I am The Riddler

Age 14

"Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it, you die. What is it?" Asks a fourteen-year-old boy.

"Too easy! You'll never trick me, kid. It's nothing. Try again." I answer.

I am also fourteen.  Riddles are nothing to me. I never miss one. Also, I never miss an opportunity to give one. Some people call me The Riddler. However, my real name is Edward. Edward Nygma.

"What goes up but never comes down?"

          "Oh my goodness! Are you serious? You totally stumped me!" I smile.

          "You're kidding! Did I really?" The looks excited. Too excited. I have succeeded.

          "Nope. Just kidding. It's your age. No one has ever stumped me, and no one ever will. Nice try though. See you around." I wave the kid good-bye and walk away. I saw the small group of Neanderthals walking towards me. I didn't want the kid to suffer like me.

          "Well, well if it isn't the Riddler!" The tall one says.

          "Please refrain from calling me that. I do not like it." I hope to humor them. They are less physically violent when I do.

          "Ha, sure", sneers the short tubby one, "and you quit asking riddles."

          "Shut it, you idiot. I think you should ask us a riddle." This strange remark came from the borderline goth looking fellow.

          "Okay." Do an easy one Nygma. Their small minds can't handle much. "What is black and white and red all over?" Nothing is more simple than that riddle. I hope they get it right. If they fail, I'm metaphorically toast.

"I got it! It's a newspaper! 'Cause it's black and white but read." Borderline goth surprises me by answering this.

          "Correct! May I please go now? I have things to attend to." I speak this hesitantly. I can hear the fear in my voice.

          "Why the hell not? Go ahead kid. See ya around."

They all either give me a shove or a punch in the arm. I get home late. My mother will comment on it.

          "Hey, honey, how was school?" She tries to act like she cares but I know better.

          "It was well. How was work?" Two can play at this game. She lets out an exasperated sigh. Obviously it was stressful, but she will reply with a white lie.

          "It was really bad today. I'm sorry. I hate to talk about work to you. Are you sure school was okay? You were home late."

Well, I was half right. No lie, but she mentioned being late.

          "A person in my class wanted to see if he could stump me, to no avail, of course. That is why I was late." I am now the one telling lies and keeping secrets. Totally did not see that one coming. I will not tell her about the kids outside school though. She doesn't need to stress about me.

          "That's all?" She gives me a look that says she doesn't believe me, but I know she won't push it.

          "Of course." She knows I am done with the conversation, so she goes to the living room to watch television. I go to my room. I surprisingly have homework. That is unusual for me. Homework is easy, so I finish it quick. I decide to read my newest riddle book. Then, it is dinner time. Life is so boring sometimes.