Clark was driving into town in his truck when he heard a little girl screaming. She sounded as if she were falling from the sky. He jumped out and ran to catch her. He caught her just before she landed in the cornfield.
"Put me down," she said immediately.
He did, but he reminded her, "I just saved your life."
She smoothed down her dark brown hair and the wrinkles in her clothes. "I was doing just fine on my own."
"How did you fall?" he asked.
"I don't know. I was in a helicopter with my dad and the next thing I know there's colorful lights, and I'm falling."
"There's no helicopter anywhere near here."
"I have my own set of eyes and ears, in case you haven't noticed." She began to walk off.
"Hold on! You can't go off by yourself. In case you haven't noticed, you're a little girl. We have to go see the police."
"I'm 8 and a half, and I don't like cops."
"Get in the truck."
She rolled her eyes and folded her arms but walked to the truck. She somehow looked familiar when she did that.
"I'm a red belt, and that's why I'm getting in the truck with a stranger. If you're a bad guy, I can beat you up," she warned.
Clark nodded reassuringly and shut the door for her. He started up the truck and began to head for the police station.
"Your shirt is ugly," she remarked.
"Thank you."
"I mean it. Why are there so many lines?"
"It's called plaid."
"Plaid is ugly. Especially when you wear it. You need new clothes."
"I should introduce you to a friend of mine. She says the same thing. Maybe you two can get together and ban plaid."
"Where are we?"
"In Smallville."
"Where's that?"
"Kansas."
"I've never been to Kansas. I've lived lots of other places. My dad's a 2 star general."
"You and my friend really do have a lot in common. Her dad's in the military too."
"I never asked you your name."
"Clark. What's yours?"
"Clarkie. That's a funny name."
"Not Clarkie. Clark."
"I could call you Smallville, since you look like the only one that lives here so far," she commented as she looked around at the seemingly unending fields of corn.
He felt like he was fighting with Lois. "You never told me your name."
"Lois. Lois Lane."
Clark immediately stopped the truck.
sss
Lois was busily typing on the computer when she heard the door creak open. She didn't bother to turn her chair around. She simply said, "Yes?"
"Ma'am," came the voice of a little boy, "is my mom here?"
"Does it look like it? Where did you see her last?"
"We were doing some Christmas shopping across the street and all of a sudden, there were colorful lights and Mom was gone. I told the man at the store her name, and he said she was in here."
"Why don't you tell me what her name is and what she looks like?"
"Her name's Martha Kent and she has red hair—"
Lois whirled around in her chair. The boy did look like Clark with his dark hair and blue eyes.
"Is she here?" he asked.
"No, she went home. Clark?"
He nodded.
"I think we should go to Smallville right away."
Lois grabbed his hand and headed for her car.