Heroes At Heart 
By Dianna Maring <Diabbhfarm@aol.com 
Rated: G 
Submitted: November 2001


I was sitting at my desk thumping my pencil. I was trying 
to think about what to write on the paper in front of me. I 
sensed something floating above my head but I didn't look 
up.

The thing began pawing at the top of my head with its front 
paws. Right paw, left paw, right paw, left paw. Then it 
curled up in a ball and lay on top of my head.

"CJ, kindly get your cat off my head," I called to my 
brother.

CJ walked into my room and took his white Persian, Fluffy, 
off my head. Fluffy was a gift from his birth parents Zara 
and Ching of New Krypton. Mom and Dad adopted CJ as an 
infant. The twins Louis and Clara, and I aren't adopted.

"What are you writing, Larkie?" he asked me.

I rolled my eyes. He really needs to stop calling me 
Larkie. He's always called me that, but I think it needs to 
stop now that I'm fifteen and he's eighteen. We're way too 
old for it.

"I'm writing an essay," I told him.

"What's the topic?"

"What A Hero Is To Me."

"Is it for the Start Of The Summer contest?"

"Yup."

At the start of every summer, Metropolis has an essay 
contest for the students in Metropolis High school. 
Everyone who enters has to write an essay on the same topic 
but it's a different topic each year. If you win, third 
prize is $25, second is $75, first is $100, and your essay 
is published in the Daily Planet. This interested me 
especially because my parents work for the Planet and I 
want to be a reporter like them too someday. The essays are 
judged by the Mayor and the City Council. The essays have 
to be mailed, faxed, or E-mailed to City Hall by July 
First. It was June Twenty-Second and I didn't even have 
mine started.

"What a Hero Is To Me? That should be really easy for you, 
Larkie."

"I know I'm a super hero, but I've never really thought 
about what it means, or what I stand for."

"Truth, justice and the American way," my Mom said. She 
walked into my room.

"Mom, can I take the twins to school?" CJ asked.

"No, the car's being inspected."

"Who said anything about driving?"

"Absolutely not. You may not fly them to school."

"Why not?"

"What would people think of Marvelboy flying kids to school 
instead of doing his super hero duties? Besides, if someone 
sees you flying with Louis and Clara they might make a 
connection and realize your true identity."

CJ stomped out in a huff. He muttered something about 
parents never letting you do anything. Mom turned to face 
me.

"It's the last day of school. You don't have to go if you 
don't want to."

"I'll go."

I love the last day of school. All we do is play sports. I 
usually play baseball. It's my favorite game.

"OK, then you have half an hour," she said.

"Good," I thought. "Then I have time to talk to Bobby."

Bobby's my friend. Don't get any ideas. We're just friends. 
For now. I turned on my computer and logged onto the 
internet. We can't talk on the phone because he's deaf, but 
I know how to talk to him in sign language. I sent him an 
instant message.

Flygirl: Hi.

Cyberguy: Hi, Lark. What's up?

Flygirl: Nothing much. I'm just bored. How about you?

Cyberguy: I have a piano lesson after school today.

Flygirl: You're learning to play the piano?

Cyberguy: Yes. It's hard because I can't hear the notes, 
but at least the notes don't have to sound a certain way. I 
can just push a key.

Flygirl: That's great! I'm proud of you!

Cyberguy: Thanks!

Flygirl: I have to go to school now. I'll see you there.

Cyberguy: I can't wait! Bye.

"He can't wait to see me!" I could feel my face getting 
hot. I could tell I was blushing beet red. "OK, Lark, get a 
hold of yourself."

I talk to myself all the time. Especially when there's no 
one else to babble to. I'm pretty sure it's normal. I 
really like Bobby. He obviously likes me but we're both too 
shy to ask each other out. I wish he knew I was Ultragirl. 
He should know by now, with all the hints I've been giving 
him. My screen name is almost a dead giveaway. I don't want 
to tell him straight out because I'm a wimp. My parents 
would be furious if I told anyone anyway. Even if I told 
only him. Superman and Marvelboy, Dad and CJ, are heroes 
too. I only substitute in when neither of them can do it. I 
wish I could save people all the time but I don't complain. 
After all, how many girls get to be super heroes? Supergirl 
and Superboy, the Supertwins, can't save anyone without 
adult supervision. Our parents don't trust ten year olds 
Louis and Clara. Will they trust them someday? I hope not! 
They're wild hooligans!

I went out of my house and walked to the bus stop. Louis 
and Clara were there when I arrived.

