by Chara, Mina
“You’re forty,” said the voice as Lisa stomped to the fridge, like she didn’t even care I was trying to follow.
“I’m thirty seven!” she said as I tried to listen in but she held the phone away, and looked at me. I expected her to scold me for listening, but instead she said, “can you believe this guy?”
I shook my head, she pressed the phone to her ear again, and I followed.
“And besides,” the voice continued, “he’s not an eighteen year old, he’s twenty six. He didn’t register for a couple of years and went into training late.”
“So you’re going to put me next to a twenty year old?” Lisa asked, “fine. I get it, it’s been decided.”
“There’s nothing I can do, Lisa,” said the voice, “my hands are tied, you’ll just have to make the best of it.” With a click, he hung up and Lisa closed her phone.
Andrew and Julia shook their heads at the phone call, like this sort of thing happened all the time. I fell back onto the sofa and Lisa slumped down next to us with a sigh, engulfing her kids in another hug.
“Well kids, Mommy has a new partner. Let’s hope he’s reasonable.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I said, trying to sound confident, “I mean you’re the more experienced one, I’m sure he’ll listen.”
“I hope so. Sorry about this Friday, I’m supposed to be your mentor, and I’m not doing much mentoring.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re great. You’re a full time superhero and mom. I’d say that’s pretty amazing.”
“Thanks for saying so, but-”
“I mean it. It’s nice to know you can have a family, and do this job. You’re a cool lady.” I declared.
“Well, thanks kid,” she said, giving my shoulder a pat.
✰✰✰
Lisa’s phone rang like an alarm bell, and her kids heads whipped round. “What is it, mom?”
She sighed at the dance of lights on the cover of her phone. “Trouble downtown kids.”
Julia shot up from the sofa and threw her mother her jacket, while Andrew ran to the door. I was utterly confused for a second but Lisa nodded, and pushed her self up. “Brush your teeth and then go to bed, kids,” she told them, “if I find out you haven’t, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, jeez.”
“Friday, you’re with me,” said Lisa. “Time for you to see what the job entails. Let’s boogie.”
Andrew threw my jacket expecting me to catch it, but it fell on my head like a wet dish cloth. He giggled as Lisa pulled me out the door and the change of scenery hit me; her home had been so warm and cozy, and now I was out in the cold starless night, with the light show of skyscrapers above me.
“We’re gonna have to run,” said Lisa as she started to tear ass down the road and I did my best to follow, but the hollow in my stomach was slowing me down, how was I supposed to run when I hadn’t eaten anything all day?
Lisa kept up the pace for a couple of blocks until she skidded to a halt as a large city bus two stories high came into view.
A door in the side opened, and Carey Fry reached out a hand for Lisa and then me. The bus was huge, the size of a living room. Lisa went straight to what looked like a changing room. Two people, probably handlers, or supporting heroes sat at tables working on their computers. Carey held out his hand to me, and I took it, trying to make it look like I knew what I was doing.
“I remember you, you’re Friday Fitzsimmons?”
“That’s me,” I replied.
“And Ms. Kisaragi is your mentor. She’s a good find. Once saved an entire school bus of kids single handedly. Diamond in the rough that woman,” he said nodding.
“It sure looks like it, Sir.” I agreed.
“Carey. Call me Carey. Are you going out with Lisa, or just staying to observe?”
“Going out,” I said, though I wasn’t sure what was involved.
“In that case I believe we have some armor for you, put it on and get out there quickly. She doesn’t wait around for anyone.”
I nodded, and disappeared behind the curtains. A piece of modern plate armor sat in the back, it had no size or gender, so I strapped it on. As I was about to run out the door, Carey grabbed me by the shoulder, and handed me a domino mask.
“You’re gonna need this if you wanna be a superhero.” Putting it on was like becoming a whole new person, as though just a mask could make me feel more confident. Carey put on an ear piece. “Move it,” he said, indicating the door.
