The Super Kids: A Tale of Tragedy

The School and the Hero Sorting

  12-year-old Andrew Cooper and his 17-year-old sister, Jacklin walked into their new school on February 18, 2009. Andrew was a socially awkward boy who had black hair that went down to his shoulders, light skin, blue eyes, and was tall and unusually skinny for his age. Jacklin had dirty blonde hair that went down to her waist, light skin, dark brown eyes, and was average height, but slightly skinnier than usual for someone her age.

  The school had white walls, and light gray marble flooring and there were blue lockers lined along the walls on both sides (left and right) and in front of him.

  "Ah, you must be the new students." A woman said suddenly. "Erm...?" Andrew replied. Jacklin rolled her eyes. "Yes, that would be us." She responded. "Now, if you would follow me, I will lead you to the Gym, where you shall discover if you are a hero or a sidekick." The woman explained. What is this crazy lady on about? Andrew asked himself. Superheroes don't exist.

  As Jacklin and Andrew sat down, the woman stepped up onto the stage and tapped the microphone. "Welcome to Superhero Academy!" She began. "As the new pupils come and discover their true place in this world, I would like every Senior Hero to stand up so they may be recognized for their success in life."

  A bunch of kids around Andrew stood up, but one kid, who was pushed up, kept trying to sit back down. "And no, Spencer is not a Senor Student, he has only just been enrolled in classes, despite his age." The woman explained to the kid who kept pushing him up. The other boy, presumably Spencer, turned and gave the boy an expression that clearly scared the kid off.

  "Now, I will call the new students up one by one based on age." The woman explained. "You will tell me your power and your age and I will test out how useful your power will be. That is what will determine your true place in society."

  A girl named Jill Freeman was called up first. Jill had long brown hair down to her waist, sparkling green eyes, light skin, and was tall and fit. "How old are you Jill?" The woman asked. "I'm seventeen years old." Jill responded. Andrew saw a couple people raise their eyebrows. "What's your power?" The woman asked. "I have the ability to turn my lower half into that of a snake." Jill explained. "Demonstrate please." The woman told her.

  Andrew watched in amazement as Jill's legs fused and eventually turned to snake coils. "Will someone please volunteer?" Jill asked the crowd. A hand raised after a minute. "You, come on up." Jill said, pointing at the boy.

  The boy had dark brown (almost black) hair, dark brown eyes, and tan skin, and he was about average height and didn't seem to be very muscular or fit. Just healthy.

  "What's your name, age, and power?" Jill asked. "My name is Scott Watts, I'm thirteen years old, and I have the power of superspeed." The boy explained. Soon, Scott was tied up in Jill's coils. "I'd say you are a hero, Jill." The woman said after Jill's demonstration.

  Jacklin was called up next. Andrew watched nervously as his sister started the test. "How old are you Jacklin?" The woman asked. "I'm seventeen years old." Jacklin answered. "What's your power?" Asked the woman. "I can hypnotize people very, very easily." Jacklin replied. A hand shot up from one side of the room. "Come on up." The woman said, harshly. The boy excitedly stood up.

  The boy had dark brown hair, blueish-purple eyes, light hair, and was tall and abnormally skinny. "How old are you?" The woman asked. "I am sixteen years old." The boy replied.

  Jacklin closed her eyes for a second and when she opened them, they were filled with spiralling colors, and Philip's jaw dropped. Around him, people were staring in shock and amazement. Meanwhile for Andrew, it was just Jacklin being Jacklin.

  Andrew rolled his eyes. Jacklin did this on a daily basis. It wasn't anything new for him. "That's your sister right?" A kid from behind him asked. "Yeah." Andrew replied, turning around to face the boy. "Why?"