"Talking with Bobby again?" Louis asked me.

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"You have that dreamy look on your face."

"Lark's in love. Lark's in love," they taunted together. 
"Shut up," I said.

"Lark and Bobby sittin' in a tree. K - I - S...."

"I SAID, 'SHUT UP!'"

We got on the bus. Amazingly, they said nothing. I guess I 
showed them who's boss. I love them, but they drive me off 
the wall sometimes. I know I'm not alone. When we got to 
school I walked right to the baseball field. All my friends 
were waiting for me. I talked to Bobby in sign language.

"Hi, Bobby."

"Hi, Lark."

I noticed his mom and my mom watching in the bleachers.

"Where's your dad, Bobby?"

"He got called to a drunk driving case on Thirtieth 
street."

"Where's your dad."

"Uh, he's doing something."

"What?"

"I don't know."

Actually I did know. He must be off saving somebody. 
Bobby's mom can hear, but his dad's deaf. Bobby's dad is a 
cop. He's very proud of his dad. Bobby wants to be a cop 
too someday. Like I want to be a reporter. One thing we 
have in common is that we both want our parent's jobs. I 
looked up and our mothers were facing each other. 
Definitely talking. I pointed it out to Bobby.

"Look our moms are talking. They're probably saying how 
cute we look together."

"Yeah."

I saw a mischievous smirk on his face.

"I knew it! He likes me!" But I didn't mention that to 
anyone.

The first girl went up to bat. The boy catching had his 
hands out, ready to catch the ball. The pitcher threw the 
ball. The girl swung her bat behind her quickly to pick up 
momentum. She accidentally hit the catcher's unguarded arm.

"Ow! I think my arm's broken."

A woman came down from the bleachers.

"I'm a doctor. Can you move your arm?"

"No."

She asked him more questions. Then she made a phone call. 
An ambulance came. They had a stretcher and everything. 
Then they drove him to the hospital. It was exciting. It 
was amazing how they helped him. I felt sorry for the poor 
boy though. Sometimes, I wish I could get hurt, to see what 
it's like. When I see how uncomfortable it looks I'm glad I 
can't get hurt.

The rest of the game went smoothly. It was girls against 
boys and the girls won. I didn't mind competing against 
Bobby. I don't care what team I'm on, or who I'm competing 
against as long as I win. I'm very competitive, but I have 
to remember the old saying. It's not whether you win or 
loose it's how you play the game. I went out in the parking 
lot. I looked for my Mom but I couldn't find her. I heard a 
beep behind me.

"Need a ride, stranger?"

"Yup."

I got in the car that had thankfully passed inspection.

"Bobby's mom seemed nice."

"That's nice."

"He's not too bad either, is he?"

"Mom!"

"Okay, okay I won't embarrass you."

"Where's Dad and CJ?"

"Your father's fixing a drought in Arizona. CJ's at a peace 
conference in Ireland."

Mom turned on the radio. I love music, but there wasn't any 
coming from the radio. It was a newscast.

"We interrupt your regular radio program to bring you this 
news broadcast. In Santa Monica, California, a train from 
the Santa Monica train station fell to the bottom of a 
large ravine. The accident at 10:00 this morning was caused 
by broken railroad tracks. None of the estimated 500 
passengers aboard the train were found alive. The tracks 
are currently being repaired. That's all. Now back to your 
regular programing."

"It's all my fault."

"No, it's not sweetie. Why do you say that?"

"I could have been there."

Mom had asked me if I wanted to stay home this morning. If 
I stayed home I could have saved them. Dr. Klein, our 
family physician, is also a great scientist. He invented 
the Danger Detector. It's a plastic map. Before the danger 
happens an alarm goes off and the place where the danger's 
about to happen lights up on the map. Don't ask me how it 
works but it does.

If I'd stayed home I would have seen the locator go off, 
and I could have saved that train. When we got home I ran 
into my room. I slammed my door shut, and threw myself face 
down on my bed. If I was crying I won't admit it. I sat up 
when I heard my door open. News always travel fast in our 
family. CJ sat down on my bed next to me. He was in 
civilian clothes instead of super hero regalia.

"It really wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was. You and Dad were doing your job but I wasn't 
doing mine."

"We both knew about what we were doing ahead of time. You 
had no idea this was going to happen. If you did know about 
it, and you stayed home, I'd charge people to see my 
amazing psychic sister."

"I still wish I'd stayed home."

"What if it hadn't happened."

