Spider-Man: Sandstorm

Chapter 2: Back to Basics pt.5

Peter sticks to the side of a wall, overlooking Manhattan. He puts new web cartridges in his shooters, and talks freely while he does so, "The nerve of Mary Jane," he says, "who does she think she is? I was there, I saw it happen. She could never understand."

He puts his mask on and puts his satchel over his shoulder. He gets ready to jump, and without thinking he leaps off the side of the building and dives towards the floor. He falls for several seconds, then at the last second he shoots a web out and it launches him forward, fast and hard.

Was I too hard on her? Maybe I shouldn't have said those things... but I'm right aren't I?

He continues to swing forward, once again using his environment to his advantage. Using signs and water towers to pull himself forward before shooting out a line and swinging once again.

But a girl like Mary Jane Watson just couldn't understand.

Before long Spider-Man reaches his destination, The Queensboro Bridge. He swings under it in an effort to go across quicker.

I need to talk to May about this, she always knows the right thing to say.

Peter goes from swinging in the concrete jungle to a small neighborhood in Queens, which is full of very small buildings and houses. His weblines are shorter, as well as the distance he swings between them. Eventually he reaches his Aunt's Neighborhood and lands on the roof of her house. He reaches into the chimney on top of the house and pulls out a duffle bag. It's all burnt.

Blegh, Peter thinks while opening the bag, it reeks, maybe the chimney wasn't the best idea.

He lays down on the slanted part of the roof facing the backyard and changes. He scopes out the neighborhood, making sure no one sees him in passing. He puts on a blue checkered flannel, with a lighter blue sweater on top. Then he puts on a thick blue coat on top of that. He pulls up his black pants and his old boots, then gets off the roof and approaches the front door.

He pulls out a set of keys and flips through them, eventually he lands on one that has a Star Wars design on it. "Hello, Yoda," Peter says, then puts the key in the lock, "open this door, you will." Peter unlocks the door, opens it, and walks in.

"May?" He says, turning on the light in the main room. He walks over to the dining room, which is directly connected to the kitchen and the first room. It's a very small house. He walks into the kitchen and looks at the clock. It's 6:03, pretty early, even for May. All of a sudden he hears a voice from the top of the stairs, it's an older woman's voice, very gentle and forgiving.

"Hello?" the voice says, then slow footsteps start echoing down the stairs.
"Hey May," Peter responds, "it's me."

Aunt May turns to the kitchen from the stairs and begins slowly walking to Peter. She's an older woman with black- turning to gray- hair, and bags under her eyes. She reaches him and they hug. "Oh Peter, what a surprise! If I knew you were coming I would've prepared something for dinner... why do I you smell burnt?"

"Yea, sorry," Peter says, pulling out a seat for May in the dining room, "I would've let you know sooner but... I kinda broke my phone."
"Are you sure that's all you broke?" She says, putting her hand on Peter's wounded face, "what happened, dear?"
"I uh-- actually broke my phone and hurt my face when I fell earlier," he says, "but I'm fine, don't worry about it."
"Oh, Peter," she says, a loving tone in her voice, "I've always worried. Ever since you were a teenager and those other kids would pick on you."

Peter walks towards the kitchen and puts a kettle on the stove. "I did pretty well against those guys back then," he says. Too bad I had to let them pick on me so I could hide my identity. Those were the days.

"You know," May says, "you fill out Ben's boots very nicely."

Peter looks down at the torn up boots that look like the soles are steps away from falling off. "Good thing all his old stuff fits me now," he says, sitting down next to May.

"Well your uncle was a big man," she says, looking at a photo put up on display on a small desk next to the stairs. She looks on for a moment then back at Peter, and smiles. "So what brings you here today, Peter?"

"I actually wanted to get your advice on something," he says, then takes a deep breath, "I was at the cemetery today, to visit Uncle Ben... and then I went to visit Gwen."

Aunt May's face turns into a consoling expression.

"I saw MJ standing there in front of Gwen's... and I got mad at her."

"Why would you be mad?" May asks, she's not trying to make him feel bad, she's genuinely asking.

"It's just," Peter starts, "me and Gwen were so close, she was my everything, you know that."

"I do."

"And seeing MJ there, after knowing her for so long, I can't help but feel that she just... doesn't care, or couldn't-- as much as I do."

The kettle whistles, and Peter goes to pour them both water. He then gets a tea bag for his Aunt, and instant coffee for himself. Aunt May thinks about what Peter told her while he's up. Peter comes back to the table, puts the cups down, then sits.

"Does that make me a bad person? Should I not feel this way?"

"Well," May says, picking up her tea, "I understand, Peter. After we lost Ben I was devastated. I honestly didn't know how to go on, but I had to, for you and me. I know you were devastated, too. But I also saw how angry you were."

"Yea but that was different."

"It was, but it doesn't change the fact that everyone grieves in a different way. If you weren't here with me after Ben was taken, well I don't know what would have happened. Maybe Mary Jane needs someone like you, Peter. While what you say may be correct, and she can't understand how you feel... try to understand how she feels."

May puts her hand on top of Peter's. Peter looks at her and lightly laughs. "I dunno how you do it May," he says.

"Well, it is my job."