The next morning when Denise and I hopped on the bus to school everyone was talking about the kid that captured the bank robbers. Some kids saw him on the news, some kids read about him in the newspaper but everybody, even the school bus driver, was talking about him. He could fly, one kid said. He can shoot lightning bolts from his hands, said another. I even heard someone shout that the mysterious kids superhero could lift skyscrapers and throw them at the moon. Man, these kids were eating this stuff up. Denise sat down with her friends while I spotted an empty seat next to Erika.
“Is anyone sitting here?” I asked nervously.
“Nope. Have a seat, she said with a smile. “So what do you think about all this superhero talk?” She asked.
“I don’t buy it. All the pictures of that kid are blurry; it looks like a giant orange colored turkey flying through the air.” She giggled and I relaxed a little.
“What about the hostages? They saw him, didn’t they?” Erika asked.
“Those people were scared out of their minds, who knows what they saw.” I replied. “If someone saved my life, I’d probably think they were a superhero too. Those poor people had no idea that all they were in danger of was getting their underwear soggy from the water guns those robbers were carrying.”
“They had water guns? It didn’t say that in the paper.” Erika said curiously.
“Yeah…um…I think I heard that on the news this morning. Anyway, they were stressed out, they could have seen anything.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true. When I get stressed out, I see the weirdest things too. Once after an argument with my older brother, I was looking out the window, and I thought I saw a guy fly up and rescue a cat stuck in a tree.”
“Wow, that is kinda nuts,” I said awkwardly and changed the subject.
When we got to the auditorium it was Supadupa pandemonium. Big kids, little kids, the principal, everybody was talking about him. Ronald pulled me to the side and whispered, “Can you believe this?”
“This is crazy. I think the Supadupa Kid needs to stay out of the spotlight for a little while.”
Just then Hoody bumped me hard from behind.
“I know that was you at the bank yesterday. Who do you think you are? You’re no hero, you’re a zero.”
“Look, Hoody, I don’t want any trouble.”
“Well that’s too bad. You could never take me out as easily as you did those bank robbers. I’m stronger than you. Why don’t you meet me after school behind the bleachers, and I’ll show you who’s stronger.”
“I told you, Hoody, I don’t want any trouble.”
“I knew it; you’re nothing but a coward, you and your little playmate, Donald.”
“Excuse me, but my name is Ronald, not Donald,” Ronald stated. Hoody looked around, making sure no one was looking. He lowered his sunglasses revealing his ruby red eyes and gave Ronald another ZAP to the chest. “Ouch!” Ronald screamed as he clutched his chest in pain.
“I don’t care if your name is Ronald McDonald. The next time my glasses come down, I will be aiming at you,” he said and poked me in the chest.
“Ronald, are you okay?” I was mad, real mad. This was the second time Hoody hurt my friend. There wouldn’t be a third time!
“Yeah I’m okay, but aren’t the superhero and the villain supposed to exchange blows? Usually the sidekick doesn’t get hurt in the comics. This stinks! I’m going to have to wear an aluminum foil shirt to reflect Hoody’s rays.”
“My best friend isn’t coming to school looking like wrapped up leftovers. I’ll deal with Hoody and you stop sounding like a baby when you get zapped.”
“Sure, make fun of me now but you’ll be apologizing when Hoody finally zaps you.”