“Does it take super hearing?”
“Well…I might have overheard some things last night.”
“I knew it. Can’t talk within a mile of you.”
“You were right in front of the building. I could hardly help it. But kid, a girl like that takes an interest in you…those don’t come along that often.”
“Yeah pops…she’s…she’s good looking and all.”
“More than that kid. If you told her half of your background and she’s still interested, she’s a keeper.”
“I will bow to your superior experience.”
Otis perked up and started to lift his immense bulk off the floor. A second later the doorbell rang. Franklin and Otis were both at the door to greet Kendra.
“Hi Franklin. You ready for breakfast. I saw a couple interesting places not far…wait a minute…you been cooking?”
“Walter’s been cooking. There’s quite the spread.”
“You two coming or not?” Walter said from the kitchen. “Don’t want it to get cold.”
Kendra reached down and scratched Otis’ head and headed toward the kitchen.
“I can’t turn down an open invitation. I figure we have time. Test is at 9:00, right?”
“Yep. We leave here at 8:30 we should be there in plenty of time,” Franklin said.
Kendra filled her plate and once again watched Walter eat with amazement.
“How do you stay trim and eat like that?” she asked.
“Ever since I became like I am, my metabolism has been crazy. I think my body burns too much.”
“I guess that makes sense. So, you’re hungry all the time?”
“Quite a bit. It’s really weird.”
Twenty minutes later, Kendra finished a second glass of juice and stood up.
“I am absolutely stuffed. You’re quite the cook.”
“Thank you my lady, but it’s hard to mess up bacon and eggs.”
“Don’t repeat it to anyone, but I doubt my mother could have done much better.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Well, shall we be off?”
“Ready when you are,” Franklin said, standing up, “Just let me get my bag.”
“Your bag?”
“For after the test.”
“Oh, okay.”
“How long is the test?” Kendra asked when they were in the car.
“The total time limit is something like seven hours. There are breaks between the different sections. I’m not sure if I can get out early if I work faster.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. Just make sure you nail it.”
“I’m not worried. I studied like crazy. I’m gonna ace it.”
“I’m sure you will. You seem like a sharp guy.”
“I don’t know. I’ve done a lot of dumb stuff.”
“Hey, that’s not you now, remember?”
“Yeah, I hear you.”
“You didn’t tell me Walter was such a cool guy.”
“He wasn’t like that the day we met.”
“But he still took you in.”
“Yep, but he was a cranky dude then, griped about the kids all the time.”
“Do you think the powers changed him?”
“You should have seen his face when he figured out he could fly. Like a little kid on Christmas.”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
“Guess so. I can’t imagine. I mean, it was like he dropped half his age. He still comes home and wants to be alone sometimes, but every time he helps someone, you can see it on his face. He loves it.”
“And you help him out?”
“I’d like to think I do. I mean, I helped him figure out what he could do. That was cool. I walk and feed Otis and help him with housework. I wish I could do more.”
“Ace that test and maybe you can.”
“How do you figure?”
“You can get a job, maybe help with the bills.”
“Yeah, I guess that would be cool. I’ve never had a job before.”
“Well, we’re there. I’ll be back around 3. If you’re not done, I’ll just sit and wait in the car.”
“Might be a bit of a wait.”
“That’s okay, I brought a good book.”
“You like to read?”
“I love to.”
“What's this book?”
“Local author. It’s a new series, about a black guy who’s an action hero. I just started it. It’s pretty good.”
“Black action hero, huh? Don’t see that every day.”
“Yeah, and the author’s a white guy. Go figure.”
“Maybe I’ll have to take a look at it when you’re done.”
“Well, this looks like the place. Knock ‘em dead.”
That afternoon, Franklin walked out with a smile on his face and a spring in his step and approached Kendra’s car. She jerked her head up from her book at the knock on the window.
“Man, you got me good,” she said when he got in the passenger seat.
“You were really into that book.”
“I’m getting close to the end. It’s kind of exciting.”
Franklin picked up the book and looked it over. “Got a brother on the cover. Can’t be bad.”
“It’s pretty good. The author’s kind of new. My dad met him a while back.”
“Can I borrow it when you’re done?”
“Sure. Are you much of a reader?”
“Nah. Well…I haven’t been. Not with the way my life’s been lately, but it sounds interesting now. Walter has a few novels lying around the house and I’ve read one since I’ve been there.”
Franklin reached into the back seat and grabbed his bag while Kendra got on I-71 and started heading north. Something didn’t seem right about it and when he opened it, he saw why. His clothes were replaced. Gone were the shorts, shirt, and shoes that were in there, replaced by new items.
“Uh…what’s all this?” he asked.
“What’s what?”
“This, my bag. This isn’t my stuff.”
“It is now. The stuff that was in there has seen better days. Don’t worry. I didn’t throw it out. It’s back at Walter’s. You can do yard work in it, or lounge around the house, but if you’re going to the gym with me, you’re gonna look like you belong there.”
“Not like some washed up street kid?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Well…but you didn’t have to…buy all that.”
“Hey, I just got paid and I still live with my parents. Consider it a birthday present.”
“You don’t even know when my birthday is.”
“It’s gotta be sometime this year.”
“Well…thanks. Nobody ever done anything like that for me before.”
“You’re welcome. You never mentioned how you did on the test.”
“Oh, that thing. I aced it.”
“You’re sure.”
“Sure as anything. The studying paid off. You know, at first I didn’t want to, but Walter pushed me and
