I woke up naked with burns all over my body. And a jug full of water next to the bed. I was terribly thirsty so I emptied it in one go. My skin was stinging everywhere. It stung more when I moved. I didn’t know whether to lie down or look for help. I decided putting on clothes would hurt a lot more than I could take right now. I was also too grown to walk around naked in public so I lay down and waited. Help knew to leave water beside my bed so help knew to check up on me eventually.

My mother finally walked through the door. “Smelly, you’re awake.” She peered inside the jug. “Do you want more water?” “Yes,” I replied. “How’s your skin feel?” “It stings a lot,” I said slowly. There was a mixing bowl on the dresser table. “You looked a lot worse three days ago. You could’ve died you know.” She sat on the edge of the bed with the bowl in her hand. “It was a dangerous thing you did. Your toy is all fried up you know. Half of it was stuck to the floor. We had to pry it off with a spatula. You were very lucky not to follow the same fate.” The incredible fact that I had been out for three days was overshadowed by the news of my best friends demise. Spectraman had given his life to help my father and I couldn’t have been more proud.

I turned my head in silent sorrow. Mourning my companion who carried me through tough times. Who was with me through the good and the bad. Inspired me to be a hero. To stand up against forces of mischief and destruction. Then the sting hit me. I wanted to scream. But I held it in. Clenching my mouth and making growling sounds in the process. Swinging my head side to side as my mother kept applying a grey paste onto each individual burn mark. “You have to roll to the side so I can do the back,” my mother said. I agonisingly turned my body sideways and she continued.

“We thought you were dead for sure when your body caught on fire. I almost dropped you you were so hot.” Each time she touched me was like a thousand needles. “We brought you back just in time. Another minute of those shenanigans and you were a goner. Thank God our ancestors are so strong. And your strong spirit. You need to be grateful that your father and I don’t raise weak children. And that your grandfather gave US the rocking chair instead of his other children.” Right now I was grateful that she’d stopped. My heart was beating simultaneously on all of the wounds. I was beginning to hallucinate from the pain. “I’m fetching your water. I’ll be right back.” She placed her hand on my head and stroked my short nappy hair. “You’ve been healing very well. Your skin will return to normal in no time. I’m still mad at you. But your pain is enough of a lesson for now.” The bed lightened as she stood up. Her assertive footsteps left the room. I was left with the buzzing in my ears.

‘So my body was on fire? I was out for three days? Spectraman melted?’ I thought in awe. ‘What an insane outcome to a normal day of gardening for my mother, Shopping for my father and crime patrolling for me,’ I mused. I guess I was glad to be alive. Glad for my father as well. I would not know what to do if I’d lost TWO of my heroes in one go. Rest in peace Spectraman. His legacy lives through me.