“What My Parents Taught Me”
This was supposed to be stories about Clark learning to become the man he is destined to be – especially stories showing his parents influence. But the stories did get a little off track. The first story was already posted as part of my short story collection and I’m not supposed to repeat stories here, but I’d like to keep these together by category and the stories are all relatively short. Just skip over it if you’ve already read it. Thanks. Enjoy.
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"The Egg" [Clark is about to exile himself to Metropolis.]
Clark, dressed in leather, uncovered Jonathan’s motorcycle in the barn. He felt he must end this pain he was feeling. He opened a little box containing a red ring and looked into the glow. This would do it. This would end the pain. He reached for the ring, but then snapped the box shut and pocketed the box. He decided he could face his grief somehow. Just then he heard a little sound behind him and turned to see a chicken and some baby chicks. Clark’s jaw dropped. He felt a stabbing pain to his gut. He cringed his face trying to pull back the tears. “The egg,” he cried, “the EGG!”
Suddenly Clark’s memories took him back in time. A 12 year old Clark with a wide grin on his face strode confidently into the barn as Jonathan worked on the tractor.
Jon said, “My, you are certainly are full your oats this morning. What’s up?”
Clark answered, “You know, Dad, I get stronger every day. Soon I’ll be able to do anything! Look at this.”
Clark picked up a large stone that was propped against the barn door and crushed it in his bare hands. Clark beamed with pride when looked back to see his Dad’s reaction.
Jonathan looked at his son and the pile of dust and gravel that had been a stone. He took a deep breath and considered the situation for a few seconds before he said anything.
Finally Jon asked, “Clark, could you do a couple things for me?”
Clark answered, “Sure!”
Jon said, “Get me one of the eggs from the incubator over there.”
Clark was back in an instant and asked, “Now what?”
Jon asked, “Can you crush that like you did the rock?”
Clark said, “You’re kidding right? Anybody could do that!” Jon just stared at him. Clark shrugged his shoulders and crushed the egg.
Jon said, “Now put it back together.” Clark stared at his Dad with a puzzled look and then at the goo in his hand. Jon said, “That would have been a baby chick. Son, you have to learn that not everything you do can be undone. We all have our limitations -- even you. It is dangerous to believe otherwise.”
In the present, the full force of Clark’s pain returned. He patted the pocket that held the red ring and pushed the motorcycle out of the barn.
======
“The Slam”
Martha heard the front door open and close followed by Clark’s footsteps as the
11 year old headed upstairs.
Martha called out to him, “Clark, come have some lunch!”
Clark answered from upstairs in a muffled voice, “Not hungry!”
Martha said to herself, “Uh-oh!”
It was a very rare occasion when Clark wasn’t eager to eat anything and
everything that she prepared for him. Martha knew something was wrong. She
wiped her hands on her apron before removing it then climbed the stairs to Clark’s room. She tapped on Clark’s door and came in to find him lying on the bed staring
at the ceiling. Clark quickly ran his forearm across his eyes and commented,
“Said I’m not hungry, Mom.” Martha came over, sat down on the edge of the bed
and looked at Clark. He didn’t turn to look back at her. His face was red. She
knew that he must be angry or embarrassed because his face was a redder than
normal -- and Clark didn’t get that way from exertion.
Martha asked, “How was the movie?”
Clark coldly answered, “Fine.”
Martha asked, “So what’s wrong?”
Clark answered, “Nothin.”
Martha said firmly, “Spill. ………. Now.”
Clark hesitated a moment then started to tell his story, “Lana’s Aunt Nell
drove us to the movie theater. When we got there, Lana got out of the front.
Whitney and Pete got out of the back seat and I slid over to get out. I put my
hand on the door frame but before I could get out Whitney slammed the car door
on my fingers.” Martha grabbed Clark’s hands but he yanked them back. With
pain in his voice, he said, “That’s what LANA did!”
Martha asked, “What?”
Clark answered, “Lana saw what Whitney did so she ran over and grabbed my hands.
I couldn’t believe that she was actually touching me. For a second I was so
happy … but she looked at my hands and fingers and there wasn’t a scratch or a
bruise. She got a weird look on her face and then she called me a FREAK! ….. I
don’t even know what the movie was about.”
