Spider Luck

An unexpected proposal

"This morning I was informed that my team was accepted to have this assistance of theirs and, since I, my wife and my collaborators will need a helping hand, especially me," Professor Connors jokes, wagging his stumped arm, then he goes on.

"I was wondering if you wanted to be our assistant.

Obviously you will be paid and it will be for three days a week, in the afternoon, for the duration of three and a half hours. Since you are only an assistant, you will not have to adhere categorically to this program as a worker punching in the clock.

If you're late, you'll have to leave sooner or if sometimes you can't come, it's not a problem, as long as you warn me and it's not common, that's all.

Plus, you already have previous experience, so you'll have no problem settling in. What do you think?"

"Whoa professor, I certainly did not expect such a proposal..." I say blindsided.

If I had to accept, I would end up with less free time and, although he told me that I would not have time constraints, I certainly can not disappear every time something happens that requires the intervention of Spider-Man.

Despite this, working with Dr Connors could help me greatly in broadening my specific knowledge and, since I should be going to college next year, having this experience and perhaps Professor Connors' recommendation can help my admission to "M.I.T.".

'When I was helping Doc Ock, despite all the difficulties we faced, it was great. I miss spending time in a real lab and not in Aunt May's tool shed.'

"I am honoured that you have chosen me for this proposal, but I cannot give you a definite answer. As ecstatic as I am of his offer, I am already working as a photographer for the Daily Bugle, so, I don't know if I can make another commitment without risking neglecting it."

"I understand, Peter, but think about it, this work opportunity will come in handy in the future, as well as benefit you for college admission. How about you try for a few days? If we see that you can not fit it into your schedule, you leave without problems" Professor Connors tells me after putting a hand on my shoulder in a friendly way.

"I think it could be done, I just don't want to bother you if I don't come again and then you'll be forced to look for a replacement."

"Don't worry, Peter. If I suggested it, it's because I already thought it might happen, although I hope you'll stay and work with us. So, are you in?" Dr Connors asks me, then he stands up and, later, extends his hand waiting for a handshake.

"Okay, you've convinced me. Thank you for the opportunity Professor Connors!" I answer as I shake his hand.

"Never mind. I'm happy to be back working with a Parker, especially if he's a bright kid like you, Peter. I'm sure you'll do great things in the future." Professor Connors says.

***

After I went to wash the two dirty costumes and went for a patrol, I set off to go home again, since May will probably be home already.

When I arrive near my destination, I start to climb up the porch and enter through the window of my room, however, when I am about to open the window, I hear a familiar voice behind me.

"Peter, what are you doing?! I told you a thousand times not to go on the porch, you risk getting hurt!" Aunt May exclaims.

"Gosh, Aunt May. If you scare me like that, I'm bound to get hurt. Don't you think sneaking up on your favorite nephew to make him fall is an exaggerated plan? I understand you want revenge for this morning, but this is a little too much auntie." I say joking.

"Stop being stupid and come in." Aunt May says as she shakes her head with a smile on her face for my joke.

As she enters through the front door, I open the window and, after hiding the backpack containing the costumes I took to wash, I go downstairs, where Aunt May is already starting to cook dinner for tonight.

While I take the tablecloth and cutlery from the drawer, I give her a kiss on the cheek to greet her, after which I begin to set while we tell each other about our day.

Aunt May, of course, has had a busy but rewarding day, and the tiredness I see in her eyes immediately disappears when I tell her about Dr Connors' offer.

Feeling my reluctance to accept, since I already have a job, with which you have never agreed, she reassures me that I do not have to worry about money since now the situation has improved and that I must not miss this important chance.

As I move to get the glasses to put on the table, I see on the kitchen shelf a plate covered with plastic wrap, which contains a variegated cake clearly homemade.

I turn to Aunt May and ask her if she has any power that keeps me hidden, since she has found time to make even a cake and she, after a laugh, replies that she did not make it, but our new neighbor, Mrs Watson, who took it with her as a gift when she came to introduce herself.

Since Aunt May was running out of time, she promised to go to her house for tea when she got back from the hospital and she was there before she caught me climbing up the porch.

Once at the table, while we eat, she tells me that the Watson live right in the house next to ours, on the right, and that the members of the Watson family are only two, grandmother and granddaughter, who moved after the mother's divorce with the father of the granddaughter.

Of course, upon hearing their story, Aunt May's golden heart came into action and she made herself available if they needed anything or help settling in.

Naturally, this availability has consequently extended to me as well apparently.

Trying unnecessarily to make me believe that she is saying it in a disinterested way, she then tells me about Mrs Watson's niece, Mary Jane, who seems to have totally conquered Aunt May from what transpires from her words.

As soon as she finishes that list of flattery towards this Mary Jane, she proposes to go out with her one day that I'm free, maybe to show her the neighborhood or some interesting places and make friends with her, since she's the same age as me and she might come to my same school in the future.

The way May is looking at me, you can tell she won't take no for an answer, and she's willing to force me to do it, so I decide to try to postpone this, by telling her that Mary Jane and I might see each other sometime in the future, When I've settled in on Dr Connors' new assistant assignment.

Aunt May surely guessed my attempt to avoid meeting this girl who seems to be for her the embodiment of the ideal girl, however she decided not to insist since she knows that she will find a way to let us meet and spend time together.

For some time, Aunt May has been trying to arrange appointments with the daughters or grandchildren of her colleagues or friends and, sometimes, I have supported this thing, or rather, I was forced to accept these meetings to which she forces me to go.

In none of those cases have I gone beyond the first meeting, mainly because I don't feel like embarking on a relationship of any kind, whether it's love or a simple friendship, now that my life is divided between Peter Parker and Spider-Man.

Not only would I have to lie all the time to protect the person in question, but I would end up putting them in danger if some ill-intentioned person realized there was a connection between us. This has happened before.

Green Goblin targeted Aunt May when he realized my true identity, and although I managed to thwart his plan before he put it into action, I can't afford to endanger the people I care about because of my life choices.

Also Aunt May always tends to exaggerate with compliments towards those girls with whom I saw myself and to turn their obvious red flag into something positive.

Since this time she has gone further than usual, especially about Mary Jane, "Mrs Wonderful Personality", I get chills at the thought of who she really is.

All of a sudden, my thought stream is interrupted by Aunt May's phone, which is ringing.

When she answers that call, Aunt May responds only in monosyllables and as the conversation continues her expression becomes more and more concerned.