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Family April 13, 2020

12-year-old geography fan stuck indoors on birthday fills world map thanks to Twitter

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GMA Logo By Nicole Pelletiere

With help from his dad, a boy who loves geography found a creative way to celebrate his birthday in quarantine while engaging with people around the world.

Brandon Smith, who turned 12 years old on April 11, usually marks the occasion by playing golf or going to an amusement park with his father. But with a stay-at-home order in effect in his town, Brandon decided to draw a world map and asked Twitter users to join in on the fun.

Dad Jody Smith tweeted: "This is my son, Brandon. Today is his 12th birthday. I can't give him the party he deserves but Brandon loves geography. He would love it if you would RT or reply where you are so he can mark it on his map."

In two days, the sixth grader received over 100,000 replies on his dad's Twitter page. He has been pinning the locations of people who reach out.

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This is my son, Brandon. Today is his 12th Birthday. I can’t give him the party he deserves but Brandon loves geography.

He would love it if you would RT or reply where you are so he can mark it on his map. pic.twitter.com/nO0draKinL

— Jody Smith (@JodySmithNFL) April 11, 2020
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"I had to think of something we could do. It's his last birthday before he's a teenager," Jody Smith of League City, Texas, told "Good Morning America." "Knowing his interest in maps, I figure reach out on Twitter. Thought we'd get 50 to 100 replies. Obviously it blew up more than that."

PHOTO: Brandon Smith, who turned 12 years old Saturday, April 11, usually marks the occasion by playing golf or going to an amusement park with his father, Jody Smith. Instead, Brandon decided to draw a world map and asked Twitter users to join the fun.
Jody Smith
Brandon Smith, who turned 12 years old Saturday, April 11, usually marks the occasion by playing golf or going to an amusement park with his father, Jody Smith. But since following the stay-at-home order amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brandon decided to draw a world map and asked Twitter users to join the fun.
PHOTO: With help from his dad, a geography fan named Brandon Smith of League City, Texas, found a creative way to celebrate his birthday in quarantine while engaging with people around the world.
Jody Smith
With help from his dad, a geography fan named Brandon Smith of League City, Texas, found a creative way to celebrate his birthday in quarantine while engaging with people around the world.

Smith said the request went viral after Mark Hamill, who is best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" films, sent "Greetings from Malibu, California," to Brandon via Twitter.

Greetings from Malibu, California, USA from your pal, Mar🐫

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 11, 2020

Brandon is still working on his map. Thanks again to all of you for taking the time to support him pic.twitter.com/hhAT0dJFNc

— Jody Smith (@JodySmithNFL) April 13, 2020
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Brandon has received friendly messages from people as far as Tasmania and Antarctica.

PHOTO: Brandon Smith, 12, of League City, Texas, asked Twitter to help fill his world map after being stuck at home due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Jody Smith
Brandon Smith, 12, of League City, Texas, asked Twitter to help fill his world map after being stuck at home due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"He says its all very exciting," Smith said of his son. "People taking time to send pictures and videos has been really nice."

The Walt Disney company is the parent company of ABC News.

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