DC Super Hero Girls #2

by Lisa Yee

  “Really?” Supergirl asked. Her eyes widened and she grinned.

  “Really,” Barbara assured her. “If I’m neglecting you, you only have to say something. I can’t read minds like Miss Martian, you know.”

  “I knew you’d say that,” Supergirl joked.

  If there was ever a time when Supergirl needed Barbara’s help, it was now. In phys ed, she completely overshot the end of the runway. Instead of landing on the giant X with an arrow pointing to it and a sign that shouted STOP HERE!, Supergirl plowed into a group of dignitaries from a visiting planet, sending everyone, including non-flyers, flying.

  In Intro to Super Suits, she unfurled a bolt of fabric with too much strength, causing it to completely unspool and trip everyone in its wake. And when she used her heat vision to help Poison Ivy’s greenroom experiment, the warmth accelerated the growth of the Villainous Vines, and they attacked the entire science lab, including poor Janitor Parasite, who had just arrived to clean up a spill.

  Despite Babs’s encouragement, Supergirl was feeling less and less like a future super hero and more like a super failure. Her head knew what to do, but her body and powers wouldn’t cooperate! Plus, there was a C-minus that threatened to turn into a D in Super Heroes Throughout History. All because when Raven had joked that the retro assignment, a 1970s report on TV super heroes, was to be done in hieroglyphics, Supergirl had thought she was serious.

  As the month came to an end, every time Supergirl walked past the Boom Tubes, she couldn’t stop thinking about their potential. Not that she’d ever really use them. But…where could they take her? Would it be so bad to slip into Korugar Academy just to see what it was like? No tests meant no bad grades. Supergirl tried to use her X-ray vision to see past the lead-based metal door, but only succeeded in giving herself a headache.

  However, what she could see were the guests outside arriving at Super Hero High. Whether they were driving, flying, or teleporting, they were coming in droves. And they were all headed to something Supergirl had been dreading.

  Parents’ Night.

  The teachers, Waller, and the students were all on their best behavior, though it was difficult for many, and every now and then someone slipped up majorly. Like Vice Principal Grodd, who carelessly tossed a banana peel on the floor, causing Star Sapphire’s mother to teeter off her high heels and slip. Luckily, Hawkgirl was there to fly in and catch her. Then, instead of apologizing, Grodd just wiped his massive brow with his red handkerchief, grunted, and stomped away, knuckles dragging on the ground.

  It wasn’t just Grodd who messed up. In her enthusiasm, Wonder Woman almost bruised several parents’ hands when she shook them. Luckily, Poison Ivy was standing by to whisper, “Easy, go easy,” whenever the slightest hint of a grimace was evident. Miss Martian was so overwhelmed by the crowd, she kept turning invisible when anyone spoke to her…and so did her sponsor, the Martian Manhunter himself. And when Beast Boy slipped a whoopee cushion onto Commissioner Gordon’s chair, Cyborg laughed so hard he nearly popped a screw loose.

  Supergirl stood alone in the far corner of the gym watching her peers. Some tried to act cool around their parents. Others, like Bumblebee, wouldn’t stop hugging theirs. Supergirl touched her crystal necklace. She recalled her first day of kindergarten on Krypton, when she wouldn’t let go of her mother’s legs. “Kara, sweetheart.” Her mother spoke gently but firmly. “It’s time for me to go. Everything will be okay. Always do your best, Kara, and you’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Every year after that, on the first day of school, Supergirl’s mother would say the same thing. “Everything will be okay. Always do your best, Kara, and you’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Every year but this one.

  Beast Boy and his mentor from the Doom Patrol, The Chief, shared the same spirited sense of humor and were constantly laughing. Abuela Muñoz, video chatting in to Parents’ Night, looked like an older, elegant version of Hawkgirl. And then there was Wonder Woman’s mother—Queen Hippolyta, ruler of Paradise Island.

  Even the other parents—most of whom were super heroes themselves—seemed thrilled to bask in the presence of the Amazon queen, who was as strong as she was beautiful. Supergirl could see where Wonder Woman got her self-assurance, power, and grace. And she couldn’t help laughing when her normally serious flight teacher, Red Tornado, raced over to Hippolyta and began babbling and, to everyone’s embarrassment, knelt before her.

