The laughter started as whispers, then erupted into full-blown snickers. Chairs scraped across the floor, fingers pointed, and Daniel sat frozen, cheeks flaming. He had just shared his “invention project” — a small device to generate clean energy from movement — and the class thought it was a joke.
“Yeah, right,” one student sneered. “You gonna save the world with duct tape?”
Even Ms. Halpern’s gentle response didn’t help. “That’s… creative, Daniel. But maybe focus on the assignment.”
Then the door opened.
A tall man stepped in, casual but commanding — faded jeans, a worn leather bag, and quiet confidence. The room went silent. “I’m Alex,” he said, “Daniel’s uncle. I heard what just happened.”
Daniel looked up, stunned. Alex gave him a reassuring nod. “It’s time you all learned something about the boy you’re laughing at.”
Walking to the blackboard, Alex began drawing. At first, the lines seemed random. Circles, angles, scribbles. But soon, a detailed schematic emerged — a working renewable energy generator.
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