The Boy Who Could Fly Without a Motor by Theodore Taylor Read Free Book Online Page B

nights.
    Jon thought the mattress was hard. Maybe it was the original one?

EIGHTEEN
    JON HAD SEEN PHOTOS OF PRESIDENT and Mrs. Roosevelt in the
Chronicle
and had listened on Sunday nights to his famous "fireside chats" on the Jeffers's new Philco radio set. The family listened to his program so regularly, it was like going to church.
    He'd also seen President Roosevelt in the newsreels at the picture shows on the mainland whenever his parents took him. The president had a nice smile and wore rimless glasses. He seemed to care for all Americans.
    Jon hadn't seen or heard Mrs. Roosevelt much, but she seemed nice, too. He remembered seeing her in the Fox Movie-tone News, touring a poor section of the country called Appalachia. His mother had said, "She's a different first lady; nothing fancy about her. Look at that plain dress and that little hat"
    And now here he was at the White House, soon to meet Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.
    AT BREAKFAST, JON told of his adventures flying over the lighthouse and the
Cacciatore Roma,
and how it all started with the Chinese magician, but not how he actually flew. He thought Ling Wu might forgive him for everything except betraying the secret of levitation. Telling that would bring on the flaming straw and the shark.
    Along with the president and the first lady, the admirals commanding the navy and the Coast Guard—as well as the generals commanding the army and the Army Air Corps—attended the breakfast. These were the men in charge of defending the United States of America, and people flying around without motors were a definite threat to the country's well-being.
    The man in charge of the FBI was also there. He had a face like a bulldog and a body like a warthog, just as compact. His name was Hoover.
    The president explained Jon's buckets to those at the table by saying there was some type of temporary imbalance with Jon's system, but one of the world's foremost neurosurgeons, Dr. Leon Buxtehede, had assured him a solution was soon to be found. Jon would by no means have to carry gallons of red lead around the rest of his life. Everyone nodded solemnly.
    Jon and his mother sat opposite President Roosevelt and the first lady. Smacks was beneath the table, having been fed in the kitchen. Everyone was as nice to Smacks as they were to Jon and his mother.
    The president said, "Now, Jon, you have to tell us how you do it."
    "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't. I took an oath never to reveal that secret."
    "Come now, Jon, your secret is safe in this room," said the president.
    The navy admiral insisted, "Tell us."
    "Yes," said the army general.
    The FBI man named Hoover ordered, "Boy, tell us. Or else."
    Mrs. Roosevelt interrupted. "Stop it, Franklin—all of you. Jon is only nine."
    "All right, Eleanor, we'll discuss it later," the president said.
    Then he smiled at Jon. "I can't wait to see you fly."
    "Neither can I," said Mrs. Roosevelt.
    The admirals and generals and Mr. Hoover took their cue, and all agreed that they, too, couldn't wait.
    "The whole world is waiting, Jon. More than two hundred newspaper reporters and radio reporters and photographers will be on the lawn at ten-thirty to see you fly without a motor. The movie newsreel people will be there, too. You'll be on the screens of every movie theater in the country within three days, then overseas," said the president.
    The Coast Guard admiral said, "It boggles my mind to think that one of our Coast Guard children achieved this unbelievable feat."
    It wasn't until that moment that Jon considered the possibility that his aerial brain cells might not be working this morning or might even refuse to cooperate. He began to get very nervous.
    The first lady said, "Well, now that breakfast is over, I'll take you on a tour of our house, so my husband can get a little work done before your historic moment."
    Jon, his mother, and Smacks followed her into rooms that would never be seen by the average citizen. Jon's mother whispered into