Prologue
“Nathaniel?” my mom opened the door and peered around the corner. I was sitting at the computer playing Uncharted. I had on my headphones and I neither saw nor heard her presence.
“Nathaniel!” she said again, almost shouting as she lifted off my headset from my head and placed her hands on her waist.
I almost screamed in fright. “Mom. You’re home” I said, my voice shaky.
“Yes and you’re playing video games, again,” she replied seriously.
“I finished all my homework,” I replied groaning. “Didn’t I tell you we have guests coming over tonight,” she said.
“No, you didn’t,” I said casually and she glared at me. “I left a note on the fridge,” she replied.
“I didn’t see it,” She sighed.
“Go get ready then,” she called, seeing me turn back to my game. “Yeah, just a sec. I just want to kill this guy-”
She didn’t wait for me to finish. With a glow in her eye, my towel and I were floating through the air into my en-suite bathroom.
I sighed. I couldn’t protest. I don’t know why they kept dragging me into their ever so often ‘Meet-the-Friends’ dinner, where all their superhero buddies came over with their kids to talk, show off and such.
I mean, it wasn’t a bad idea if you were a superhero or had powers. But for me, it was hell. My parents were like the super duper hero team and since I was little everyone has been ringing in my ears about what power they think I should have.
When I eventually got older and everyone else’s kids got powers and not me, I guess everyone got fed up of waiting, everyone except my grandfather.
I guess, even my parents. If I thought about it. My power could be math. I absolutely loved crunching numbers. But, what could I do with math? Can’t exactly lift a building, or fly supersonic. Technically you can because math built cranes and airplanes, but no, you can’t.
A cold sensation on my warm skin brought me out of my chain of thought. I ran out all the hot water out of the lines again. I turned off the shower and dried in the bathroom before heading into my room to change.
I chose a plain white shirt with my black suit pants and a black bow tie with silver streaks. I put on a silver watch and combed my hair before heading downstairs.
“Nate” I swung around to the familiar voice acknowledging my presence. My grandfather stood there with a grand smile on his face. I rushed over and slammed myself into him.
My grandfather honestly felt like the only family I had. He also had powers, but he didn’t like talking about them. He made me feel more comfortable as we spoke about more normal stuff.
My dad and mom always talked about flying and smashing and fighting villains. They even had a collection of recordings of their fights which they bought from news agencies or downloaded from sites online.
“Listen to me” my grandfather whispered in my ear. “Don’t let them get to you. You’re unique, treasure that.”
And almost instantaneously, the doorbell rang, chiming throughout the house. My dad floated down from the balcony and landed in front the door to open it. My mother walked out from the kitchen.
My dad looked smart in his entire suit and my mom looked beautiful in her sparkling dress that flowed all the way down and trailed behind her.
“Mr Masters” someone greeted. “Mr Chaney” my dad greeted back.
Mr Chaney is an elastic hero. His wife is human however. Their son can aim at anything once he can see it and not miss while their daughter can glow.
I mean it wasn’t all that but it was better than nothing. Right? I guess I wasn’t in any position to judge.
Next came the Williams family. Mrs Williams has wings and can fly at very fast speeds. Her husband was human but their daughter was growing some ‘wings’ last time I saw them.
Afterward came the Selmans. Mr Selman is a fast runner. Mrs. Selman can turn invisible. Their first son has super strength, their second son has laser vision, their daughter can multiply and their last son was still young to tell.
When they all entered they all greeted my mom and my grandfather and me last. It was almost like a sort of, belittlement. My grandfather placed his hand on my shoulder each time.
And each time I looked up, he looked back down at me with a smile that reached his eyes. It settled me to think that my grandpa loved me even though I was normal.
