Arthur Braxton

Ceremonial Introductions

"If there is ever something to be noticed at a school, is that there is always that one guy who no one knows or notices. He could be the typical nerd that excels at everything lacking the ability to be social or that one weird guy who just never says anything and stays mad at the world. Well, that was not me. My name is Arthur Braxton, almost your typical jock. I'm the star running back for the football team, run track, play guard for basketball. What sets me apart from most neanderthal minded athletes are my grades. I tend to keep them up and love classical music."

"Very good Arthur except, if you want to sell it then you need to use your normal vocabulary. These colleges want to know your smart, too" said my friend Jay. Problem is, whenever i use my bigger words, people tend to get lost or bored. " Do I have to?" I said as if it were a chore. " Yes! Now get to class before you get a detention", Jay yelled. I looked at the clock and screeched to see i had 30 seconds to get down the hall and in my seat.

"I'm here, Mr. Blake. Don't mark me tardy!"

" I almost did Mr .Braxton, but since you have a game tomorrow, I'll let it slide. Wouldn't want our star running back missing the game, right?"

"I suppose so". Did my teacher just say that? He would honestly let me slack off because our school needs to win? Being me is great, but that made my stomach churn.

"Detention, Mr. Casey!"

"But I was helping the Principal."

"Well I dont see a note so I'll see you in my class after school".

Now I really feel terrible. He was helping someone out and still was reprimanded, whereas I was just talking. I like being athletic and smart but I feel like there is so much more to me than touchdowns.

As I slump down in my chair, I over hear to of my friends talking in the back. " Did you hear on the news about that kid who got beat up yesterday after school. Apparently some gang waited for him and then followed him back to his house." The other kid said, "What street?" "I think it was on Morning Avenue and Serenova Drive" the first boy guessed. " Hey doesn't Arthur live on that street?" Yeah he does." "He better watch out then".

Great, now I have to worry about gangsters around my house. As long as they don't beat me up, they can do whatever they like. Wait a minute that's it! I finally found what I was going to do. I'll stop those guys from beating people up. How hard could it be?

I ran home, threw my stuff down and waited for something to happen. Hours went by and still nothing. Maybe it was just a one time thing. I walked away from my window and began to go to bed when I heard something. It was the voice of a woman, but I couldnt make out what she was yelling.

"Help! Someone please! Get away you creeps."

'"Be quiet before I make you squeal even louder. Get her boys", the malicious thug said.

I called 911 then hung up because i didnt have time to talk.

"Leave me alone!" she kept saying as her efforts to escape were thwarted by the big men all covered in tattos. I ran outside with my football gear on as fast as I could.

"Hey! I believe she told you to leave her alone." I said, now regretting because as I got closer, they got bigger. "Let her go and no one will have to get hurt".

"Yeah, well whats it to ya, huh kid. Just go back inside and act like we arent here before you do something you really dont want to do."

"I'm afraid I cant do that. You see, I'm trying to sleep and you're making an awful lot of noise".

"Fine then we'll be quei-"

"Excuse me. I wasnt finished talking. First, you laid hands on a woman and now your speaking when I speak. Did your mother teach you nothing? Let her go before I do something I really dont want to do" I said as a crowbar subtly slipped down my arm into my hands. The thugs let the woman go and she ran as they turned their undivided attention to me. What was I thinking?

"Okay kid, do you have a death sentence."

"Do you? 5 guys hurting a a young lady. How pathetic."

"Youve got a big mouth for just one person. Whats your name?"

"My name doesnt matter. What does matter is what I will be doing to you if you take one step closer to me."

"If you havent noticed, there are five of us and one of you"

"Then get some more people and it'll be a fair fight". The thugs looked at eachother and grimaced as they glanced back me like a pack of wolves ready to eat dinner. Just then loud sirens could be heard from both directions. I was in over my head but i stalled just in time for the cops to arrive.

"Oh by the way, I lied."

"Oh yeah about what?"

"I'm not alone". Immediatley police cars from both sides of the street pulled up and pinned the gangsters in my drive way. " They are righ there officers. These guys are responsible for the beatings on this street." A sergeant walks up to me, "Kid, you got balls to stand up to them. We have been looking for them for a month. Thanks". Though I did a great deed, I felt sick because was running out things to say and sooner or later, I wouldve been toast. But hey, I just saved someone. Does that mean I'm a hero something?

I walked back inside and went to bed. "I know what I'm going to do", I said to myself. "I'm going to become a super-hero. How hard could it be?"

The next morning, I woke up as if last night had never happened. The effects of what I did hadn't hit me. I went to school and sat down in class. Right then, I realized that I just saved some ladies life. Do I tell anyone? No I shouldn't. I'll just keep it to myself. I sat there in class day dreaming about beating those guys up like in a old karate movie, but I didnt know how to fight. Well maybe it is time to learn.

"Braxton!? Hello Mr. Braxton!?"

"Oh, yes Mrs. Callsworth."

"I aksed you what is 90 degrees in radians."

"Ah, of course, um sine of pi over 2"

"Very good"

I dont know why she asked me that. That's all pre-calculus stuff. Im in calculus now, I'm only in this class becuase she needed a Teachers Aide. As she turned her back to me and re-started her lecture, my mind went back into a daze. What would I call myself? Thinking about it, I was nudged out of my dreaming by Jay. "Hey did you hear? Last night some thugs were gonna beat up this girl, but were stopped by some idiot in football pads." "Really?", I said. "Did they find what the kids name was?" "No but he is like the coolest person ever. He's like a super hero now and everyone just calls the him guy becuase we dont have a name for him yet."

"Oh cool. Well I'll see you later. I need to take care of something."

"Okay then see ya dude". 

Wow, people at school already like me. But with this I'd be a legend here at school. No, I cant tell anyone.  Rule number one in comics, the hero must have a secret idnentity so their friends dont get hurt. Okay so I need a name. Just then two of the computer lab kids comes in the locker room. 

"Hey Joey. You know that super-hero kid."

"Yeah"

"Well, I was playing video games last night and I thought of a name for him." Well what do you know. I was looking for a name but now these kids will give one to me since all the cool names come from games I suppose.

"Well since he stood in the face of danger. How about Fealess?"

"No, thats cheesy and pretty simple. How about we name him after like all the knights of the table. How about Silent Knight? Nah, thats cheesy also. For now, we'll just call him Shadow.

Not bad. Shadow doesnt sound to bad and I didnt have to waste time doing it. Now all I need is a costume, but I can do that after my game tonight. But for now, it's time to lace up.