Martha gently took Clark’s hands and held them and kissed them and then pressed
them against her cheek. They both had tears in their eyes. Martha just gazed at
her son and smiled at him and he stared back. She hurt with him. He could feel
her pain mirroring his and her love pouring out onto him. She sat there for the
longest time. She put his hands down but kept one of her hands on his while she
gently stroked his hair back over one ear. Silently she taught him a lesson of
love and family and silently he learned. After a long while he said, “Did you
say something about lunch?” They got up and she walked him down the stairs and
back to the kitchen with one arm around him.
======
“A Deal with the Devil”
The man nervously said, “Just your word of honor. That’s all I’m asking for is
your word!”
Superman answered, “You don’t want to do this. Your son would die too. I can’t
believe you would want that.”
The man said, “I don’t want that at all, but at least we would die together.
Just give me your word. Two days is all I want. Two days with my son!”
Superman quickly reviewed his options and how these events were set into
motion. Lois’s knack for being in the wrong place had put him in the thick of
things again. She got .assigned a simple story about day care options … and almost
half of the Metropolis Police Force is standing with guns drawn on a trembling
middle aged man with a detonator in his hand. Lois was doing an interview when
the man showed up to pick up his son. When they went to leave, Lois asks why
the man didn’t have to identify himself before walking off with a child. The
day care workers said that the boy called the man “Daddy” so that it was OK.
Rather than dropping it, Lois glared at the man and asked him if he had custody
of the boy. As the man sweated bullets Lois said, “I know you, you’re Bill
Dole, the VP of Ron-N Corporation who just got a 15 year sentence for securities
fraud.” Mr. Dole immediately pulled a detonator out of his pocket and
threatened to blow the place up if he wasn’t allowed to leave with his son.
Superman thought, “So, it’s just another day in Metropolis.
A man threatening to blow up himself, 3 daycare workers, 12 children and one
pushy female reporter that I have more than a passing interest in – though Lord
knows why at times like these.”
Mr. Dole shouted, “Superman! Please! Your word! Just take me and my son where I
tell you. Then leave me alone and don’t tell anyone where I am for 2 days.
I’ll trust you. Just trust me. Or I’ll blow the bomb. I swear!”
“Don’t do it,” shouted the boy’s mother from the sidelines, “he has never done
a decent thing his entire pitiful life! Don’t believe him.”
Superman watched the man’s trembling finger poised over the detonator’s button.
He wasn’t about to gamble lives without knowing more about the bomb or the man.
Was there a way out of this that would guarantee everyone’s safety? Superman
twitched his head to the side. Had he heard something? His senses didn’t
normally trick him, but he was sure he had heard a soft, trembling voice
speaking in Kryptonian. It was a whisper from a distant past and a distant
place. Roughly translated the voice said, “Sometimes, my Son, you must make a
deal with the devil to save someone you love.”
Superman addressed the frightened man in the doorway of the daycare, “You’ve got a deal. You can trust me – and you better believe that I’ll be watching you. But you’ll have your 2 days.” Superman slowly approached the man and picked up his son then wrapped an arm around the man. Immediately they were air born. The boy chuckled in delight. Once Mr. Dole was able to gather his thoughts, he directed Superman to a small cabin in a wooded area near a large lake. Once they had landed Bill Dole told Superman, “I won’t betray your trust. No harm will come to my son. Come back at 5:00pm Friday and my son will be waiting for you. I’ll give you no further trouble.” With that he handed Superman the detonator and ushered his son towards the cabin. Superman was back to the day care in seconds and gone again with the lead lined briefcase. At a remote location, Superman opened the case to find an alarm clock and a picture of the man’s son.
====
Back in time and far away, Jor-El returned from the counsel meeting. When he
saw Lara carrying his son Kal-El, he said, “I shouldn’t waste time talking to
those fools! We leave tonight. Contact Zor-El and your parents. See if they
will agree to join us.”
Before Lara could leave the room, a giant quake hit. A green aura formed across
the horizon. Lara swept up baby Kal. When the shaking subsided, half the house
had been leveled – the half containing Jor-El’s lab and their only means of
escape from the dying planet. Lara followed as Jor-El went to the lab to survey
the damage. All that remained of the spaceship was a piece of its bulkhead not
much larger than a love seat. Looking across the landscape visible from the now
wall-less lab, it was obvious that Krypton didn’t have much time.
