One day when I was eight years old, my mom took Citrus and me to the Superhero/Villain Museum. I had no idea what it was, but I knew there had to be some reason Mom was bringing me there. Anyway, when we got inside Mom start explaining everything as we walked along,
"On this first floor there are statues and descriptions of the greatest superheroes there ever were."
I looked around at everything curiously. Then I spotted what I was looking for: Mr. Incredible. I gazed in awe at the statue and read the description quietly to myself. Then all too soon, Mom pulled my arm, saying,
"Enough with that. Time to go to the 2nd floor." I sighed softly and followed Mom and Citrus. When we got their Mom explained everything again, "On this floor there are statues and descriptions of all the villains who have been big threats and caused great damage."
Mom let Citrus wander, while she brought me over to one particular statue. I read the name and gasped: Mitious Verny. It was my dad! It was then that I knew why Mom had brought me there. "You're going to grow up to be just like him," Mom said with an almost evil chuckle.
"No…" I whispered fearfully, backing away from the statue. "I'll never be like him!"
"Oh, but you will," Mom laughed again and walked away.
I stood in front of the statue again. What if Mom was right? What if I did turn out like him? No! I told myself. She's not right! She can't be right. I looked up at the statue again and started singing.
"I'll never do what you have done
You'll never be here
To show me how to be like you
You're a criminal,
But I'm only a kid"
I drooped my head in despair for a few seconds, then looked back up.
"I'm glad I never knew you
All that I know is the fame that
you've won
I'm glad I never had you
To show me how to be like you
You're a criminal
I'm only your son"
I began imaging myself as a hero- a fighter of evil. I would be good at that, and it would show everyone that I'm not like my father.
"One day they'll know me
They'll hear what I've done
I will show the world
I'm nothing like my father"
I imagined myself fighting off villains, and my dad. In my daydream I overtook anything that was thrown at me.
"I'll face any foe
Undertake any quest
Any challenge, any task
I'll prove I'm the best"
I snapped back to reality and starred up at the statue with a serious face. The statue seemed to be laughing at me- mocking me. Urging me to join him.
"I'll never have you
I am not a part
Of what you've begun
You won't be with me
Each step of the way
I'll make everyone's hero
It won't matter that I'm your son"
I leaped over to the side of the statue and flung my arms out dramatically as I continued to sing my song.
"One day you'll see
I will equal your fame
I will show the world
I don't deserve your name
And they'll tell my story
They'll know what I've done"
I stood beside the statue and faced the same way it was facing as I continued to sing out without a care that people were staring at me weirdly.
"One day I will show the world
I'm nothing like my father
One day I will show the world
I'm nothing like my father
One day I will show the world
I'm nothing like my father"
When I was finished with my song, I noticed a little kid starring at me wide-eyed. "Why did you do that?" he asked me, apparently thinking this was all very amusing.
"Because I felt like it," I retorted and looked around for Citrus and my mom. But they were no where in sight. They must have left without me! It was a good thing I knew the way home.
A/N The song at the end is from The Secret of NIMH 2, but I changed the words around a lot.