Henry let water trickle down his tired face. He looked awful. Heavy bags lined his eyes, his face was pale, and his hair was matted with sweat, mud, and dust.
He had just come back from a mission with his boss, Captain Man, and a exhausting journey it had been. They'd had trekked up Swellview Mountain to rescue a trapped hiker. An avalanche had occurred on the mountain and the hiker's legs were pinned to the ground by a tremendously large boulder. The man suffered broken legs and a busted rib or two. Henry was also in pain, though he didn't let anyone see. His wrist had been sprained, so he'd gone to Schwoz to get it fixed.
The bathroom door opened, and Henry jumped a foot into the air. His little sister, Piper, stood at the entrance, her arms crossed and her eyes surveying Henry critically.
"Piper! Why are you here? This is my bathroom!"
"Well, you don't own this bathroom, do you? So, technically, I can use it," Piper countered. "Why are you here, anyway? You do realize it's one in the morning, right? And why are you so sweaty and gross?"
"None of your business!" Henry retorted hotly. His sister had no right to poke her nose into Henry's personal business.
"Whatever." Piper rolled her eyes. "Well, I need to show you something. Look what Captain Man and Kid Danger did just now!"
Henry had no desire to see himself and his boss for the millionth time that night. However, he had to appease his little sister. Piper could bevery pushy sometimes, and it was just easier to agree with her rather than argue.
Piper shoved her PearPhone into his face. Henry half-heartedly took it with his hand and watched as a camera zoomed in on himself and Ray pulling the man out from under the large rock.
"Wish you were Kid Danger, huh? You don't even have half the guts he has," Piper taunted.
Henry wanted to yell out the truth to her. If she knew who he really was, she wouldn't be talking to him like this.
"Pipes, I get it, alright? Now just leave me alone," Henry said wearily. He really didn't have any more patience. He was dead-tired and desperately needed sleep.
"Fine," she huffed, and stomped out.
Henry released a relieved breath. Hopefully, Piper wouldn't return and interrogate him further on his whereabouts.
The next day was absolutely torturous for Henry. It would have been even worse had Charlotte not helped him get through it.
Upon entering Swellview Junior High, he had been confronted by Mitch Bilsky, the resident bully of his grade level. He was terrorizing Oliver, and Henry was forced to go and assist the poor boy. It took Charlotte's intervening and a couple of teachers to calm down Mitch.
Jasper was bragging about the latest addition to his infamous bucket collection. He was raving about a new bucket store that had opened a few blocks away from Junk'n Stuff. Jasper was very fond of buckets.
The only good news was that he received an A on his Egyptian history test. He was the only one to do so, aside from Charlotte.
It was four o'clock when Henry was finally able to go home. He was welcomed soundly by his mother, who had some news which she called 'exciting' but Henry and Piper called distressing. It was the only time they were united over anything.
"Guess what? Your aunt Iggy is coming over for dinner this Saturday!"
Aunt Iggy was the younger sister of their mother. Both Piper and Henry detested her immensely. For one, she always fawned over them excessively, but in private, pointed out their every flaw.
