Spider-Girl: the Life of a Teenage Spider Person

Chapter Twenty-Three

I open my eyes to sunlight streaming in through the window.

I sit up in bed and smile as I remember what happened yesterday. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I reach for my phone and log on to social media.

I am shocked to see my feed blowing up with posts about the real life Spider-Man.

"This is crazy!" I say quietly to myself.

I hop out of bed and head down to the kitchen, where my mom is making french toast.

She smiles at me and I smile back, taking a seat across the table from my dad, who is reading an article on his phone.

"Morning, Dad!" I say cheerfully.

"Morning, Crystal," he replies, looking up from his phone. He looks at me, then at my mom, before saying, "Have you heard about this 'Real life Spider-Man?'"

My heart begins to beat faster as my mom responds, "I saw something about that, but I thought it was talking about some movie. What is going on?"

"Well, apparently, some people saw a person in a Spider-Man outfit actually swinging around the city," Dad responds.

"Uh... well, that's... cool, right?" I question hopefully.

Dad frowns slightly, "I don't know. It's probably some elaborate prank. How they pulled it off, I don't know, but it isn't possible."

My skin begins to tingle, "But... what if it is somehow possible?"

"I doubt it. I know it seems really cool... but don't get your hopes up. It just isn't possible," Dad replies, going back to his article.

I frown at that. With this attitude, if my dad ever finds out about me being Spider-Girl, it is going to be really awkward.

Bethany comes bounding into the kitchen, "Hi, Daddy! Hi, Crissy!"

"Hi, Bethany," I reply, just as Mom begins passing out the french toast.

About fifteen minutes later, I'm onto my third stack of french toast, because of my metabolism, of course.

Dad, Bethany, and Mom have finished eating already, and Dad has turned on the news.

Bethany joins him, and when I finish, Mom and I walk into the room as well.

"So... I was thinking," Mom starts.

Suddenly, the TV screen is showing a burning building, and at the top of the screen it says, 'Breaking News'.

"I'm here live to report that a building has caught on fire on this street in Queens! The fire department just got here, but we don't know if they will be able to stop it in time!" the reporter on the screen says.

Oh, no! I should be there helping! I chose to be Queen's hero! I'm supposed to be helping keep it protected!

"Oh, how awful!," Mom exclaims.

"Yes, but that is what the fire department are here for, anyway, what were you saying?" my dad asks.

"Oh, right. I was thinking, maybe we could have some family time today! Perhaps have a picnic, go to the park..." Mom says.

"Uh... I can't!" I interject.

"What? Why not?" Mom asks.

"I, uh, have a lot of homework, and it would be better to get it done now... instead of later today. Maybe we can go later?" I say, surprisingly not stuttering very much. I'm getting a lot better at coming up with excuses! Maybe that isn't a good thing...

"Oh, okay... sure, Honey! Maybe we can go later."

"Great! And, just remember... I have a LOT of homework - like, A LOT - so, please don't bother me for a few hours, okay? Okay, bye!" I dash up to my room.

I change into my suit and open my window quickly.

I shield my eyes as I squint into the sun, towards the city. I think I can see some smoke in the distance!

I feel the breeze blowing past me as I crawl onto the window ledge. The slight scent of smoke is in the air as well.

Time to be a hero.