The Fifth-Grade Superhero

Chapter 1

It's hard to forget how it all started. First, it was a feeling. The feeling every fifth-grader gets, you know? Like, wow, I'm so mature, I'm the oldest in my school. But for most kids, that feeling goes away. I mean, you're only special for so long.

Except for me, Emily Saxe. 

I was given a chance. Of course, chances come at a cost. And I'm still not sure how the cost outweighed my benefits exactly, but it all turned out okay. Most things do, in the end.

And that's on the mature thoughts of a ten-year-old. A lot of people ask me how I got to be like that. Only, a lot of people don't know just how much I have going on. I'm a superhero.

How long have I been a superhero? Well, first I'd have to tell you how long I've been a fifth-grader. Five years. And no, it's not because I get held back. It's because It's my duty. Every year, my teacher- who's also my trainer- Ms.Culligan uses her compelling powers to convince my parents that I'm supposed to be in fifth grade.

What are my powers? Well, first, I'm immortal. (Sounds like I'm a demon, I know) All it means is that I'm stuck being a fifth-grader for the rest of...forever. My brain still ages, but my body doesn't. It's the cost I pay to help these kids. Really, in my brain, I'm fifteen. Tomorrow is my sixteenth birthday, actually. My other powers are teleportation and super strength. Yes, I know, it's cliche, everybody knows that. That's why so many people like Dragon Boy more than me. He can fly with his stupid dragon wings, and he controls fire and all that jazz.

His name isn't actually Dragon Boy, that's just his super name. Like how mine's Nightkid. I'm pretty sure he's a teenager too. I don't talk to him though, he's annoying. Dragon Boy is just one of the many people who don't think anything of me. Or, really, my alter-ego. I look young, so I look like I'm nothing.

But I am something. I even have an archnemesis. My brain barfs at the sound of her name, Cooties. She wouldn't be bothering me tonight- I fought her yesterday, and she only shows up every other day. 

Anyway, I'm busy. Ms. Culligan was treating me to a sweet sixteen dinner. I know all this meant was the annual birthday tradition of going to Denner's Diner, but it still meant a lot since I can't celebrate my actual birthday with my parents tomorrow. I take a breath and focus, thinking of the place I would teleport to. I open my eyes, and I'm in a bush. 

Yet another failed attempt. 

I crawl out of the undergrowth and brush myself off. The sweet, summer air makes the ends of my mouth curve up. Thank heavens I have a summer birthday. 

"Emily, I can see you're still struggling with teleportation?" I turn my head to the direction of the voice, which of course is Ms. Culligan.

"Yep," I say. "I think it's worse when I'm hungry."

"Well, it's a good thing you spawned pretty close. Let's get inside." When we enter, we are immediately bombarded with the smell of french fries and burgers. It's mouth-watering since outside is nothing but pollution. Elbrook City really needs to do something about that. I bet you it's all the fire that Dragon Boy has been using to fight his nemesis, The Skull. Ugh. 

"Now let's not judge people, Emily." Ms. Culligan says as she tells the waiter we're a party of two. I forgot she could read minds.

"Sorry...thanks for this by the way." The server leads us to a table at the edge of the diner,  which is our favorite place to sit because there's a huge window that overlooks the city. While it may not be a five-star restaurant, it's definitely the best place to eat. 

To my disappointment, the server hands me a kid's menu, which he does every year. And every year, after he leaves, Ms. Culligan says:

"It's okay, just order off my menu."