Jor-El said, “What a fool I was! By waiting to talk to the counsel, I’ve killed
us all.”
Lara asked, “How can you blame yourself for caring about what happens to our
people? You didn’t cause this. But please know that I don’t fear dying. You
have given me more in this life than I dreamed was possible.”
Jor-El said, “Lara, you have made my life complete as well. I don’t fear dying.
I’ve had an incredible life. But our Son! He was destined for greatness. Every
test has told us that the man he will become will rule others thought the
example he lives. His heart is pure. He would have been the best of us. I can’t
die in peace in the face of such a loss.”
I-M said, “Let me take the boy, Jor-El.”
Jor-El looks around and asked, “Who ???”
I-M said, “Let me carry him to a place of safety. Wasn’t Earth what you had in
mind?”
Jor-El looked and saw a pair of smiling, silvery lips grinning at him from a
small scrap of the destroyed spaceship. Leaning against that piece of metal was
a small octagon with some writing on it. Jor-El shouted, “YOU!”
I-M said, “Yes me. Who else? I was freed from the box you stuck me in when the
walls came tumbling down.”
Lara asked, “What is that thing?”
Jor-El answered, “It’s an experimental mind I made. Remember? The one that
became sentient. The one I allowed to think independently and educate itself
however it chose.”
I-M said, “Yes, Jor-El, you were a good Father to me at first … until you
locked me up over a silly philosophical argument. Kal-El, don’t argue with
Daddy or contradict him or you’ll be put in a box too.”
Jor-EL said, “You’re madder than General Zod with your “Might is Right”
philosophies.”
I-M said, “Old arguments. Ho-hum. Do you want your son to live or not? He’ll be
a God on Earth, you know. I’ll see to that.”
Jor-El shouted, “NO!”
I-M said, “Fine by me. Could you prop me closer to the window so I get a good
view when the planet blows?”
Lara pleaded, “Jor-El, our son!”
Jor-El repeated, “NO!”
Lara said, “Jor-El, please. We know what our Son will become. We know his
heart. He has been tested. This “thing” here couldn’t possibly corrupt him.”
I-M said, “Corrupt? I won’t “corrupt” him. I’ll educate him. Hmmm. I could take
some of that green rock forming outside with us. Kal could save Earth from the
threat of mutations that it will cause … become their hero … become their
leader … become their God! So easy, so simple. And he is so young. I’ll have so
much time to plan it all while he grows up. *hee-hee*”
Lara said, “Jor-El. Our son. LOOK at him. You know him. HOLD him.
Jor-El reached for Kal and held him tightly. He whispered in his ear, “Fight
his influence with all your strength Kal.” Jor-El reached down and picked up
the octagon and placed it on the largest piece of bulkhead left from the destroyed
ship. The metal shimmered and the octagon became one with it. The bulkhead
morphed into the image of Jor-El – only all in silver. I-M stood before Jor-El and
held out its arms for Kal-El. Lara hugged Jor-El and Kal and kissed Kal on the
head. Jor-El whispered in Kal’s ear as he held him for the last time,
“Sometimes, my Son, you must make a deal with the Devil to save someone you
love.”
Jor-El handed Kal to the silver image of himself. As I-M grabbed Kal, one finger elongated and scratched Jor-El. I-M turned quickly and scratched Lara as well. It commented, “Just borrowing a little genetic material in case this one gets lonely … or doesn’t do as he’s told.” IM turned to Lara, “I’ve got Father’s voice down pretty good, don’t I? A little paint job and you couldn’t tell us apart.” With that I-M folded his arms around Kal. Its arms merged and encapsulated Kal as it began to rise. Now in the form of a ship, it rose high above the planet Krypton, began to orbit and waited. Eventually, there is a tremendous explosion. The ship created a field of force to surround a portion of the debris. Then it opened a warp and passed through it with the debris in tow.
=====
Two days after Superman left Bill Cole and his son at the cabin, he returned to
find the boy being cared for by a woman from a home nearby. The boy yelped in
delight, “Superman! Look at all the fish I caught! Want some?”