“Yes, Sir, I mean Carey. Big fan by the way.”
“Thanks,” he said and smiled as he held the door open. “Now get going.”
I joined Lisa who was already out the door, and rolled my eyes as I experienced the same sensation as before; going from the dimly lit warm interior, to the cold night air of the city.
“First test, get there in time,” said Lisa as she waited for her red bike to appear from under the bus.
“Hold on, you’re not taking me with you?” I asked.
“When I started out, I had a bike, not a motor bike, a pedal bike,” she told me as she climbed into the saddle. “Figure it out kid.”
✰✰✰
“A pedal bike?” I ask and Friday smiles.
“Lisa started out fetching water and help for other heroes. She used a pedal bike.”
“You’re serious?”
“I believe it was pink and they stuck flower stickers all over it,” she tells me as she sets her cup down. “In those days they had her in a pink tennis skirt and sneakers. It was her job to just run about from place to place, like a messenger.”
“But she got a real bike eventually?”
“When she was sixteen, during the highway collapse of ’84. She saved a school bus full of kids along with Captain Fantastic.”
“What happened?” I ask, resting my chin in my hands.
“The Dr. set a bomb on an elevated highway, it hadn’t been opened-”
“But there was a school bus on it?”
“They say the driver took a short cut, or maybe he just didn’t see the sign,” she says, taking a sip. “Whatever the reason, there’s a school bus on the highway. Lisa hears about it and pedals out on her pink bike to find them, and the captain just runs.”
“And they saved all the kids? How?”
“Well, rather than go after the bus, Lisa went after the bomb, which made sense, only she didn’t know how to defuse one.”
“So?”
“So, she threw it to the captain, and he threw it in the air.”
“And everyone was okay?”
She tuts, and sighs. “The blast was enough to crumble a small part of the highway, but Lisa and the Captain had bought enough time to get the bus away before it collapsed.”
“That’s amazing,” I say.
Friday smiles. “It certainly was. They made her a real hero after that. No more running errands. That’s when she got her bike.”
✰✰✰
The bike roared into life and Lisa disappeared down the road. I nodded to the passers by as I stood there, in the middle of the street, wearing armor that made me look like I was ready for a nerdy convention. I decided to power through it, and just run there. I sped down the streets as fast as I could and considered stealing a plate of food from a café as I passed, but I had to get to wherever it was I was going. Eventually I reached an elevated highway, and saw Lisa, who’d left her bike, standing in the middle of the city traffic. People were being held back by police, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on behind the barriers.
I pushed through the people and the policemen let me go as far as they could. Lisa was in the middle of the road facing the wreckage of a car. A man and a girl were inside and in-between them, on the road, was what looked a person on fire. Literally on fire. For a moment I thought the man had been involved in the crash, but he wasn’t rolling around or trying to put the fire out. I couldn’t make out his face, but he was a man, standing there, covered in flames, and he seemed
fine. The air was filled with the scent of burnt cloth, and dripping gasoline.
The sight was so strange I stumbled backwards and looked away. For only a second I skimmed the roof of a town house and spotted something black. It was a man, dressed to blend in with the city night. The only thing that set him apart was his bright yellow hair.
I looked back to Lisa making sure she was still there before I moved forwards.
“Get away from the car!” Lisa shouted. The Figure in the flames took a step back, and the little girl in the car screamed. The Figure sparked, like he was flaring his nostrils, turned his back to Lisa, and stepped forward towards the wreckage. Oil leaked from the car’s engine.
“Stop!” I screamed. My mind shut off; I couldn’t think of anything except running forwards, a car crash had changed my life, I had to help that little girl and her dad. The man on fire flinched at the sight and his fire flared, knocking me back like a leaf in the wind. The world spun, and my insides felt like clam chowder. A moment later, Lisa was beside me.
“You okay kid?”
