Ordinary would be the correct word to describe our hero, Max. In fact, he was the world's most ordinary boy, and that's a fact. He had an ordinary family. He lived in an ordinary neighborhood in an ordinary house. He attended an ordinary middle school and had all too ordinary grades. He was ordinarily popular- he had a few friends (not too many) and a few bullies (also not too many).
Ordinary was Max's last name.
No, seriously. Max Ordinary was name. Well, actually, Maxwell Everett Ordinary, but Everett was an old person's name. He didn't care what his dad said about it being his great grandfather's name. That just made it an even more oldish person name. Parents are weird like that.
Max Ordinary was the world's most ordinary boy. Some might even say that he was extra ordinary, or even ordinary to the max, but they are wrong. Max was only ordinarily ordinary.
But that would all change.
In time, no one would ever associate Max Ordinary with ordinariness again. Because although Max Ordinary didn't realize it, his life was about to take an extraordinary turn.
Like the millions of other kids his age, Max Ordinary, at the moment, was not focusing on anything out of the ordinary. No adventures, thoughts of heroism, or other important life or death matters.
He was just enjoying his cheeseburger at a local restaurant. A double quarter pounder cheeseburger with bacon, to be exact: one of mankind's most unhealthy, yet tear jerkingly delicious creations.
The normalish sized town of Riverbend, Iowa did not have too many original restaurants. Mostly, it had McDonalds, Burger King, Arby's, and other heart-stoppingly unhealthy fast food restaurants. But Riverbend Roadhouse was famous for its mouthwateringly delicious steaks, burgers, and tenderloin, and Max Ordinary was loving it.
"Come on, bud, you can chew a little between bites," his dad, Mr. Ordinary, laughed.
Max swallowed down a mouthful of burger that made him wince. "It's so good though," he sighed happily.
Mrs. Ordinary smiled and called for a refill for Max's soda. She handed it to him. "Here, this helps wash it down, so you won't suffocate."
Max gulped down the tall glass of Sprite, belched, and leaned back, a satisfied smile across his face. "That was great."
His parents gleamed with pride. "So it was a good birthday then? We did alright?"
Max leaned across the table and held their hands. "It was an awesome birthday. You guys are the best!"
It was the end of an exceptional birthday, compared to most ordinary birthdays. His thirteenth birthday, to be exact. Max's parents always tried their best to make his birthdays great, and Max appreciated that. It really had been a great day. They had thrown him a small party and had invited a few of his friends over. It was supposed to be a surprise, but it is hard for parents of an only child to keep any kind of secrets.
"You didn't finish your burger," his dad pointed out. "Want to get a box for that or leave it as a tip?" he joked.
Max couldn't help laughing. His dad was famous for corny jokes like that. They were embarrassing around his friends, but when no one else was around, Max secretly thought they were funny.
"I'll go up front to get a box."
He walked to the front of the restaurant to grab a box for the rest of his food, when he accidentally knocked shoulders with a girl, sending them both off-balance.
"Sorry, sorry!" he quickly apologized. "Oh, I'm so stupid!"
She just stared at him.
"Ummm..." he mumbled, unsure of what the ordinary response would be for this particular situation. Having none, he just said an awkward, "Well...sorry," and continued on his way.