  “Supergirl!” someone yelled.

  “Yoo-hoo!” another voice called out.

  It was Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Martha! They had told Supergirl they were coming to Parents’ Night. Still, she was surprised to see them.

  At first, Supergirl thought the Kents looked out of place as the two Midwestern farmers mingled with some of the greatest super heroes in history. Supergirl watched Wonder Woman proudly introduce her mother to everyone. Katana was trying to explain her wild friend, Beast Boy, to her mortal relatives who had journeyed all the way from Tokyo. It didn’t help that he kept changing his form, showing off.

  As the Kents waved, Supergirl approached them. It would be up to her to make them feel at ease. After all, she knew firsthand how overwhelming this place could be to outsiders. But Supergirl wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

  Before she made her way across the room, others beat her to them. Everyone already seemed to know Aunt Martha and Uncle Jonathan. They were greeted warmly by students, parents, teachers, and staff.

  “How is Superman doing these days?” Harley’s father asked as he extended his hand. When Uncle Jonathan shook it and got a small shock from the joy buzzer in his palm, both laughed.

  “He’s excelling in college,” Uncle Jonathan said.

  “He’s so busy with Semester in Space that we don’t know when we’ll see him next,” Aunt Martha chimed in.

  That was when Supergirl remembered that her cousin had attended Super Hero High just a few years before her. Many of the guests already knew the Kents. Instead of mocking her plainspoken non–super hero aunt and uncle, everyone adored them.

  “I’m glad you could be here,” Supergirl said, relaxing and finally starting to enjoy the evening.

  “We wouldn’t have missed it,” Aunt Martha replied.

  “Yes,” Uncle Jonathan added. “We’re huge fans of Super Hero High. Look at all you kids—you hold the promise of a better world!”

  The Supers who had gathered around beamed.

  “Please,” Aunt Martha said to Hawkgirl and the others, “you’re all invited to the Kent farm for Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks.”

  Someone tapped her on her shoulder. “Supergirl,” Liberty Belle said. “Have you shown your aunt and uncle your family history project?”

  For a brief moment, Supergirl’s heart fell.

  Slowly, she walked the Kents over to the displays on the far side of the gym. Trifold foam core boards stood up on tables, each with a family tree and an illustrated history. Katana’s had roots in ancient Japan, Hawkgirl’s in Venezuela, and Bumblebee’s in Brooklyn, New York. When they finally got to the last one, everyone stopped and stared.

  Supergirl had done a drawing of the planet Krypton, in addition to her family tree. At the top was a photo of the hologram Barbara had created for her, and above that was a photo of Supergirl with the caption THE LAST LEAF ON THE TREE.

  A poem accompanied the family tree. It read in part:

  Krypton was my planet

  Krypton was my home

  Something happened

  Something terrible and sad

  Krypton was my planet

  Krypton was my home

  It is gone now

  My planet

  My family

  My home

  Aunt Martha dried her tears and moved to hug Supergirl. “It’s just a poem,” Supergirl said dismissively, stepping away from her. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

  Supergirl was glad she wasn’t tangled up in Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth.

  “Your par
ents would be proud,” Uncle Jonathan said. For the first time, Supergirl noticed the wrinkles etched in his brow.

  Before the tears began to fall, Supergirl lowered her head. She could feel the Kents’ warm embrace, yet she couldn’t bring herself to hug them back. They weren’t her parents. They weren’t even her real aunt and uncle. They’d adopted her because her parents had died. They could never replace her mother and father. No one could.

  It was a relief when Supergirl heard Waller announce, “Will everyone please move to the auditorium so we can start our formal part of Parents’ Night!”

  “I’ll be right there,” Supergirl told the Kents. “There’s something I have to do first.”

  As everyone filtered out, Kara stared at her family tree with her parents’ portrait on top.

  “They look like you.”

  Supergirl was surprised to find Liberty Belle standing behind her.

  “Missing them?” Liberty asked.

  Supergirl nodded, her throat choked up and her stomach in knots.