I nodded automatically without really thinking, I was about to point out the man on the roof, only to find he’d disappeared, and when I looked back to the wreckage, The Figure was gone too.
“Help me get them out,” said Lisa. I nodded and tried to stand up. The man in the car pulled at the seat belt like a baby trapped in a high chair, and his daughter just cried. Lisa and I gripped the car’s frame, as though our touch would somehow prevent it from going sky high. “Calm down,” Lisa told the man, “everything’s fine. We’ll get you out, okay?”
The man let go of his seatbelt, and nodded. I leaned over to Lisa and whispered, “Isn’t the car in danger of-”
She bared her teeth at me, willing me to shut up, then pulled out a knife and started cutting at the belt. I climbed into the back of the car, where the girl’s seat was upside down. “Sweetie, you’ve got to undo your seatbelt,” I told her. She shook her head at me, and gripped her stuffed bunny tighter.
“I’ll catch you,” I said, “trust me.”
“I’m scared,” she mumbled, opening her eyes.
Her father yelled, telling her to move as Lisa dragged him away into the crowds, but still, she shook her head.
“Hey kid,” I said and she looked at me, the long ears of her bunny swaying in the cold night air. “It’s okay to be scared. You can’t be brave if you’re not scared. So please, be brave, and trust me.”
She nodded, wiping away the tears, and I held my hands out, bracing my arms for her weight.
“Fitz! Hurry up!”
“I’m on it!” I called back, “come on sweetie, you can do it!” Her belt came apart with one loud click and she fell straight into my arms. I held her as tightly as I could as I pushed my way out of the car, but it all took time. Lisa had dropped the girl’s father at the edge of the crowd and he, immediately, tried to crawl back to his daughter.
“Move kid!” Lisa screamed, running towards the two of us.
I ran as fast as I could until I heard the little girl cry. “Mrs Mine!”
I froze, and looked back. “Who’s Mrs Mine,” I asked.
“My bunny,” the little girl replied. As a small child I had a stuffed bear and stupid as it was, I knew how she felt. That bunny was a member of the family. I dropped the little girl and pushed her forward.
“Run!” I yelled. “I’ll get your bunny.”
Lisa scooped up the girl and reached out to drag me back but she was too slow.
“Fitz!” Lisa screamed as I ran back towards the car, blocking out every sound, not letting my self think. I dropped to the floor and grabbed the toy like it was a baton in a relay race with no seconds to spare. I could hear each drop of fuel hit the road like the pounding of my pulse. Something blurry in the sky started speeding towards us and Lisa made a run for me again. Just as my fingers whispered across hers a voice boomed from above.
“Get down!” A man in a super skeleton suit flew down from the sky and wrapped himself round the two of us, deploying a shield from his back. It wasn’t a moment too soon. The car erupted in an awesome display of fire and the crowd oohed and awed at the spectacle as though they were watching New Year’s fireworks. I opened my eyes to the masked, super suited figure above me.
“Partner Kisaragi, it’s good to finally meet you.” Lisa turned away from his face, only inches from hers, and mumbled something under her breath that might have been “show off”.
Barney Baxter was most certainly a show off. The moment the coast was clear he put away the shield on his back and stood up to receive the roar of the crowd, waving as though they’d thrown roses and asked for an encore. Fireworks spun from his hands, his very own severely limited power, which was why he’d been given a super skeleton. It didn’t cover his whole body, it was more like a backpack with various panels and bracelets on other parts of his body. Not many heroes used them because they didn’t last long, but Barney didn’t have much of a choice.
The first thing I heard after the explosion was the high pitched wail of sirens. I lay still on the pavement, trying to get my bearings and held up the bunny like a trophy after a mile long dash. The little girl collapsed on top of me, pulling me into a hug.
“You saved Mrs. Mine!” She squeezed Mrs. Mine like she was the most important thing in the world. I sat up, and the little girl smiled. “My name’s June.” She held out her hand for me to shake and said politely, “Thank you for saving me. What’s your name?”