Superman answered, “I would love some. Where is your Father?”
The boy answered, “He went fishing one last time. He said I couldn’t go because
you would be coming to fly me home.”
Superman glanced back across the lake. His telescopic vision revealed that the
man was lying dead in his boat. Superman forced a smile and said to the boy,
“Well, your Mother is waiting for you. I’d better get you … and our fish, home.
=====
“Parting Words”
As I-M left with his son, Jor-El held Lara tightly in his embrace. He thought
about Kryptonian family traditions that he would never share with Kal-El. When
a child is 8 years old, the parents and child would plant the Kryptonian
equivalent of a tree together -- something that would grow and purify its
environment far into the future. The thought of not planting a tree with his
son brought a tear to Jor-El’s eye. He said, "We won't be there to plant
a tree with you, my son, but today your Mother and I planted our seed in the
universe. And that seed will grow strong and make the universe a purer, richer
place. Live long and well, Kal-El. We are proud of the noble creature you are
and of the love that sired you."
=======
This story is a slight diversion from the anthology topic.
This story was suggested by my editor as a way to keeping the public
interested. This story is rated “R” for “ridiculous.” Marital interaction is
depicted here so this story is not for the relationally squeamish among you.
You know who you are.
Without further ado and roughly translated from the original Kryptonese, I
reluctantly present:
“Inconceivable Chain of Events”
As it happened:
On Krypton, a man sat down at his console and stretched before beginning his
evening’s activities. His wife walked in and glared at him. She coldly said, “Take
the dog for a walk.”
He answered with a snarl, “Hey, I’m doing some work here.”
His wife said, “It doesn’t look like you are doing any work.”
The man answered, “That’s because you are interrupting me. This is how I keep a roof over our heads, you know.”
The woman answered, “Well, we’ll need a place with a roof covering a 2nd bedroom for you to sleep in if you don’t walk the dog right now.”
The man said, “DANG! Sparky. Come here boy, let’s go.”
Elsewhere:
Lara seductively moaned, “Jor darling, the time is optimal.”
Jor-El answered, “Just a minute -- just one more calculation. I’ve almost found
a way to access a different dimension to contain Krypton’s criminal population.
I’m going to call it “The Phantom Zone.” “
Lara softly said, “Well, I’m thinking about a different zone and a more fertile
line of experimentation.” Jor-El still hadn’t turned from his work so Lara
walked over to him, sat on his desk, ran a hand through his hair, put her arms
around his neck, leaned her head up against his ear and whispered in hot,
steamy breath, “The time is op-ti-mal.”
Jor-El turned his head and saw what wife was wearing… that is, barely saw what
his wife is wearing. He shouted in surprise, “RAO, bless the scientist that
developed that fabric!”
Jor-El and Lara embraced. Nine months later, Kal-El entered the world. Another
32 months passed and he left the world in a small capsule headed for Earth.
As it ALMOST happened:
His wife said, “… if you don’t walk the dog right now.”
The man said, “DANG! Sparky. Hey wait! Do you mean that if I walk the dog right
now, that tonight we’ll ….”
His wife answered, “In your dreams!”
The man said, “Sparky. Lay down. Daddy has some work to do.”
His wife said, “You’ll be sorry!”
The man said under his breath, “I sure am.” Then, speaking to his console, he
said, “Make next targeted contact. ID tag the call from the target’s closest
relative and rank the call with an urgency level of … 2. “ An image of a woman
started to appear in front of him in glorious 3-D.
Lara said, “Father?! What is it? What’s wrong? Is it Mother?”
The man said, “Madam, I was wondering if I could interest you in some feminine
genetic enhancement products that … HOLY MOTHER OF RAO! Woman, you DEFINITELY
don’t need anything I’m selling! You are the most incredibly beautiful woman
that I have ever laid eyes on.”
Jor-El asked, “Lara, who is that you are talking to?”
Lara turned to look at Jor-el.
The man said, “WOW! NICE from BOTH sides! Console, are you recording this
transaction!”
Lara said, “It’s some dang holo marketer.”
Jor-El said, “My RAO, Lara! You answer a marketing call dressed … undressed
like that!”
