh said He sounded very official The Magellan Voyage

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