Michael Adam Jorgenson,
age 4, of
Atlanta,
Georgia, was excited. Tomorrow is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s
birthday. Cole, Nathan, and MyKaela
said there
will be a big celebration in honor of Dr. King.
As
Michael
drifted off to sleep, suddenly a magic carpet appeared.
"Hop on," the magic carpet said.
"We've got a tour planned just for you."
Before
Michael could blink, the magic carpet sailed away.
"I have a dream..." boomed a loud
voice. Michael could see a big crowd of people
listening to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Welcome to Dreamland," said the
carpet as it glided to a landing.
"This is a place for people who
want their dreams to come true," it explained. "Dr. King worked hard to
make dreams come true for all people. He received the Nobel Peace Prize for
his work with the Civil Rights Movement."
"Wow!" This place is great. I
wish Cole, Nathan, and MyKaela could be here,"
thought Michael as the carpet raced away.
"Next stop, George Washington
Carver's Dreamland Laboratory," the magic carpet announced.
Michael
saw a man surrounded by people, plants and scientific equipment.
George Washington Carver spent his
whole life studying plants," the magic carpet went on. "His discoveries
helped farmers grow better crops. Peanuts were his specialty, and he
discovered many uses for them."
Michael
was amazed. All these famous people right before
his
eyes.
"Where do we go next?"
Michael asked the talking carpet.
"Next stop, Mary McLeod Bethune
Dreamland School," said the carpet. "Dreamland boys and girls have all
sorts of dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. This is where
they learn one very important Dreamland rule. You have to work very hard
and try your very best."
"This is cool,"
Michael said.
"Welcome to Dreamland School," Mrs.
Bethune greeted Michael. "I was a teacher and
started a school in Florida for black girls. Today, that school is the
Bethune-Cookman College. I always believed in self-respect, self-reliance
and self-pride could make dreams come true. And that's what I teach my
Dreamland students. Do you have a dream,
Michael?"
Before
Michael could answer, the carpet was moving again.
"On your right is the Thurgood
Marshall Dreamland City Center," the carpet pointed out. "President Lyndon
Johnson chose Thurgood Marshall to be a Supreme Court Judge."
Michael
saw a town square with big granite buildings.
"Look, there's Judge Marshall now,"
said the carpet as it slowly floated to a stop.
"Welcome,
Michael," Judge Marshall said in a friendly voice. "This is where we
teach people to vote, to obey the laws of the land, and to be fair. As a
judge on the Supreme Court, I have always been committed to fairness."
Michael
was having a lot of fun and wished that
Cole, Nathan,
and MyKaela could be in Dreamland, too.
"Hurry,
Michael, it's time for the "I Have a Dream Parade." And this year,
you get to be the leader!" said the magic carpet.
The next thing
Michael knew, the alarm clock rang and a
familiar voice asked, "Did you forget the Martin Luther King celebration is
today?"
"Forget!"
Michael thought. "I can't wait to tell
Cole, Nathan,
and MyKaela about my exciting adventure in Dreamland."