I Am That Hero

The Start

The cool dawn gleamed through the window as the young boy lay sprawled across his bed with his "Exquisite Needle Point" comic book covering his face. The chime of his alarm broke the peace of his sleep. "Nuugh..." muttered Joshua as he stretched his arms and shoved the comic from his face. "Ugh. School." Gathering his clothes on his floor, the tired boy staggered out of his room into his kitchen. Placing a pop tart into his toaster, Joshua put on his school uniform. He bit a piece of his food as he did his laces.

"You look smart," said his mother, combing his hair with her hands.

"Come on. They make me were this, ok?" said Joshua with his mouth full of a pop tart, "I don't feel smart."

"Well, you are. So, live up to it. I know you can."

As the young boy stepped out of his house, the sun beamed on Joshua's face. He put his headphones on as he listened to the news: another reined building rebuilt after the mutant war.

"Several heroes have been arrested and are on trial, and Needle Point's sentence has changed from 50 years to life. In other news- "

Joshua switched off his phone. He shoved it in his bag. Rushing to school, he fought back tears. How could the government hate heroes? People who risked their lives -who died- trying to save mankind?

But he kept his thoughts to himself. If word spread of his love for heroes, he would be arrested. As he walked through the school gates, he sighed and looked away from the disappointed look on her face. "Ugh. Joshua, we go through this every day. Every day you're late. And every day I have to give you a detention. Sorry, bud, but you with have a 30-minute detention tonight."

"Like always," sighed Joshua as he walked through the doors of the school.

"Like always."