Chapter 2 - THE BLUEPRINT OF DREAMS
Duke stepped around to the side of the power wheelchair, pulling a heavy wooden sketchpad and a soft graphite pencil from his saddlebag. He crouched low on the pavement, bringing himself down to Ben’s eye level, his massive, calloused hand holding out the pencil.
"Your machine," Duke said, placing the wooden board securely onto Ben’s lap. "Your design."
Ben didn't hesitate for a single second. The moment his fingers gripped the pencil, his quiet reserve evaporated into pure creative energy. With quick, confident strokes, his hand flew across the white paper, outlining sweeping curved side panels that mimicked the iconic vintage fenders of a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. He drew exaggerated chrome trim lines along the sides, a miniature rounded hood line over the front footrests, and twin bullet-style headlight accents extending outward.
Duke leaned down close, resting his heavy forearms on his knees as he studied the intricate sketch. His sharp blue eyes examined every line, tracing the way the boy had conceptualized turning a functional medical device into a miniature piece of classic American motor history.
"You've got an eye for proportion, kid," Duke noted with an approving nod, pointing at the drawn side panels. "Notice how you kept the side profile high enough to clear the ground? That’s real engineering."
Ben beamed with pride, pointing his pencil at the center of the drawing. "If we mount the frame right here, it won't touch the tires or block the battery pack under the seat."
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"Smart," Duke agreed, taking the pad to review the dimensions. "We build a lightweight aluminum shell that clips onto the outer frame. Nothing touches the drive wheels, nothing blocks your joystick, and the manual brake release stays hundred percent accessible."
Duke stood up, patting Ben’s shoulder gently. "Safety first, style second. Let's get to work."
