Suddenly someone dashed onto the street and pulled them onto the sidewalk. The BetterWorld Kids watched in shock as the carriage went right through the man who'd rescued the girls. He didn't even bat an eye.

"Nothing bad can happen to you here in Cyberspace," the man explained. "But I didn't want you to be scared."

"Hey, aren't you Congressman Kucinich?" Johnny asked.

"Why yes, I am," the man said. "But please call me Dennis."

"Hey guys," Johnny exclaimed. This is my Congressman. He ran for President of the United States!"

"And you're the BetterWorld Kids, aren't you!" Congressman Kucinich said. "I've heard about the great things you've been doing. I'm not sure how you got here, but I'll bet you can help me create a Department of Peace!"

"You mean a Peace Department, like the Department of Education?" Cheyenne asked.

"Exactly," Dennis Kucinich said. And there'd be a Secretary of Peace, who would advise The President."

"Well it makes sense to me," Jamal said. "In my country they have a War Department. We should have a Peace Department to stop wars before they happen!"

"Exactly!" Dennis exclaimed. "Not only wars, but violence in our communities, too. We'd also have a Peace Academy to help train the peacemakers who'll be working for the Peace Secretary."

"Wow. We should have Peace Departments in every country," Solomon said. All the BetterWorld Kids agreed.

"This is something people should have thought of long ago," Solomon sighed.

"Well, actually, it's not a new idea," Dennis said, and he looked up and down the street. "That's why we're here in Philadelphia in 1792. Benjamin Franklin wasn't the only notable founding father named Benjamin. Two other Benjamins are here having an important meeting. But where are they?"

The Peace Department
A BetterWorld Kids Adventure

Story ©2005 Robert Alan Silverstein
Illustrations ©2005 Ginger Nielson

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May Peace Prevail On Earth