The Money Making Superhero

Chapter 3

Walking down my street with bags filled with toys and children stuff, everything seemed normal. I walked past people and I got the regular stare you get when you put on a costume. The kids gazing with excitement. To everyone else, I was normal. I had this "not in my style" natural instinct to engage in conversations with kids and give out goodies from my bags. Saw lots of excitement on the faces of the kids and their parents too. "Hohohohohohoho ! Merry Christmas", I said in a loud booming voice while giving out the goodies. Didn't know where and how I learnt to do that. And the voice.... where did that come from?

Stopped a cab to Lucy's place. Didn't have money to pay but just knew I wouldn't have to. As expected, the cabman gave me a free ride.

"You look like the real thing", he said, looking amazed. “This is certainly beyond getting a costume,” he added, giving me a look from the rear-view mirror for the umpteenth time. “I guess you used a good make-up artist. A special effects make-up artist".

I just nodded and said a loud yes. We then exchange a few pleasantries and a short talk about the weather in the local pidgin English dialect and he dropped me off.

Now sitting face to face with Lucy. I certainly didn’t have any explanations for what happened to me so was hoping I wouldn't need to say much. Luckily, I didn't. Lucy was too busy to give me a thorough look. She gave me just one look and said "You certainly need this money. Must be really bad".

She wrote something on a piece of paper and put it on my thick fat large hands and said "That's the number of the lady who owns the shopping mall and the mall address. Just tell her you're from Lucy's place. With what I can see, the job is yours".

"Thanks", I replied, deep in thought. I am thinking "with the powers I have, I should be making 3000 dollars a day. Well, let me start with this. Strange enough, I felt I was now doing Lucy a favor not the other way round. The client was obviously a big client of hers. Her client would be so pleased, and you know what a happy satisfied client means. Especially a big-time client.

I got there, got the job instantly and I was absolutely right, she was pleased. Lucy called me later to say a big thank you. "You're a genius", she said with clear excitement in her voice. The client wants me to handle all the food and snack supplies for the mall this season. She was quite impressed with what you did. What on Earth did you do there? Can I take you out for dinner tonight? ... Please!", she added with a soft seductive tone. Hard to say no to such an offer but with my present body state, had to find a way to buy time. Told her I was working late and offered to take her out on a later date. Bills on me. The "bills on me" part got her smiling. I knew what she was thinking. She offered to take me out cos she knew I was broke and haven't been able to make that offer in months. She is probably thinking 30 dollars a day can't foot the bills and am just too proud to let a lady pay. She doesn't know about the superhero part yet. Will she ever know?

So painful what I was to miss tonight. That seductive voice. Was imagining what could have happened after dinner tonight. Dinner with a few shots of alcohol. Would have been amazing. Something I have been hoping for and fantasizing about for months. Now the opportunity comes, and I just have to give it up. Sad!

It was a large shopping mall with lots of people coming in and out. Lots of kids too, the attraction being the "Father Christmas". My performance was top notch. At a point, I became the major attraction. Kids who came told other kids about the exciting Santa experience, the other kids pleaded with their parents to bring them, and the other kids told other kids who also told other kids who also told their parents about it and the circle continued. I got lots of recommendations and soon I was doing 5 to 10 malls and offices daily with higher pay. Money was flowing in tens of thousands.

I hadn't slept in days and somehow didn't notice. Seems it was part of the superhero thing. Night time was the time for voluntary service. That was when I did the flying. I flew into houses at night, moving like a flash of light entering through roof tops, somehow squeezing through small open windows and slim metal burglary proof spaces. I dropped toys and gift items for the kids and moved out without a trace. I did it so fast, taking on up to 5 houses in a minute. That was where the "more power more responsibility" talk made sense. I made money during the day and did the voluntary Santa Claus work at night. Not bad after all. This might just be the big break I'd been waiting for all my life.