Lara said, “I thought it was my Father!”
Jor-El said, “Now that is just sick! Does that do something for you? Or is it
that you don’t think I’m attentive enough?”
Lara said, “Now that you mention it! No, you DON’T pay attention to me. Why
didn’t you fix this console so that we couldn’t get annoyance calls like this?
I’ve asked a dozen times! You are always too busy with your calculations to do
ANYTHING for me!”
The man said, “I’ll do whatever you want, Lady! Any time, any place!”
Lara turned and shouted, “Console off. NOW!” She turned back to Jor-El and
said, “I certainly hope that your calculations keep you warm at night because
I’m turning the nursery into a second bedroom … for you! By the way … and for
the 20th time, the hot hydro button in the shower isn’t working in the bathroom
next to the nursery. But don't bother fixing it that because you’ll only be
needing cold hydro from now on!”
Forty-one months later, all marital issues on the planet Krypton were resolved
when the planet exploded. Since Jor-El was too tense to think clearly, the
Phantom Zone was never created and the “Survival Zone” based on that research
didn’t come into existence either. No Kryptonian survived.
Of course, that never happened because one telemarketing call was delayed by a nagging, Kryptonian housewife whose name is lost to history … but who is responsible for the existence of our beloved hero – Superman.
=======
"Split Personality: An Else World Story"
Clark and Jonathan sat at the breakfast table as Martha dished up the food.
After Martha filled Clark's plate, he looked up at her with sad, doe eyes. It
looked as if he were one step away from having a tear roll down his face. Martha
stepped back over and filled his plate with as much food as it could hold. Clark immediately smiled brightly as he surveyed his horde. Martha mussed his hair. He
smiled up at her and thanked her in some strange language. He hopped up and
Martha leaned over for him to give her a kiss on the cheek. He scampered over
to Jonathan and gave him a peck on the cheek as well. Then Clark grabbed his
plate and headed for the door.
Jon asked, "Clark, can't you eat breakfast with us for a change?"
Clark shook his head "no" and left through the door. Jon and Martha
watched as Clark ran across the yard and into the field on his way to the
woods.
Jon said, "I feel like we have bitten off more than we can chew here
Martha.”
Martha answered, "DON'T YOU SAY THAT, Jonathan Kent! You're just tired
from being up all night. You had better watch your mouth. You've been snapping
at everybody since you had that talk with the Ross family for Lionel
Luthor."
Jon said, "If that's true, I'm sorry. But I made that deal with the devil
to keep Clark and now I'm not sure I am up to the job of raising him."
Martha said, "You’re great with him. You should see how he looks at
you."
Jon said, "I'm just worried that he'll always be so strange. Maybe it's
just the way he is -- his alien nature."
Martha said, "Strange? Parenthood is new to us. This is a strange situation.
We are trying something we've never done before and Clark is trying to find his
place with us. I'm sure every couple who adopts a child feels exactly like you
are. And it's you, not me. He couldn't be more my son if he had grown inside
me. Look, we have only had him a short time. You are still trying to get to
know each other. You've never been easy to get to know, Jon. Give the boy a chance
for Christ's sake."
Jon asked, "How would you describe Clark?"
Martha answered with a gleam in her eyes, "He's a sweet, considerate
little boy. He's so smart! He's as cute as a button, strong as a horse and fast
as the wind. He's a handful, but he's my handful."
Jon asked, "Is he timid and shy?"
Martha answered, "Yes, Very. Painfully shy."
Jon asked, "Is he outgoing?"
Martha answered, "Oh, yes!"
Jon asked, "Is he clingy?"
Martha answered, "Yes."
Jon asked, "How about standoffish?"
Martha answered, "I'm working on that."
Jon asked, "Can't you see it? His behavior is erratic. He's like 2 different
people."
Martha answered, "Well you are pretty clingy and standoffish too, Jonathan
Kent -- depending on your mood. Our personalities are not a constant. We are
people, not machines."
Jon said, "It seems to be more than that. I hear him talking at night in
that strange language of his. I thought for a while that he was praying or
talking to his missing parents. I think he might have an imaginary friend.
Whenever I hear him talking like that and I go to check, it stops and Clark looks suspiciously nervous."
