The passage of time had done little to slow John Cooper's ambitions.
Four years had passed since he started his hydroponic farm, and now, at nine years old, he had expanded his ventures beyond anyone's expectations.
The Coopers' once-simple home in Medford had evolved. The farm was no longer a small-scale operation—it had grown into a thriving business, supplying restaurants and grocery stores across Texas. But John didn't stop there. Over the years, he had turned his attention to patents, securing ideas that would further his empire.
Despite his growing success, one thing remained unchanged: his deep bond with his family, especially his younger siblings, Shelly and Missy.
On a quiet Saturday afternoon, John sat on the couch with a book in hand. Across from him, Sheldon—Shelly, as John called him—was hunched over a physics textbook that seemed far too advanced for a five-year-old.
John glanced over. "Shelly, that book is meant for high school students."
Sheldon didn't even look up. "Then they must be behind."
John smirked. Classic Shelly. Over the past few years, his younger brother had displayed an incredible intellect, particularly in mathematics and physics. John had recognized it early and taken it upon himself to guide him.
"You like physics, huh?" John asked, closing his book.
Sheldon finally looked up, adjusting his glasses. "It's fascinating. Did you know Newton's laws explain why Georgie keeps falling off his skateboard?"
John chuckled. "I mean, that and the fact that he has no balance."
Just then, Georgie stomped in from outside, his shirt covered in dirt, elbow scraped. "Stupid skateboard," he muttered, flopping onto the couch.
Sheldon pushed his glasses up. "Newton's first law states that an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force. In your case, the force is the ground."
Georgie glared. "Yeah, well, Newton can take his laws and—"
John raised a hand. "Alright, alright, let's not insult the great minds of history."
Sheldon turned back to him. "Do you think I could learn calculus soon?"
John studied his younger brother. At five years old, he was already devouring advanced books. He was showing the same brilliance John had at a young age, not to his level, though.
"How about this?" John said. "We start with algebra. If you master that, I'll introduce you to calculus."
Sheldon's face lit up. "Deal."
Missy, who had been quietly playing with her dolls on the floor, perked up. "What about me?"
John smiled. "Well, what do you want to learn?"
Missy tilted her head. "How to make money like you."
Georgie burst out laughing. "Oh man, we've got another business tycoon in the making."
John grinned. "Tell you what, Missy—I'll teach you some basics about business. But first, you gotta learn how to count money properly."
Missy puffed up her chest. "I can count!"
Georgie smirked and waved a dollar bill back and forth. "Yeah, but can you count money when it's moving?"
Missy pouted. "That's not fair!"
John shook his head with a chuckle. "Alright, we'll work on it."
While tutoring Shelly and indulging Missy's newfound interest in business, John was also pushing the boundaries of his entrepreneurial empire.
His hydroponic farm had become one of the most efficient operations in Texas. Over the years, he had started filing patents for new agricultural technology. One of his most promising inventions was an automated irrigation system that adjusted water levels based on real-time soil moisture readings—a system he had designed himself.
And he wasn't stopping there.
He was venturing into new areas: sustainable energy, logistics optimization, and even early developments in AI-assisted farming. His ideas were well ahead of their time, and investors were taking notice.
"Son, I don't know whether to be proud or terrified."
One evening, as the family gathered for dinner, George Sr. set down his fork and looked at John.
"So… I got a call today."
John, mid-bite, looked up. "From who?"
George Sr. sighed. "Some fancy investor in Austin. They wanna fly us out to discuss your patents."
Mary raised an eyebrow. "Another investor?"
John wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Makes sense. The latest patent I filed caught a lot of attention."
Mary sighed. "Can't he just be a normal kid for a day?"
John smirked. "Mom, I tried that once. It was boring."
Georgie grinned. "Yeah, 'normal' isn't exactly his thing."
Sheldon, still chewing, suddenly spoke up. "What's the probability that John will become a billionaire before the age of eighteen?"
John chuckled. "I'd say it's a nonzero probability."
Missy, not wanting to be left out, piped up, "What's a billion?"
Georgie leaned over and whispered, "It's like a million, but better."
Missy's eyes widened. "I want one!"
John grinned. "You and me both, kid."
Later that night, as John sat at his desk reviewing blueprints for his next project, Sheldon climbed onto his bed, dragging a book nearly as big as he was.
John glanced over. "Another advance book?"
Sheldon nodded. "Algebra."
John raised an eyebrow. "You know, most five-year-olds read storybooks."
Sheldon adjusted his glasses. "Yes, but most five-year-olds aren't like us."
John smirked. "Fair point."
For a moment, he just watched his little brother read. Four years ago, Shelly had been just a baby. Now, he was turning into a miniature genius before his eyes.
It made John realize something—he wasn't just running businesses or filing patents. He was shaping the minds of the next generation.
And that, more than any amount of money, was a legacy worth building.
As he turned back to his work, John made a mental note: Invest in Shelly's education.
It was a conclusion he already reached years ago, he can make it work considering he has the money now, unlike the canon Cooper family where the money is always tight.