“Everyone calls me Fitz,” I told her, “but just between you and me, my name’s Friday.”
“That’s silly,” said June, “Friday’s a day of the week.”
“That’s rich coming from a month.” I laughed.
She giggled as I gave her cheek a poke.
“Fitz, get up.” Lisa stood in front of us, shaking her head at me.
“Huh?”
Lisa sighed, and took June’s hand. “Say goodbye June.”
“Goodbye Friday.”
I held up my hand in a quick salute as Lisa guided the little girl back to her father. I sat there for a moment, my stomach growling, until someone pulled me back onto my feet and though I wobbled, steady hands held me in place. I looked up to try and find something to focus on and found Ashley’s stern face and large nose. I groaned inwardly. Despite the fact that he stood next to a burning car wreck he looked composed and clean in a crisp white shirt and tie that looked far too old for someone his age.
“What are you doing here, Fitz?” Ashley asked.
“Superhero stuff, obviously,” I replied, dry heaving half way through.
“You look like an idiot. Why did you go back for a stuffed toy?” He didn’t sound bewildered by the concept, only angry I’d done it. I’ll admit, it wasn’t the smartest thing I’d ever done.
“I don’t know! The little girl, June. She wanted it. Who knew you were a connoisseur of hero technique.” I drawled.
“Are you done?” he asked.
“No! Where’s Lisa?” I cried. I looked round and found her pointing a firm finger at her new partner. She was fine. I felt utterly sick, the adrenalin, the nerves, the shaking. My heart was going a million miles an hour, and suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. Lisa pushed herself away from Barney who flashed the cameras a dazzling white smile. I pried myself from Ashley’s grip, taking deep breaths in and out.
I didn’t know where I was going, but I needed to get away from the lights and sirens. It felt like a million eyes were on me, overwhelming me, making my bones shake with frustration. I couldn’t focus on anything. A panic attack. That’s what it was. Tears sprang from my eyes, not because I was scared but because my mind and body were bursting with emotion, crying was the only way to get it all out. There was nothing wrong with crying, I told myself, but I felt pathetic as I did it. How could I explain to anyone I wasn’t used to the outside? I wasn’t used to talking to people, I wasn’t used to life outside of a big house or without someone monitoring my every move. I took a deep
desperate breath and stumbled down the street trying to stand straight backed. I was a full block away from where I’d been and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I leaned on my knees, and vomited my guts out in a long clear stream. I’d vomited on the streets. Was that illegal?
“Fitz?” I spun round to find Ashley, holding an umbrella over his head as the water from a gutter tumbled down over him, and the orange yellow street lights played on the hard planes of his face. He stood a good few feet away as though he preferred to observe me rather than hold my hair back like he’d do for anyone else.
Rather than reply I pointed to the pile of sick and said. “Is that illegal?” My voice came out shaky and drunken.
“No, it’s not illegal to vomit in the street,” he said.
“Shouldn’t I clean it up though?” I asked.
“It’s fine.”
“Great.” I cringed at the taste in my mouth, and sighed as the rain soaked my hair and brought it out in messy curls. I was a complete wreck. As I stood up, he came up behind me, and handed me a napkin without a glance. Instead, he looked at my pile of sick.
“At least you didn’t lose any food.” he grumbled.
“I haven’t had any food to lose.”
“What are you talking about?” his voice was sharper, like only now he was paying attention. He adjusted the umbrella to cover the both of us, not that it really made a difference, I was already wet.
“I gave you my lunch, remember?”
“You didn’t eat lunch at all?” he asked.
“Obviously not.”
He frowned. “What about breakfast?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Dinner? Sorry, I was busy.” I said pointing back to the car wreck.
He sighed, took my hand and began pulling me down the street.
“What are you doing?” I murmured. He stopped across from a convenience store, and checked both ways.
“What are you doing?” I asked again.
“Stay here.” he said, without looking at me.