“The Going Away Party”
Dressed in his black Superman costume and not looking a day over
28, Kal-El, last survivor of the planet Krypton stood to witness the burial
ceremony of Clark Joseph Kent and his Wife Lois Lane Kent who had died within
hours of each other 3 days before … or so people believed. Lois had been
unconscious for a week before passing and Kal-El had decided not to continue to
live on as Clark Kent any longer. In many ways, Clark had indeed died with Lois,
so the lie was very close to the truth. Kal-El stood opposite the gravesite from
the surviving family members with the few friends and acquaintances that chose
to pay their respects. Many who may have come to console a surviving spouse,
didn’t come for the ceremony. Very few of Lois and Clark’s close friends still
lived. So Kal-El was practically alone as he watched his family while playing
the role of a close family friend. Superman still had many enemies and his two
sons and four daughters had their secrets to keep, so Kal-El chose for Clark to
die hoping that a portion of his grief would die with him. So far, it wasn’t
working. Superman had literally pushed planets around, but his grief felt
greater than any load he had ever borne before.
Kal-El wanted more than
anything to stand with his family as the ceremony continued. His mighty legs
trembled and he feared that he could not stand on his legs long enough to get
through the next few minutes, but he focused on his fears and concerns for Laney
right now and that made it possible for him to endure. Laney’s love for his Nana
knew no bounds. Kal was afraid that when Laney found an expression for his grief
that that would be without bounds as well. Kal couldn’t handle his own grief so
he hadn’t any idea how to help Laney with his. The ceremony was very moving and
there were only two dry eyes in the house … and both of them belonged to Laney.
Kal was nervous as he studied Laney’s smiling face. Kal was more powerful with
each passing year, but through some genetic circumstance, Lane Lewis Adams at
age five was the most powerful of his descendants with strength and abilities
rivaling his own. Laney could easily destroy worlds and the loss of his Nana
could trigger him to do so – and Kal would have a hard time stopping him. Yet
Laney smiled and tried to comfort his mother, father, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Laney had never lied to his Papa Clark about anything, so when Laney swore that
he wouldn’t dig up Lois, Kal believed him. But maybe Laney had another plan that
would make sense to a five year old but never occur to an adult.
The
caskets were lowered into the ground and the guests filed by the gravesite and
said their words of condolences to the family. Kal worked his way through the
small crowd to see his sons and daughters and said words to them that a family
friend might say. He asked his daughter Joan if he could take Laney for a little
walk. She agreed and Laney seemed anxious to go with his great
grandfather.
As they started
walking through the cemetery, Laney asked, “Is Jimmy here?”
Kal asked,
“Jimmy who?”
Laney said, “You wouldn’t forget Jimmy would you. He went
away so you wouldn’t have to. He was your pal, Jimmy … Oldman?”
Kal
asked, “Jimmy Olsen?”
Laney said, “Yeah! That’s it. Is he here
somewhere?”
Kal said, “Yes he is. Did Nana tell you about him? I don’t
think I did.”
Laney said, “Nana told me a little but it was the Lakota
guy who didn’t make chief who liked Jimmy a lot who told me things. Can I see
where Jimmy is?”
Kal was used to not always understanding Laney. He would
often wait until Laney was home to ask Lois what he had meant. Lois and Laney
could communicate with looks and gestures but Kal had to work at it. Kal decided
that he would ask Lois later about this “Lakota” reference -- then felt a stab
in his heart when he remembered an instant later that he couldn’t. Kal composed
himself and said, “Jimmy is over here.” He led Laney to a gravesite where a
life-size statue of Jimmy Olsen stood on a low pedestal and said, “That’s Jimmy.
I carved that statue myself. His last words to me were “I’m glad to have died
like this … knowing that I helped the world keep its Superman.” I wouldn’t have
lived long enough to have children if he hadn’t given his life for mine. I named
your Uncle Jim after him. If it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be here
today.”
Laney said, “Well I would have been SOMEwhere!”
Kal said,
“I don’t think you understand.”
Laney answered, “I DO understand. But
anybody who thinks that they know anything for sure is a fool. I won’t look like
that statue when I grow up, will I Papa?”
Kal said, “No, I think you will
look like your Uncle Pete.”
Laney said, “That’s good.”
Kal said,
“I notice that you are pretty happy today.”
Laney said, “I WANT to be but
it’s hard being happy like Nana said when everybody is acting like big babies.
They’re grown up but it’s like they don’t understand ANYTHING!”
Kal said,
“I know you promised but I have to ask anyway. You’re not going to try to get
Nana out of the ground are you?”
Laney said, “She’s not in the ground!”