  “I know it must be hard,” her teacher said. There was kindness in her voice, not sympathy. “Here at Super Hero High, so many have lost loved ones. That’s one reason we do family trees. To remember and honor those we have lost. And to inspire us all to move forward.”

  Supergirl remained silent, afraid that if she spoke, she might lose it.

  “You’re doing really well, Supergirl,” Liberty Belle assured her. “Super Hero High is here for you.”

  Before she left, Liberty Belle turned around. “Oh! I almost forgot. Granny Goodness asked me to give these to you. What a sweet little old lady she is!”

  She slipped a napkin full of cookies into Supergirl’s hand. “I hope you don’t mind I had one,” Liberty Belle said. “I just can’t resist those cookies. No one can!”

  Faster than a speeding bullet, Thanksgiving week appeared. There was general cheer around Super Hero High, midterms having just ended, so everyone could enjoy the holiday.

  Supergirl was doing better in her classes, and had managed to bring up her grade in Super Heroes Throughout History, thanks to her family tree project. She was doing well in Intro to Super Suits, partly due to the extra credit Crazy Quilt had bestowed. Though teachers weren’t supposed to play favorites, every time Crazy Quilt saw Supergirl, he would declare in a loud stage whisper, “Perfect. Perfect-o. Perfection. Your costume. Strength. Vulnerability. Hope. Courage. Colors.” Then he would strike a pose like the Statue of Liberty or Rodin’s The Thinker.

  It embarrassed Supergirl to have such attention lavished on her. On Krypton she was just a regular girl. “I don’t know what to say when people compliment me like that,” she confessed to Barbara.

  Barbara looked up from the tiny homing device prototype she was building for Mr. Fox. If she was successful, he wanted every student to have one. “Why don’t you say thank you?” she suggested.

  Supergirl looked at her friend with admiration. Why hadn’t she thought of that?

  Most of the Supers were headed home for Thanksgiving, but not all. “Please,” Supergirl told them. “My aunt and uncle say there’s plenty to eat and it would make them happy if you joined us.” She was working on telling people how she actually felt. “It would make me happy, too,” she added.

  “We’re here!” Supergirl called out eagerly. The Kent home was quiet. “Hello? Aunt Martha? Uncle Jonathan?”

  Aunt Martha came out of the kitchen looking frazzled. “Supergirl…Oh! Supergirl! It’s Thanksgiving!” She looked surprised.

  “Yes, that’s why we’re here,” Supergirl said, peering into the kitchen. It didn’t look like anything was on the stove. Hawkgirl and Katana glanced at each other. Beast Boy studied his shoes, and Harley put down her camera.

  “Mercy me!” Aunt Martha said, plopping herself down on the couch. “Uncle Jonathan has been sick. Nothing too serious, just a nasty cold he can’t shake.” Supergirl glanced at the piles of tissues all over the house and leading up the stairs. “But that’s meant that all the farming and household chores have all been left up to me,” Aunt Martha explained. “I’ve got all the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner, but I haven’t started cooking, and that usually takes a whole day itself.”

  “Why don’t we help you?” Wonder Woman offered, motioning to the other Supers.

  Supergirl wished she had thought of that. Wonder Woman always knew what to do.

  “I’m great at slicing and dicing,” Katana said, brandishing two swords.

  “I always cooked at my abuela’s side,” Hawkgirl said.

  “I’m great at eating,” Beast Boy bragged. He rubbed his stomach as if to prove it.

  “And I’m fast,” Supergirl said, trying to think of something to add.

  Aunt Martha smiled. “Well, it looks like we’ll have a Thanksgiving feast after all!” She paused, then looked out the window toward the crops. “Oh, but there’s so much to be done on the farm first. Some of the horses have strayed, and the cows need milking, and, well, I’ve totally fallen behind.”

  “We can help with that, too,” Supergirl said as the rest of the Supers nodded and Harley picked up her camera again.

  “Let’s get to work, then,” Aunt Martha said.

  Beast Boy turned into a border collie and herded the horses out of a ravine where they had gotten trapped. Supergirl carried them to safety.

  Using her blades, Katana approached the wheat field, reaping as she sped across it, followed closely by Hawkgirl, who used her wings like a combine machine, threshing and winnowing the stalks, efficiently separating the chaff from the grain.

