Birthday Surprise: A Prequel By Dianna Maring Rated: G Submitted: November 2001 Dear Diary, Hi. My name is CJ Kent. It's my birthday today and you're the first gift I opened. Diaries are supposed to be kind of a girlish thing, but I'm only ten now so I guess it's okay. I bet my little sister Larkie will have a diary when she gets older. If you ever read it and she says I'm a jerk or immature for my age just ignore it. Larkie's seven now. I think she's going to give Mom and Dad gray hairs when she gets older. Although everyone says I'll be the one to give my parents gray hairs. Yeah, right! Like someday I'll crash the car or something because I'll be looking at a girl. Why do people think I'm so interested in girls already? Oh, well, enough about that. Let me tell you about my birthday today. It was a real crazy day today. So I'll tell you what happened. I woke up when I heard my little brother and sister jumping on my guitar. "Get out!" I yelled. There's only one way to describe Louis and Clara. They're two. They're twins. They're trouble with a capital T. Next, I walked into the dining room. "Surprise," everyone shouted. I knew it was my birthday but they said it just for the heck of it. I like having my birthday on a Saturday. I don't have to wait until school's done to open my presents. Plus I get a day off from school on my birthday. My parents took me aside. "We need to talk to you." "Uh oh," I thought. I'm probably in trouble, but I didn't do anything than I knew of. We went into my room. "I gave him the sex talk. It's your turn now." Mom walked out of my room and shut the door. It was just me and Dad. He sighed. It was apparent they hated giving me these talks. He turned to me. "You're adopted." "Adopted? How can I be adopted?" He handed me a note. I read it to myself. Dear, Lois and Clark, This baby is for you. We wish we could keep him, but we know it's too dangerous here on New Krypton. There is constant warfare on this planet. Earth is a much better environment for him. We love him and we hope you will love our son as your own. Please take good care of him. We know you will be wonderful parents. We trust you. Your Friends, Zara and Ching, Rulers of New Krypton. I heard footsteps outside my door. "I remember the twins being born, so I know they're not adopted, but is Larkie adopted?" "You shouldn't call her Larkie" "Why not? She likes it. She thinks it's cute." "She won't when she's older." "Well, is she adopted?" "No. You were only three when Lark was born." "Does she know I'm adopted?" "Yes, because Lark is a snoop. She eavesdropped on Lois and I when we were talking about you and," he raised his voice, "If she's listening behind your door she's not getting any chocolate birthday cake." I heard footsteps running back into the dinning room. "Works every time doesn't it?" I asked him. "Yes, it does." "How did you keep her from squealing about me, to me?" "Bribes, blackmail, threats, the usual. How do you feel about being adopted?" "It's okay I guess, but why didn't you tell me earlier?" "I know we should have told you sooner, but we thought you'd feel more like a part of our family." "It's cool actually. You wanted me. You didn't have to keep me, but you did. You weren't stuck with me if you didn't want me." "Just remember we love Lark and the twins just as much as we love you." "I know." "Any other questions?" "Yeah, can I have a pet?" "No way. Out of the question." "Why? Lark has a dog?" "You know your mother and I take care of Scruffy, besides one pet is enough." "Oh, well then, let's go have some of that chocolate birthday cake." The cake was delicious. Even Lark got to have some. When the twins were done with their cake they were wearing more of it then eating it. They ran outside after they were washed up. They ran back inside about five minutes later. "Spaceship! Spaceship!" they said, excited. I opened the door. There was no spaceship but there was a brown box with holes in it and a note. The note said: Dear son, Happy tenth birthday! How are you? We are fine. Being King and Queen of a planet is stressful but challenging. Your present is in the box. We hope you like it. With love from your parents, Ching and Zara. XOXOXO I opened the box. There was the most adorable white Persian in it. I held up the kitten. "Hello, Fluffy, I said. Then I turned to my adoptive parents. "Thanks, you guys." "We didn't do it, CJ." "Yeah, right. You can't fool me. I'm too old." I put a saucer of cold milk in front of her. Lasers came out of her eyes to heat it up. "Oh no," I said. "Bad cat!" She's being a good cat now. She must be dreaming, because she's floating in a curled up little ball above my bed. Scruffy hates Fluffy but she can get away from him anytime she wants. Lark is jealous because her doggy doesn't have powers like my kitty. Too bad for her. At least Lark has powers. She and the twins can be superheroes someday. That's a very scary thought. Especially the twins. Among my presents were this diary, a new guitar, Fluffy,and a superhero costume. So goodnight, Fluffy. Goodnight, diary, I'll write in you tommorrow. Oh and by the way, I, CJ Kent, am now also Marvelboy. The End