Mitchell Freeman: Unlikely Hero

Chapter 5 - A Little Too Strong

     Early on Saturday morning, Emmy and I went with Gill to a little used forest preserve. We were going to start training how to use our powers correctly. I was hoping I'd get a chance to cut loose and see what I could really do with my new abilities. I felt like I was gaining more strength everyday. That morning I had accidentally smashed my alarm clock when I hit the snooze button. I also wanted to discover what was in the over-sized, navy blue gym bag that Gill was carrying with them into the woods.

     We traveled on a gravel path, until we came to a wide oak tree that looked as if it had been split from top to bottom. The split seemed to have been caused by a lightning strike. Following Gill's lead, we stepped over the middle of the tree, and into the underbrush. The new path was a little treacherous, and I had to be careful not to get a stray branch in the face. Gill navigated through the tangled path like he had been there dozens of times before. Our trek came to an end in a wide clearing.

     Gill dropped the gym bag on the soft grass. The clearing was about half as long as a football field, but almost as wide. It was lined with tall, leafy trees on all sides. The trees and the treacherous walk into the clearing guaranteed that no one would be watching what we were doing. Even if anyone ventured into the area, Emmy would be able to detect them before they got too close.

     "Okay," chirped Gill. "Stretch out a little before we get started." He bent over the bag and unzipped it.

     Inside the bag were dozens of tennis balls, and a smooth, metal box, about the size of a toaster. On one side of the box there was a vertical strip of red buttons. Laying the box on the ground, Gill pressed the top button. Four spindly legs extended out of the bottom of the box, raising it to waist level. He pressed the next button, and the top of the box slid open. A spindly metal arm came out of the opening. At the end of the arm was a rounded cup. Gill placed a tennis ball in the cup, and he pressed the last button. The arm cocked back, and then it slung forward sending the ball the length of the clearing at a high velocity.

     "Cool toy," I said.

     Gill grinned and said, "Just wait, it's not even warmed up yet." He pulled a wire basket out of the gym bag, and attached it to the back of the toy. Gill filled the basket with tennis balls. He pressed another button, and the arm stretched into the basket. It scooped up a tennis ball and flung it just as far as the first one.

     "Okay," said Gill, satisfied that his toy was working properly. "Let's get started with your training." He pointed at me. "I want you to catch the balls that my little friend here throws."

     "Piece 'o cake," I replied, confidently. I started to trot toward the opposite end of the clearing.

     "No," called Gill, stopping me in my tracks. "You stay over here."

     "But..."

     "You have to chase them down." Gill was enjoying the comical look of surprise on my face. "You run them down and catch them before they land."

     I looked at him doubtfully and said, "I don't think I can run that fast."

     "Try," was Gill's reply. "Don't start running until the ball is in the air."

     I got myself into a starting stance. Gill presses the button, and the arm cocked back into the basket. I tensed, ready to run. The arm slung forward. The ball was in the air, and I was off.

     To Gill and Emmy, I became a blur. One moment I was next to the toy ready to run, the next moment I was at the other end of the clearing. The ball had not even sailed five yards. I waited for the ball to come to me, and I caught it easily. That was not what Gill had expected. He knew I would be much faster now, but not faster than the eye could see!