Newspaper Articles
"Where's Dad?" Clark asked.
"He had to go into town and run a few errands," his mother answered.
"When'll he be back?"
"Before lunch," was the reply.
"What's for breakfast?"
Martha Kent finally looked up from her newspaper and looked
at her son.
Clark grinned guiltily and opened the fridge.
His mom took a sip of her coffee and went back to reading
the paper.
Pulling the milk away from his mouth, Clark followed her
instructions and got himself a cup.
"X-ray vision," his mom deadpanned.
"Well, we keep life interesting."
"I wouldn't mind being bored if it meant not having to
clean up after the two of you," she retorted.
Clark sat down with a bowl of cereal and his mother went
back to the paper.
"So did you go to the Homecoming Dance last night after
all?" she asked, turning the page.
It took Clark a second to answer.
"Lana Lang was crowned Homecoming Queen," his mom
continued, not stopping to ask Clark what the matter was.
"I know," Clark said.
"I'm not surprised.
"Yeah," Clark agreed noncommittally, although his
cheeks were heating up.
"Her date had a nasty shock, though," his mom said.
"Hmm."
"After the dance his and two of the other football
player's trucks were piled up in the parking lot."
"What?"
"The strangest part was," she said, still looking at
Clark instead of the article she was referring to, "no one has any idea how it
could have happened."
"Maybe it was a twister, or something," Clark
suggested, avoiding her gaze.
His mom shot down that theory.
"I wonder how it happened, then."
"No ideas?"
"Are you trying to accuse me, Mom?" Clark demanded.
His mom remained calm.
"He deserved it!" he burst out.
"Did he?"
"He did," Clark said emphatically.
"This is exactly why your father and I didn't want you
trying out for the football team."
"What?
"Doesn't it?"
"And no one got hurt."
"This time.
"No one got hurt!" Clark repeated.
"This time," his mom reminded him.
"I'm careful, Mom.
"You're growing so fast.
"I'm careful," Clark said again.
"But – "
"You also made the front page," she said, this time in a much gentler voice.
He didn't answer, but he did look up.
Holding up the paper, she showed him the headline.
"If I'm going to read about you in the paper, Clark,
I'd much rather it be about you saving someone's life, not taking petty
revenge against someone from school," his mom said.
She got up and kissed the top of his head on the way out, leaving Clark alone with his thoughts.
The End
Friday, October 19, 2001
