The Scarecrow Tradition
Looking back on the show, I wish the writers addressed this. What I've written isn't meant to be a full episode. Just a fun, corny way Clark might have handled the situation. I owned anything I would be getting paid.
Chapter One
Clark Kent had a problem.
And not the a-meteor-infected-student-was-threatening-the-life-of-a-loved-one problem. When that happened, Clark was able to locate the threat, maybe throw a few punches and then go home for dinner. This problem he was now facing might take a bit more persuasion.
It was his Senior Year of High School and he was the captain of the football team; a dream come true. Playing with his classmates as if he was normal.
As if he belonged.
Far from when he first started High School and had been the target of a yearly prank the football team played. Each year they took a freshman "loser" out to a cornfield, strung him up like a scarecrow in nothing but his boxers and painted an "S" on his chest.
Whitney Fordman, the captain at that time, had chosen Clark because he had seen him speaking with his then girlfriend Lana Lang. Nothing happened; the two had bumped into each other in the cemetery and walked home together. They were neighbors after all. But in a jealous rage, the then quarterback singled Clark out and he had spent the most tortuous hours of his life in a cornfield.
Now he was the quarterback, the captain, and the time of the traditional prank was approaching. Principal Reynolds had given the football a stern lecture on the physical dangers a prank like this could cause when he replaced Principal Kwan. Reynolds had even gone so far as to threaten suspension from the football team if a player was ever proven to be connected with the prank. But, this was a small town and tradition was taken very seriously.
Today was the last practice before the "prank" was to take place. As Clark Kent walked towards the locker room, he overheard his teammates whispers with his superhearing.
Would Kent rat us out?
Was the tradition going to end?
Should the prank be done without Kent's knowledge?
Clark knew he couldn't tell his teammates to stop. That would do nothing. Tattling on them would take away their respect which he had worked hard to earn. But, he was the teams leader and couldn't stand by while a potential freshman had a night long torture ahead of them.
"Kent doesn't have the guts to face us."
"I say we just do it. No reason to tell Kent," one teammate said gearing up for practice. "He may be captain but he can't stop us."
"You're right, I can't." Clark said. The players in question stopped what they were doing to watch him as he calmly went to his locker and began to get ready. Thinking that was the end of what he had to say they began to turn their backs. "Although, if you're doing that tonight, you won't be able to help me."
"Do what? Read to blind old ladies?" A small chuckle went around.
"Guess you'll have to come the old fairgrounds and find out."
"Where they're having the Middle School Fundraiser?"
Another Smallville tradition. Each year around Homecoming, the Middle School put on a fair to raise funds for the school. There were the normal pie stands and games manned by older siblings or parents. There were no rides to speak of, except for the pony rides sponsored by a farmer and then the Haunted House. In short, it was very lame and the only high schoolers that could be caught there were the older brothers and sisters of younger siblings.
"I wouldn't be caught dead there."
"If you get caught, that's on you."
That got their interest. "What's the plan?"
At that time, Coach Teague entered along with a few other players. "After practice." Clark whispered.
That got the buzz going. Word was spreading around during practice that mild, meek Kent had an idea for a prank. Was it good? Who knew. But what kind of prank could come from such a mild mannered farm boy?