ELEVEN

Hank, Katie and her mom and dad were having dinner. Hank was spearing some peas on his fork that seemed to be intent on evading it. He seemed to be lost in thought. Katie had been a vegetarian for a year now and mom had become better and better at cooking without the use of meat. Some days though, it just meant she ate the peas and mashed potatoes and the pork chops just went to her dad.

“What do you think about this new hero,” Katie’s dad asked her mom.

Katie started to feel uncomfortable. She had a feeling she knew what new hero he was talking about.

“What do you mean?” Mom asked.

“Well, as an Assistant AD I was wondering what your stance is on her? I mean, she seemed to be a bit reckless from what I heard on the news. Should the city allow these so-called superheroes to roam around our streets? Or should they just let the people who know what they’re doing protect our streets. You know, the police.”

“It’s complicated, dear. I can’t deny heroes like Johnny Bubblegum have been quite helpful in assisting the police of Moulton. Just like The Athlete has been doing in Washington, DC and Godling in New Troy.”

“Okay, that’s the older, more experienced guys. But what about someone like Octo Boy? The new heroes. Don’t they just cause more trouble? They sure seem to attract more supervillains.”

“That was never proven!” Katie piped up.

Her parents looked at her, surprised of the vigorous way she protested.

“Well, she is right,” Mom said. “We don’t know if there are actually more villains here because of the heroes or the other way around.”

“I seem to recall that a few years ago The Warlord of Pluto tore the city apart just to draw out Johnny Bubblegum and settle his personal feud with the hero. Without that Bubblegum, we wouldn’t have had to rebuild a large part of our fair city,” Dad argued, stopping a moment from chewing his pork chops.

“My dad getting killed sure had nothing to do with any superhero,” Hank said angry. He dropped his fork and stormed away from the table.

“Oh, I’m sorry! Kid, listen…” Dad apologized.

Mom got up, ready to go after Hank. Katie put a hand on her shoulder. “Let me.”

She followed Hank who stormed into the guestroom that was Hank’s home now. He smashed the door behind him. Katie knocked.

“Go away!” Hank yelled.

“Come on, Hank… Talk to me… Dad didn’t mean it like that. Please, let me in.”

“All right, go ahead,” Hank’s voice sounded.

Katie walked in. Hank was sitting on his bed, crying. Katie sat next to him, hugged him. “I’m so sorry, Hank. It’s just… Dad’s into this philospcal discussions. Probably the writer-side of him or something.”

“I know, I don’t blame him. It’s just… It annoys me to have a city full of heroes, but none of them were there to save dad. Well, at least you were there so save me. I’m not stupid either, Katie. I know that you are this Invulnergirl that saved those hostages. The superpowers match, as does the physique. We never really talked about what has happened to you after the explosion at my dad’s. I was too busy with my sadness, and you too busy taking care of me to talk about it.”

“Yeah, yeah that’s me. Moulton City’s new indestructible champion,” Katie admitted. “And dad was right, I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

“You really seemed to know what you were doing when you saved me. Maybe you’re a natural at this.”

“I don’t know about that. In hindsight I’m not sure if I had the right approach with that hostage situation.”

“You saved the hostages and took down the bad guys. Sounds right to me,” Hank said.

Katie smiled. “Ah, shucks…”