Kal’s head snapped around. A quick glance with X-ray vision showed that Lois’s
body was still in her casket. He was at once relieved that Laney hadn’t removed
her and caught unprepared to see Lois again without preparing himself
emotionally. He hung his head and slumped his shoulders under the weight of his
grief. Laney said, “She’s not there. Why did you look there? She is someplace
that’s beautiful. That’s just her old, used up body in the box. She’s got a new
body now that is even younger than Mommy’s. She feels great and she’s pretty and
she’s happy visiting old friends.”
Kal asked, “Who told you
that?”
Laney answered, “Nana.”
Kal said, “I’m glad. I didn’t
think she had a chance to talk to you before she died.”
Laney said, “Nana
didn’t die! I thought you knew. You should know it as old as you are and because
you were where she is now a few times.”
Kal kneeled down and looked his
great grandson in the eye and said, “I’m sorry Laney. I don’t want her to be
dead either, but she IS and we have to face it.”
Laney snickered at his
Papa’s ignorance and said, “Nobody dies. Nobody ever did. Nobody ever
will.”
Kal said, “That’s not true Laney. You love history. You know that
billions of people have lived and died over the centuries. On the planet I came
from, billions died in a single day. Look around you. Almost every monument here
has the remains of someone who died below it.”
Laney said, “That isn’t
them. When I throw out my old clothes that’s not me going in the trash – that’s
something I used up and don’t need anymore. If you mean that someone who goes
away for a while is dead then it’s OK to say she’s dead. But if you mean that
she isn’t anywhere at all, you are WRONG! Nana told me that and don’t tell me
that she was wrong because I know better. She also told me that anybody who
thinks they know anything for sure is a fool. If you want to be a fool because
you believe she doesn’t exist anymore then I can be a fool that believes what my
Nana told me. You buried my Papa Clark today but he isn’t dead, is
he?”
Kal said, “That’s something entirely different. You know the secret
identity game we all play. I’m not dead, but your Nana is gone.”
Laney
said, “Yep. She’s gone, but she’s coming back and I’m going to be her Daddy this
time! She wants you to wait for her. She says she’s getting recycled … OH! … and
she said that the trash man comes early Wednesday morning so don’t forget to put
it out Tuesday night!”
Kal said, “Oh, no. Laney ….”
Laney said,
“SHE TOLD ME and I believe it. Nana doesn’t tell fibs!”
Kal asked, “When
did Nana tell you this?”
Laney answered, “Three days ago in my bedroom at
home. Mom hadn’t let me visit her for a week so she came and visited me and
brought her friends for a party. She looked like Nana when she came but she
showed me a magic trick and made herself all young and pretty even without that
boy who cured the horse!”
Kal said, “Laney, please don’t …”
Laney
said, “Oh, and Pete the Vice President said to tell you that he never did tell
anyone no matter what and he’s still got your back. He’s staying at your side
forever and won’t leave for Witch’s Tall again. And Perry, that Lakota guy who
didn’t become Chief because of his wounded knee … he told me to tell you that
you could have trusted him with your secret but that he forgives you. That Perry
guy kept calling me Jimmy … said I used to be this Jimmy Olsen guy you made the
statue of.”
Kal asked, “Perry White?”
Laney said, “Yeah. He didn’t
stay at the party long. He left with Julius Caesar and that guy that sung about
blue shoes.”
Kal said, “Why didn’t she visit me? Why wasn’t I invited to
the party?”
Laney said, “Nana said you were stuck in the mud. She said
that you don’t believe in things enough. She said if she could believe that a
man could fly, that you should believe in heaven … especially since you went
there a couple times until they decided to send you back.”
Kal said,
“Tell me about her visit from the beginning. What happened”
Laney said,
“I already told you most of it. Mom got a vid-call and she got all upset and
started crying and sent me to my room. I was scared because Mom doesn’t EVER
cry! Then Nana knocked on my door and asked if she could come in. I figured that
Mom was upset because the house was messy and Nana came over before she could
clean. But I was happy that Nana came all the way down under … that’s what they
call Australia … just to visit me. Then we had a going away party with some of
her friends. She told me all about what was happening and where she was going
and when she was coming back. She showed me this woman who she said was going to
be her Mommy next time. She had beautiful red hair and I liked her a lot. The
red haired woman is being re-cycled soon. Then Nana asked if I would be her
Daddy when she came back. She said that I would have to be strict and keep her
in line but still give her freedom enough to learn what she needs to know. And
when she comes back next time, she will be like us and won’t have to go away
anymore. Did you know that Pete was Abe Lincoln once and that Perry was in the
Lakota tribe?”
Kal said, “No, I didn’t know that. I was just a fool that
thought I knew everything. But I am SO glad that you set me straight. Let’s go
have lunch!”
Sometimes even a Superman – like a normal, average man, can
find comfort in the words and simple faith of a child.
The
End