And Kid Flash was Born

Everything is going up!

Everything was going up for me this year. I was elected president of the student council, captain of the swim team and the debate squad, and on the side I was a reporter for the Central City newspaper "Picture News". I felt like my world was going to be amazing and very normal, but boy was I wrong. If you are listening to this tape, I will be playing back what has happened the last few days. Do not share this information. Good luck.

**3:00 o'clock, Friday October 3**

I turned and opened the door of Picture News. "Time for work," I mumbled to myself excitedly. It was my first day on the job. I walked in and walked up to the Editor's desk to report for my assignment. He then took me to the desk of a beautiful, gorgeous, pretty... oh, I'm rambling, anyway he took me to the desk of a reporter named Iris West.

He looked at me and said," Wally I want you to meet Iris West. She will be giving you an assignment this week for the Picture. Have fun," he called over his shoulder as he left.

"So," said the beautiful pretty ect. Iris, "Your assignment, I would like you to write a story about..." she looked down at her desk,"Hmm, the efforts S.T.A.R. Labs is making for the community."

I looked down dejected"Oh, really? It's just that S.T.A.R. Labs is in the news all the time and I wanted something new for my first time." I said hoping to change her mind.

"Umm, sorry but I want you writing something that would be front page worthy. S.T.A.R. Labs is always in the news because it's what the people want to know about. By the way, I've got a good place to start with your story. My brother Barry works at S.T.A.R. Labs sometimes and might be able to help you." She hands me a stick note with the address of the CCPD (Central City Police Department) and I set off giving her my gratitude as I walk out the door.

————-CCPD————-

I walk into the police department sweaty from my bike ride here. I walk over to the receptionist and show her Iris' sticky note and she directs me to the top floor. I followed the directions and couldn't help thinking how amazing it must be to be a police officer: arresting people, being interviewed, it was all very glamorous. When I reached the end of my directions, I found myself at a door with the words "Forensic Lab". Maybe Iris' brother wasn't a cop after all. I knocked twice and waited, but nothing happened. I tried again, then just opened the door.

It was the weirdest room I had ever seen. To my right I saw a shelf of chemicals, a bulletin board/map and a desk with a computer and a lot of paper. To my left there were even more chemicals and another desk with a forest of beakers. At this desk I saw a man sitting there with headphones and protecting goggles on. A bold fashion statement if I do say so myself. He was at this minute pouring a mysterious green liquid into a equally mysterious pinkish one and only did the young man look up when I knocked on the desk almost knocking over the beaker.

"Oh," I said embarrassed," I knocked but no one answered"

"Oh yeah sorry I was... never mind. What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a guy who works here. A guy named," I looked down at my sticky note,"Beer?!??" I was very confused. Who would be mean enough to name their kid that?

"Who did you say sent you down here?" He said a little amusement in his voice at seeing my face.

"Iris. Iris West at-"

"Picture News," he interrupted," I know. I think you are actually looking for me. My name is Barry but sometimes my sister, Iris, calls me Bear. "

"Iris is your sister?"I couldn't help looking surprised. Iris had skin dark as chocolate. This guy, Berry, was pail and pasty with not nearly as dark hair.

"Yeah, I'm her foster brother. Why did she send you to me?"

"She said you worked at S.T.A.R. Labs sometimes."

Barry looked puzzled then"Oh, ok listen I get a lunch break in fifteen minutes. Meet you at Jitters?"

"Alright, sure!"

I leave the room, but what didn't see was all the paper on the desk, the chemicals on the table were all cleaned up in three seconds by a strange gust of wind.