Martha said, “I think you are over-analyzing all this, mister amateur
psychologist. This is a big adjustment for him. He's talking in English a bit
more everyday. He certainly understands us well enough.”
Jon said, “You know, he wants to help me with my chores, so sometimes I give
him jobs to do for me. I'll show him how to do something ONCE and he's an
expert. Then he'll repeat the task for a couple days and do the task perfectly.
Then, another day passes and I'll ask him to help … and he'll act like he's
scared of me. Then I'll have to show him how to do the task all over again. The
first time it happened, I barely took note of it, but after the 10th time .... Martha,
I've learned not to ignore signs of a problem. Ignore a problem and it gets
much worse. Clark has a problem and I don't know what to do!"
Martha said, “Clark isn't a tractor with a loose cog that needs tightened, Jon.
He's a young child in a confusing new world. It will be fine. You're just tired
from being up all night helping Nell deliver that foal. Maybe you should go
take a nap.”
Jon answered, “I'll be OK. You know I can't sleep very good without you there
next to me.”
Martha chuckled and said, “You too, huh! I'm pretty popular these days.”
Jon asked, “Am I missing something here?”
Martha said, “Yes, you missed it all right. While you were delivering that
foal, I was having trouble sleeping. I was having these strange delirious
dreams -- probably due to that heavy rainstorm we were having. You know how
that affects me. Well the thunder started booming. I was kind of half awake and
I thought I felt you getting into bed. It was Clark. He had crawled under the
covers and was curled up next to me trembling. It was so sweet. It's something
I have always fantasized about -- having my own children to comfort when
they're scared -- to help them deal with their fear of harmless things."
Jon asked, " "Children?" "They?" Is there something
you aren't telling me?"
A dark cloud passed over Martha’s face. She tried not to think about her
inability to have children. She tried to push those thoughts out of her head
as she continued to speak, "You know I can't ... No, it's just, ... that
was so strange.” She shook off the sadness and resumed her story, “I was
aware of Clark in bed with me and then I felt someone else get into bed. Again,
I thought it was you, but it was ... *chuckles* ... it was ...*chuckles* ...
another Clark!” Martha burst out laughing.
Jon laughed too and asked, "Whaaat?"
Martha said, "Boy, was I out of it! I dreamed that I had two Clarks in bed with me like book-ends. It was so real. It was a very strange, but happy
dream -- me and my little boys!" Martha continued to chuckle as she wiped
down the kitchen counter.
Meanwhile, in the woods, inside his Fort of Brotherhood, Clark shared his
breakfast with his identical twin brother ... Clark.
=====
Story Notes:
In case someone didn’t “get it,” these were my ideas how this alternate reality story worked and would continue. I have an image of the twins in the spaceship, hugging each other through re-entry. After the landing, the curious, outgoing boy goes to check out the Kents while the other one runs off and hides.
Jonathan would never be able to explain a second child or go
back to Lionel for another favor. So, the duality is kept hidden. Perhaps there
is a telepathic link that allows the boys to more easily pull it off.
The world would only know one Superman. They may work together as a team if
necessary but they would never be seen together. Clark and Superman's
friendship would be well known. They would be seen together often and everyone
would be amazed by their resemblance. There may be a "Gold K"
incident so that there would be a human and super-human Clark. I don't know.
Here is a story segment from a time after Martha and Jon discover that there
are indeed 2 Clarks:
“Old Habits”
Martha set up 2 plates at the table and another two on the counter and began to
fill them. Clark and Mark ask why they aren't allowed to eat at the table.
Martha shakes her head a bit to become a little more conscious of what she is
doing. She apologized and said that she would like their company for a change,
but that she was just so used to "Clark" taking his food "to go"
that it didn’t dawn on her that they would hang around. The boys pulled up to
the table and Martha began to fill the first dish.
Clark said, "MOM! Stop, I can't eat all that!"
Martha said, "Since when?!"
Clark answered, "Since I don't have to share anymore!"
====
More notes: This series was initially set up on another forum with hopes other authors to contribute. What I have posted here is the stories I wrote for that “Group Anthology.” “Split Personality” was continued as a series by another author whose pen name is “Jackson.” All I can say is that it was one wild ride and a lot of fun.