Mathew Richards, age 9, of Atlanta, GA, was excited. Tomorrow is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Percy and Shelly said there will be a big celebration in honor of Dr. King.
As Mathew 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 Mathew could blink, the magic carpet sailed away.
"I have a dream..." boomed a loud voice. Mathew 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 Percy and Shelly could be here," thought Mathew as the carpet raced away.
"Next Stop, George Washington Carver's Dreamland Laboratory," the magic carpet announced.
Mathew 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."
Mathew was amazed. All these famous people right before his eyes.
"Where do we go next?" Mathew 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," Mathew said.

"Welcome to Dreamland School," Mrs. Bethune greeted Mathew. "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, Mathew?"

Before Mathew 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."
Mathew 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, Mathew," 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."
Mathew was having a lot of fun and wished that Percy and Shelly could be in Dreamland, too.

"Hurry, Mathew, 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 Mathew knew, the alarm clock rang and a familiar voice asked, "Did you forget the Martin Luther King celebration is today?"
"Forget!" Mathew thought. "I can't wait to tell Percy and Shelly about my exciting adventure in Dreamland."

Mathew Richards

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