Kiki's Cat Cafe

EVERY DAY SUPERMAN

Issue 4: The Lessons We Learn

        Clarence and Joey were sitting at the bleachers on the border of the old basketball court.  In Joey’s hands was the Superman comic Clarence had gotten the night before.  

“I thought u got one of these a week?” Joey asked.

“Yesterday was hard.  I needed another one,” Clarence said flatly.

“Sorry bout your dad man.  I know how it feels,” Joey said.

“S’ok.  I figured it was coming.  Didn’t make it any easier though.”

“Look y’all, it’s Roley Poley Joe!” an obnoxious voice yelled out.

Clarence turned his head and saw Garvey approaching them.  Behind him was the standard crew of eighth graders he slunk around with.  In the very back, skulking slowly, was Tyson.

“S’up Roley Joe?  U fatter than u were yesterday?  I think so.  I think u like a black hole, suckin up everything,” Garvey said as he started laughing at his own joke.  ”And speakin of black holes…”

“Shut up Garvey,” a voice said.

The entourage of eighth graders looked behind them to see who had just shut Garvey down.  Tyson stood tall against their questioning looks.  But he was not looking back at them.  He was not looking at Garvey or Joey either.  His eyes were fixed on Clarence.

And Clarence was staring right back at him – with the same stoic, righteous gaze he wore the night before.

Tyson broke eye contact first.  Without saying another word, the usually loud-mouthed leader walked away.

The entourage followed him.  Garvey, silenced by his leader and his friends, followed after with a look of bewilderment.  

“That was weird,” Joey said.  

“I don’t know.  Tyson must tell Garvey to shut up at least thirty-five times a day,” Clarence replied.

“Yeah, but then to not say nothin?” 

“Maybe he won’t anymore,” Clarence said.

“Ha, yeah right,” Joey said.  He lifted up the Superman comic and started flipping through the pages.  “He probably just wants to avoid that Superman shirt.”

“Yeah, you’re right.  Something tells me doesn’t want to see that S anymore,” Clarence agreed.

“You never told me, yesterday, why you wear that all the time.”

“It’s cheesy,” Clarence deflected.

“Come on man, u think I’m gonna laugh at you?” Joey said with a big smile that took up half his face.  “Look at me.  I know what it’s like to be laughed at.  U aint got nothin to worry about here.”

“Ok,” Clarence replied.  “I wear it because it’s a symbol.  It stands for something; a lot of things, actually.  And all those things are very important to me.”

“What kinds’a things does it stand for?”

“Superman never gives up.  He never compromises.  He wakes up everyday like you and me, wanting to be better.  Pushing himself to be better.  Because he understands that it doesn’t matter what you can do.  What matters is what gets done.  And wearing the shirt reminds me of that.  The “S,” it makes me feel like I can be better.  But I’ll need to try everyday to get there.”