Our Superheroes

Broken Soldier

Antony was locking up shop at nine o'clock at night because Tony had decided to go home. He hadn't been feeling well that day and Antony had thought it best that Tony go home early. A man stumbled by. He looked drunk.

"Hey, matie." He said in a slurred voice. "You mind letting me inside, I lost my key to my car."

"I think it would be best if you walked home anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I think your too drunk to drive anyway." The man stumbled towards him then Antony saw the glint of a knife and jumped away. The man yelled at him and Antony sprinted to his car. When he reached it he called the police and told them where to go and drove off.

He parked on the street out the front of his house then got out and walked up the lit stone pathway. When he reached the door he could see lights on inside through the frosted glass on the door. He unlocked the door and stepped into the living room. The thirteen-year-old Jesse stood there her raven hair was cut just below her ears which was different because normally her hair was long.

"Hi, Jesse." He said casually and placed his jacket on the side of the couch.

"Hi. I'm really sorry to do this to you. I have nowhere else to go. My mother is still at the hospital and you were the only person I could think of to come to." She said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"That's okay. You can have my bed I'll sleep on the couch." She ran up and hugged him.

"Thank you so much, Antony." She spoke into his shoulder.

That night it was dead quiet the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the clock on his wall. Antony lay there for a while then went and sat outside. It was cold but not as cold as it was down by the comic bookstore. A small firefly flitted down to the grass in front of him and he watched it sit on that one single blade. The glass sliding door opened and Antony looked to see Jesse wrapped in a long, grey jumper. She sat down next to him and put her feet up on the seat, like a daughter would lean on her father for comfort. She leant against him and then he rested his head back and they both fell asleep to the sound of the crickets and the buzz of the city.

The next day when he woke up Jesse was still asleep. He moved her off of his shoulder and lay her down on the seat. The wind was still cold, then again it was always cold in the mornings here. Antony walked to the kitchen and made eggs on toast for breakfast. Jesse woke up and walked in she sat down at the dining table. Her hands were wrapped up in the sleeves of her coat and she looked at him and he looked at her and they smiled the smallest of smiles at each other. They ate breakfast in silence then they got in the car and headed to the comic bookstore. Antony turned on the radio and Jesse bopped her head to the music. The song was "Stressed Out" by Twenty One Pilots. She laughed as the song "Come-on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners came on.

"What?" Antony smiled.

"This." She laughed and pointed to the car radio that held Antony's CD. "What is this?"

"This." He pointed. "is a great song, thank you very much. I don't see what's so funny about such a great song." She laughed again and he laughed along with her.

Once they arrived at the comic bookstore he pulled out his keys and unlocked the door. They both walked in and flipped on the lights. They set up the backroom for the event that Antony and Tony were hosting. They placed metal chairs in a circle around a wooden coffee table that Tony had made for them. They heard the doorbell ring and walked out into the main room. Tony stood there then gaped at her happily. He walked over and picked her up and spun her around.