"I'd be ecstatic."

"No, I mean what if you thought it was going to happen, and 
you stayed home, but it didn't happen. That would be a part 
of your life you missed. You're not just Ultragirl, you're 
Lark Jerice Kent. A teenage girl with a life to lead. You 
can't just sit around watching the Danger Detector 24 hours 
a day. Help people when you can. Even if you don't save 
anyone you'll still be important. You stand for something. 
Like Mom said, "Truth, justice, and the American way." 
You're an icon. A role model for people to look up to."

"I guess you're right."

"You guess? After all that, you guess!"

"OK, I know."

"Do you want to know what happened at the peace conference 
today?

"What happened?"

When I got there, the Catholic ambassadors and the 
Protestant ambassadors were arguing over whose side I would 
be on. I gave them a big speech on exactly what I stand for 
and what I don't stand for. I said I would take both sides, 
and that I came there to have a peace treaty signed. Do you 
know what? They signed the treaty. Catholics and 
Protestants are no longer at war in Ireland.

"That's great! By the way, how was Ireland?"

"It's a bonnie place, wee lassie."

My super hearing picked up something.

"Help, Ultragirl! Help!"

I stood up and wiped the leftover wetness from my eyes. I 
had something stuck in them. I wasn't crying, honestly.

"Somebody needs me."

"That's my girl."

I flew out my open window. I followed the small cries until 
I landed in a yard. A little girl was looking up at a tree.

"Please, can you get Patches down for me?"

I looked up and saw a little Calico kitten on a high 
branch.

"Sure I can."

I floated up to the little kitten and lifted it off its 
precarious perch. It was very friendly. It reminded me of 
Fluffy when she was a kitten. With the exception of super 
powers. I handed the cat to its owner.

"Here you go."

The little girl wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Thanks, Ultragirl, you're my hero". She ran inside her 
house.

"Mommy, Mommy, guess who saved my kitty."

I smiled as I flew back to my house. I came back in through 
my window. My dad almost passed my open doorway but he 
stopped when he saw me standing there.

"How'd the drought go?" I asked him.

"Good. I flew into the clouds and made it rain. Arizona's a 
wetter place now. How are you?"

"I'm all right now. I feel better."

"It won't be the first time something like this happens you 
know. There'll be other people you can't save. Just 
remember you're only one person."

"I know that. I also know being a super hero can be very 
rewarding."

"You've learned a lot."

"Yes, I have. Now I need to put it in my essay."

"Good luck."

I sat down at my desk, and put my pencil to the paper. This 
is what came out:

What a Hero Is To Me By Lark Kent

A hero can be many things. To me a hero is anyone who does 
anything great or admirable.

It could be someone who carries on, even if there's an 
obstacle in their way. It could be someone who has an 
illness or disability, but they still try to live normal, 
everyday lives. Someone who has been hurt but still carries 
on is a hero. Their obstacles may also be people who don't 
have the same beliefs as them but they still stick up for 
what they believe in.

A hero can also be anybody who helps somebody. Some people 
are heroes in their jobs, like doctors and police. They 
save and protect lives. Someone who helps you get through 
life is a hero. These are teachers who teach you what you 
need to know, and parents who give you proper morals and 
values.

If you give anything to someone who needs it, you're a 
hero. People that give money to the poor, guidance to the 
unwise and love to everybody are heroes. The best thing 
someone can give is a sacrifice. It's very noble to give up 
something of yours for somebody. The bravest sacrifice 
someone can give is their life.

The best kind of heroes are the ones who offer love and 
support, like friends and family. Even something as simple 
as comforting someone when they're sad, or talking to them 
when they're lonely and need a friend can make you a hero. 
Someone who can make anyone their friend is a hero. A 
family member who's there for their family through thick 
and thin is a hero.

Sure it may take a little love, courage and kindness but I 
think anybody can be a hero if they put their hearts to it. 
I can tell that there's a little hero inside everybody.

I put the essay in an addressed envelope and licked it 
shut.

"Dinner's ready. Are you done with your essay?"

"Yes, and CJ? "What?"

"Thank you."

"Anytime, sis."

Weeks later I got a letter back in the mail.

"I won the contest! Everybody, I won first prize! 
"Congratulations, Larkie!"

"CJ?"

"Yes?"

"Don't call me Larkie!"

The End

Dedicated to all the heroes who risked and lost their lives 
in the world trade center. Sympathies are extended to those 
who lost loved ones on the tragic day of 9/11/01.