  Meanwhile, with the horses safe, Beast Boy and Supergirl joined Wonder Woman, who was now gathering a bounty of sweet corn, snap beans, tomatoes, and broccoli. Not to mention piles of pumpkins.

  “My, my, look at all this!” Aunt Martha said, clasping her hands together when the teens returned. She had been bustling around the kitchen putting the turkey in the oven and getting the fixings ready for pies and mashed potatoes and gravy and…

  “Oh dear,” she cried. “I forgot to get cranberry sauce!”

  “Not a problem,” Supergirl assured her. “I’ll be right back.”

  After a minute or two, Supergirl returned with several jars of cranberry sauce from Tiptree, England, along with some spiced bread pudding. Then she ran outside to help Wonder Woman, who was talking to the cows. Supergirl showed her how to milk them, then churned the butter and gathered some eggs.

  Everyone had a hand in cooking, meaning that the kitchen was a mess. Six super hero teens in one small space, tossing ingredients to each other, shucking corn, and mashing potatoes.

  “Cyborg, would you mind turning on the oven and putting the turkey and the pies in?” Aunt Martha asked as she wiped her hands on her apron.

  “What? Yeah, sure!” Cyborg exclaimed, just as Harley threw another egg at him. Both burst out laughing as he tried to bat it back at her.

  Despite the chaos, Supergirl noticed that Aunt Martha seemed to be having a great time with her friends. Even she was covered in flour by the time everything was simmering on the stove.

  With the turkey in the oven, Wonder Woman suggested they do more chores while Aunt Martha rested. Wonder Woman had never been to a farm before and was enchanted by it. Beast Boy suggested painting the old barn, and Katana picked the colors: red, blue, and gold, the colors of Super Hero High’s logo.

  Overachievers that they were, not only did the Supers paint the barn in a fetching modern pattern, but when they finished and there was extra paint…well…it didn’t exactly go to waste. Beast Boy pretended he was going to splash Katana, but she kicked a can up in the air and speared it with her sword, and blue paint poured all over his head.

  “How about some gold highlights in your hair?” Beast Boy asked, laughing as he turned into a squirrel and, using his tail, gave her gold streaks.

  Not to be left out, Harley took out her mallet and pounded two paint cans, causing a splash of color to drench Wonder Woman, who in turn,
yelled, “So this is how you paint in Kansas? I love it!”

  Wondy lassoed a can of red, then flung it at Supergirl, who caught it midair and tossed it to Hawkgirl. Hawkgirl caught the can with one hand and set it down. “There’s more work to be done,” she reminded everyone.

  Next up: stacking bales of hay. Hawkgirl and Wonder Woman each stacked towers of hay so high they almost touched the clouds. And of course, Harley captured everything on tape for her Super Super Thanksgiving Special.

  As the Supers gathered in the dining room, Uncle Jonathan slowly made his way downstairs. “Would you look at this!” He beamed.

  “Uncle Jonathan, you’re well enough to join us!” Supergirl said, leaping up to help him over to the table.

  Just as he sat down, Aunt Martha came out of the kitchen looking distressed. “I’m so sorry,” she said, wringing her hands on her apron. “Everything is ready except the turkey and the pies. The oven wasn’t turned on!”

  Cyborg’s face turned almost as red as his glowing bionic eye. “Uh…um…er…”

  “Spit it out,” Harley said, aiming her camera at him.

  Cyborg looked down at his shoes and said in a barely audible voice, “It’s my fault. I forgot to turn the oven on.” He glanced up at Harley. “But it’s your fault, too! You threw an egg at me!”

  They glared at each other.

  Supergirl set down her glass of warm apple cider and stepped between them. Then she opened the oven and peered inside. Sure enough, the turkey was as pale as a polar bear—but not for long.

  “I got this!” she said. She focused on the bird and, using her heat vision, cooked the turkey to golden brown perfection. Lightly crisp on the outside, juicy and flavorful on the inside.

  Next, she turned her heat vision on the pies. Soon the buttery baked scent of golden flaky crust and cinnamon spiced pumpkin and apple wafted through the kitchen. Aunt Martha clapped and gave Supergirl a giant hug.