Looks like I'm getting the biggest shiner in the history of black eyes. Cool, battle scars! I went to the hospital as Melissa. They thought I was another one of those pathetic little noodle-girls who are always "falling" onto their boyfriends' fists. I didn't do anything to change their minds, but I find it sad that that's the first thing they would believe. Like I would stay with someone like that anyway! Actually, I haven't dated anyone since high school. But this gives me a good cover story.
I think it's about time for me to skip out.
--
I'm writing on a plane somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. I'm headed for Rome for some rest and relaxation, a little vacation from crime and crime-fighter-fighting. I have to remember to get my suit dry-cleaned. I should have done that before I left.
There's the most charming little boy in the seat beside me. He's flying alone for the first time, and he keeps climbing over me to look out the window.
Now what kind of parents would send their seven-year-old to Rome alone?
--
Mark is asleep. What a cute kid.
After I rest up in Rome I plan to head back to London for a while. London is the best. First I have to let all my bones heal.
I hope I get to fight that guy again, at my best.
--
Poor little guy. I got off the plan with Mark and saw his face just fall. There was no one there to meet him. I waited with him, but no one ever showed up.
It turned out that he was supposed to go to Florida to spend a week with his dad. (How did he wind up on the plane to Roma?) I got him to tell me the phone numbers for both of his parents, and I called them both. I didn't get an answer at either place. I was going to just buy him a new ticket and put him on the right plane, but I don't want to send him off if there's no one to meet him.
I may be evil, but I do have a soft spot for children.
So he's coming home with me. Just until I get in touch with his family.
--
The house was occupied by a bunch of homeless kids. I give them free access when I'm away, and I let them stay when I'm around provided they leave me alone. I don't bother them, they don't bother me. I pay one kid to maintain order while I'm away. Anyway, there were a few kids here, but most of them cleared out when I got home. It's just me, little Mark, Candy (my permanent) and a couple of others who were afraid to come near me after I let it slip that I tangled with Superman and lived. (They don't seem to care that I lost.)
Soon after we got in, I holed up in my room, took a couple of painkillers, and fell dead asleep. I didn't wake up until just after 9:00, local time.
I went down to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich, and I found Mark scrambling eggs. I could come to love this kid.
--
No luck finding Mark's family. Can I keep him?
I'll bring him back to Metropolis with me when I'm done here. London will have to wait.
--
(page missing)
--
It will give me a chance to heal all the way, at least.
Still no luck with Mark's family. I took him with me to town and two different people asked me if he was my son. I would have been fifteen when he was born, so no. I am starting to feel like one of those terrible (or terribly ill) (or terribly drunk or hung over) mothers from the TV movies whose small children have to take care of them. Of course, I'm taking care of him, too.
--
The script is coming along. I still can't believe they want to make a movie about me. Well, I have always loved Italian cinema.
Dario asked (against his better judgment, no doubt) if I wanted to act. My acting skills are mediocre at best, and besides, to play myself I would have to go without the mask, and I don't want that kind of publicity. (It would ruin my career.) I am going to bring Candy to the auditions. Her dream is to become a movie star. She was doing some acting before I met her, but she decided to stick with me because I pay better and I don't make her get tied up, whipped and fondled in an antique chorus girl costume on a regular basis.
--
Whoo. Candy is playing Batgirl. A very minor role, but I'm happy for her.
Dario's going to email me the script when it gets finished, just so I can make sure I have no objections.
I'm getting restless, so Mark and I are going back to Metropolis. It seems so soon to lose him, but I can't be selfish and keep him from his family. Maybe we'll stop by Gotham first.
I guess I never did have the patience to sit there and "recover." Far too much to do. I can't stand to be bored.
Not that I'm that bored. But I'm comfortable, and that's almost as bad. If I don't keep working, I'll slip back down to what I used to be, going down the ranks from Master to Leader-Type to Henchman, all the way back down to Victim. I don't want to go back to being a helpless, scared kid. I like being the woman who fought Superman. Badly. But all that matters is that I'm standing here, free. I want to keep it that way.
--
Here we are on the plane. The plane to Metropolis. Mark is sleeping, curled up against my side.
Will he be all right when I send him home?
And who will take care of me when he's gone?