Opposites Attract

New Job

Friday night was homework night, and Will and I offered for our group to come back to our house after school, for some kind of study group session. In the living room, papers were sprawled across the floor, as everyone tested each other on sidekick know-how. I listened in, a soft smile on my face, before turning back to my own homework. 

"So if you kids are all here... who's out there saving the world?" I rolled my eyes as I looked over at Dad stood in the doorway, hands on his hips in a grand 'superhero' pose.

"Dad... What are you doing here?" Will asked, flustered, clearly not keen to let Dad see him doing sidekick homework.

"It's an honour to meet you, sir," Ethan gushed, standing up to shake Dad's hand.

"What's your name, what's your power?" Dad asked the group.

"I'm Ethan and I melt."

"I'm Zach and I glow."

"I'm Magenta and I shape-shift."

"Shape shift!" Dad declared, much more impressed than he had been about the concept of melting and glowing.

"Into a guinea pig," Magenta nodded, smiling.

"Great... Great.... Great!" Dad snapped himself out of it, before asking if anyone wanted some food and disappearing into the kitchen.

I looked over at Will, pointedly, who was staring after Dad wide-eyed. When he eventually turned his attention to me, I quirked an eyebrow and jerked my head in the direction of the kitchen.

"Now or never," I mouthed, as the others continued to do their homework obliviously.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he nodded. I grinned happily at him as he excused himself and headed towards the kitchen. Once at the door, he turned back and looked at me pointedly before quickly beckoning me to follow him in. I rolled my eyes but nodded, also excusing myself as I feigned that I needed a drink.

As I wandered in, Will and Dad were already mid conversation... about Zach glowing.

"Boy, they have really lowered the standards of heroes since I went to that school," Dad declared and I rolled my eyes as I grabbed a glass from the cupboard.

"Actually, he's a sidekick," Will started.

"Makes sense," Dad interrupted.

"Actually... They're all sidekicks," Will continued, both of us used to it taking double the time to make a point with Dad's interruptions.

Dad looked up from spreading his sandwich and clapped Will on the shoulder; "Well good for you, son- kid of your stature hanging out with the sidekicks- I didn't have the guts to do that in Freshman year..."

He started one saying something about Grandpa as Will looked at me perplexed. I nodded at him encouragingly, and he interrupted Dad.

"You know, there's nothing wrong with being a sidekick, Dad."

I shook my head in support as Dad replied, "Of course not! Hell, I used to have one... Old what's his name..."

I'm assuming that's Will's teacher. I stopped that train of thought as I saw Will take a deep breath- this was it.

"So then you'd be fine with... If I was a sidekick..." he said.

"Well sure, I guess... Hey Rosie, honey, hand me that mayonnaise over there," Dad replied.

"Well that's good... Because I am one," Will said, as I handed Dad the mayonnaise.

"Am what?"

"A sidekick?"