GENERATION X SPIDER-MAN (Issue #36)

FOREVER YOUNG

MAY 1992

This is only temporary, May Parker thought to herself. Working at a supermarket with a bunch of teenagers was a far cry from the position she worked so hard to attain at the hospital. Being promoted to head nurse had been the greatest achievement of her career. However, it was short lived. Her employers cited economic cutbacks as the reason why she was let go, but it didn't make sense. Just as soon as she got the new job, they told her that the position had been eliminated. Just when she felt so proud of herself, the rug was pulled out from under her feet. It seemed cruel and unfair, but the sixty year old woman didn't have time to wallow in self pity. There were bills to pay. Her nephew was weeks away from receiving his high school diploma. May wanted to be able to buy him an expensive graduation present, but now she was struggling to stay ahead of her bills. She wondered how they would be able to make ends meet. Especially with college tuition to consider.

"Would you like plastic or paper bags?" she asked the customer after ringing up their order.

"Plastic, please." the woman replied.

"Alright, but they aren't very good for the environment." May told the customer.

"What?" she asked.

"It's just what my nephew's girlfriend always tells me," May explained to the woman while bagging her order of groceries. "She told me that they are not biodegradable or something."

"I don't care," the impolite woman exclaimed. "Just, do your job."

Dealing with rude customers was an unfortunate part working at a supermarket. There was no way around it so May developed a thick skin. Fortunately, the work day went by quickly. After punching out, May Parker headed home. She was getting together with her nephew and his girlfriend. Despite feeling sad about her recent misfortune, May was happy for the pair of teens. They were just three days away from their senior prom. It was an exciting time in their lives so May tried to stay positive.

On the other side of Forest Hills, Mary Jane Watson was close to finishing up her shift at the Daily Grind coffee shop. She had experience working in this kind of setting. Over a year ago, the teenage girl had lost her license as a result of drunk driving. Her community service was working in the coffee shop that she had crashed her car into. Now, she worked to earn some extra money for college. Mary Jane was going to Oxford University in the fall. So, she planned to work during the summer so she could afford to pay for her textbooks. Suddenly, she was surprised by the unexpected appearance of her friends.

"I'll have a large order of Mary Jane," Betty Brant joked as she walked into the small cafe with Glory Grant and Liz Allan. "Look at our girl. Working nine to five. What a way to make a living."

"What are you goofballs doing here?" the teen girl with the reddish brown hair asked.

"Do we need a reason to visit our best friend?" Glory wondered.

"Seriously," Liz added. "Aren't you happy to see us?"

"Of course I'm happy," Mary Jane answered.

"Guess what's only three days away?" Betty asked as she and the girls sat at a small table and drank their cafe latte's. "Come on, MJ. Take a wild guess."

"Oh, I don't know." she replied. "Is it the senior prom?"

"You got it," Betty laughed. "Are you psyched up or what?"

"I sure am," Mary Jane expressed.

"So, why aren't you going to ride in the limousine we're renting?" Liz wondered.