RING, RING!

Sam shot out of bed. He looked at the alarm clock, 3:30 am. He was late. He quickly put on his overalls and gloves and headed downstairs. He tried hard not to wake his mom. Usually, he was pretty quiet. His mom was waiting for him, a hot stack of pancakes sat waiting for him.

"Ma, what are you doing up"?

"Thought you might like a hot breakfast before work hon. Sam, I wish you didn't have to do this. It's too dangerous."

"It's the only way ma. Ever since dad died…" Sam paused. Talking about dad hurt. He had been a coal miner for many years. Then just last year, a beam came loose and the ceiling collapsed and… Sam felt a twinge in his heart. Ever since then, Sam had to take care of his mother, brothers and sisters. The mines were the only jobs in Cumberland, Kentucky. It was a heavy burden for a 14 year old.

"Thanks Ma, but I'll eat at the sight." Sam took his hard hat and put it over his blond hair. Outside, the sun hadn't even come up yet. Sam rubbed the last bits of sleep from his eyes. Mr. Lewis was waiting for him in his pickup.

"Well Guthrie, ya ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be, I reckon." Sam sank back into the seat beside Mr. Lewis and pulled out a book "Red Planet, A Colonial Boy on Mars" Sam sometimes wished he could be in one of those adventures, exploring the stars, fighting monsters. He was shaken back on Earth by the shuddering of Mr. Lewis' truck stopping.

"Come on Sam, I've already packed some o' my corn muffins. Better head down and get started. "Mr. Lewis led Sam to the elevator shaft. What little light the dawn offered was snuffed out by the dark of the mine. The light from the helmets only let him see a little. All the other miners headed towards the dark passages. Soon, it was just Sam and Mr. Lewis. Sam started shoveling coal into one of the buckets. Mr. Lewis was at the far end of the tunnel, when one of the ceiling beams collapsed right above his head. Sam didn't even have time to think. Something inside Sam exploded and he rocketed towards Mr. Lewis. His legs felt like they were on fire. In a flash, Sam picked up Mr. Lewis and well, flew! He couldn't believe what he was doing! He was flying as fast as a cannonball. He willed himself to stop. Mr. Lewis looked as shocked as Sam did.

"Sam..h-h-how on God's green earth"?

"I, I don't rightly know. Wait, the ceiling! The other miners!" Sam turned, thank God, it was only a small collapse. Mr. Lewis backed away from Sam.

"I don't know what you are, but you'd best be getting out of here."

"But Mr. Lewis, it's just me, Sam Guthrie. I've known you for years."

"You might be one of those mutates I've heard about on the news. Sam, you'd better be leaving here. If the others find out…." Sam couldn't believe what he was hearing. Mr. Lewis was one of his father's closest friends. And he was afraid of him. Sam had just saved his life, but the look of fear on Mr. Lewis' eyes told him it wasn't safe here anymore. Sam climbed into the elevator shaft and ascended towards the surface. Sam ran home. He didn't even know WHAT it was he just did back there. What was he going to do now? Mr. Lewis must have told the others about what happened. How was he going to help his family now? Sam approached his house and noticed a Roll Royce in the drive way. His mother was standing on the front porch, talking to a bald man in a wheel chair. The man noticed Sam and gave a friendly wave.

"Hello Sam Guthrie. My name is Professor Charles Xavier. May I have a word with you?"