"All right. This way now, young man."
Bobby followed the little old woman out into the parking lot. Wanting to be a good escort, he began scanning for trouble. There wasn't much happening. It was mostly just people going to the store with empty shopping carts, or coming from the store with full shopping carts. Nothing suspicious. At least not yet...
The little old woman breathed the summer air in deeply, then exhaled with a loud sigh. "What a lovely day." Her eyes crinkled again. "And what wonderful company. I'd love to meet your parents, young man. We could set up a play date with my grandchildren. They'd like you. I'm sure of it."
"Can't," he said distractedly. "I have a secret identity."
She chortled. "You're really committed to this role, I must say. But how about-"
Bobby wasn't listening anymore. His super-vision had glimpsed potential trouble. "Thanks, old lady. I gotta go." He unceremoniously dropped her bags, one landing with a wet CRUNCH, then went zig-zagging away through the sea of parked cars.
"My eggs!" the little old woman exclaimed.
When Bobby finally reached his destination, he stopped and drew himself up proudly. His red cape flared. "Hey. Are you trying to steal this car?"
A burly young man was kneeling by the passenger-side door of a sedan. He stopped jiggling wire in the keyhole, turned and glared. "Little brat! Do I LOOK like a thief to you?"
"Craig! Be nice, he's just a kid." A pretty young woman walked around the car, smiling. "It's our car. We just locked the keys inside."
"We?" the burly young man muttered, resuming his work. "I don't know about any we..."
Bobby grinned with childish amusement. "You locked the keys inside? Hahahahaha! That's STUPID."
Her smile curdled. "Awww. That's mean."
"Kid," the burly young man said. "Don't worry about the car. I'm in a hurry, but we'll take care of-"
Unwilling to let a potential good deed slip away, Bobby began circling the car. He peered into windows. Under the chassis. Hopped up twice to examine the roof...
"Hey! What are you doing?" The burly man stood up, frowning.
Bobby stopped by the driver-side door. "Figuring out the best way..."
"To do what?"
"To help you guys." He glanced at them, looking exasperated. "I'm a superhero. That's what we do."
The couple looked at each other. Both laughed.
Bobby ignored them. His brow furrowed. He tried the handle – it was locked. Impatience flared inside of him. He tugged HARD, ripping the entire door off with a SCREECH of torn metal.
Bystanders shouted in alarm. The pretty young woman stumbled back, white-faced. The burly young man spluttered. "What the HELL?" he finally got out. "You... you really are a superhero." Anger quickly followed. "Wait a godamned MINUTE! If you were gonna bust up my car to get inside, why not just break the freaking window???"
Bobby set down the car door gently. "Broken glass is dangerous."
"And a ripped door isn't?!"
"Uh. Just put on a seatbelt when you drive???"
"What about the COST?! Repairs are expensive!!!"
Bobby had expected a little gratitude. This unexpected interrogation was annoying. It reminded him of his mom. "Jeez. So what? Insurance'll pay for it." He unwrapped a candybar. "Ok, I gotta go. Have a nice day!" He walked off, chewing. The chocolate was delicious!
"That's not how insurance works!" the burly young man called out desperately.
Bobby didn't want to fly in public. Eating candy bars was harder when flying too. Messier. He strutted across the entire parking lot instead, happily scarfing candy bars and scanning for trouble. Everything looked normal. By the time he reached the sidewalk, empty wrappers were all that remained of his unexpected candy. His mouth was smeared in chocolate, though. Bobby wiped it clean with a pudgy hand. Couldn't let his mom see.
An alley beckoned. Once safely hidden inside it, Bobby sprinted, clenched all of his strength into his child's body and LEAPT up into the sky. His flight power kicked in, and he went soaring off above the suburban landscape again.
His thoughts were content. Today was another step forward. His good service with the old woman, and the stranded motorists, both job's well done. Or done well enough. He was protecting the people! There was no doubt in his mind that a place among the top hero's would be his in no time. Before he hit puberty, for sure.
Bobby's house came into view. Arcing down through the sky towards it, he scowled...
His parents were outside. "Bobby!" his wimpy dad called, checking the frontyard. "Bobby" his mom shouted angrily from the backyard. "I told you to stay close! Where are you?!"
Bobby couldn't sneak in through the front yard. It was too open. He came down behind the wooded backyard, hoping the trees would hide him. His flight slowed. He neared the ground, trying for a quiet landing...
"Bobby!" His mom turned, reaching out an arm for him. Her one and only power activated: a flash of light, ZAP!
Bobby's body went cold. His flight powers shorted. He dropped sideways, landing in the dirt with a THUD. "OW! Mommy, that hurt..."
His mom angrily stomped forward, her physical proximity weakening him further. She grabbed his ear and painfully hauled him up to his feet. "Is that chocolate on your face?! Bobby! WHAT DID I TELL YOU?!"
"OWWW OWW OWW! MOMMY STOP IT!" Bobby couldn't resist this rough treatment. Her touch had drained his powers completely. His body was just a child's again. No superstrength. No flight. No lazers.
She dragged him mercilessly towards the open patio door. "I told you to stay close! I told you not to use your powers! AND YOUR HOMEWORK'S NOT FINISHED LIKE YOU SAID! NOT EVEN CLOSE. I LOVE YOU, BUT YOUNG MAN YOU ARE IN A WORRRLLLLD OF TROUBLE!!!" She slammed the kitchen door shut behind them.
Bobby held back tears. He was a hero, and this tyranny wouldn't be allowed to stand! Someday the world would recognize his greatness. Someday they would all cheer out his name. Someday...
But not today. He was grounded.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0CkWT0C5R
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