Fourth of July (Sequel to Internships)

by DJ Dubois

The internships' challenge is behind Peter and Gwen. Now they just need to move to Metropolis. New lives and new friends are waiting for them and Aunt May. But since it is Peter, there are challenges. And what about Harry? Meantime in Smallville, Clark and Lana have their own situations to deal with. Perhaps a get together in Upstate New York can help everyone? Read and see

1. Teacher's Advice

Fourth of July

DJ Dubois

June-July 2021

Notes Part 1: This story occurring during "Internships". It is mainly a crossover between Smallville, Sleepy Hollow and The Amazing Spider-Man between issues 90 and 100 or thereabouts (early 1970s). There's an angle that I'm drawing in from Marvel Team-Up 41-44 (1975-76) as well. Mainly Clana and Peter/Gwen.

Notes Part 2: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and other characters from The Amazing Spider-Man belong to Marvel. Sleepy Hollow (this version anyhow) belongs to FOX. Other fandoms will be duly noted. Any other characters are of my own creation. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Chapter 1 [Granville Community College—A Month After the main part of "Internships"]

Summer Session wound down on the small campus. Sol beat down on the concrete, grass and students alike. Classes normally taking months sped by in weeks. Research pushed professors before the academic year's beginning. Priorities pushed students to get an extra class in between Job and Family.

It was never easy….

[Journalism Department, Reilly Hall]

Peter hustled to the top of the stairs. Despite two earlier trips there, the Journalism Department's scattered offices confused him. Can't they have everything together like at ESU? He noticed that the room numbers ran odd down that particular hallway. Great! I forgot the even numbers are down the other end. And I'm going to be late! Typical Parker Luck! He sprinted down the hall.

Just before he got to the other corridor, Spider Sense jabbed at his scalp.

Yellow Warning Sign blared "WET FLOOR" not thirty feet ahead.

Great! Thank you, Spidey Sense! He veered around the cordoned-off spot. His shoes skidded on Wax's edge. He remained upright. I wonder how many other students wouldn't see that? Disgust rolled his eyes. He slowed his pace down the appropriate hall. Room 934. Halfway down, the 1950s era passage, he spied an ajar door to Office 934. And here we are! His knuckles rapped on the oak surface.

"Yes? Just a minute." A chair creaked within the office. Mrs. Donnelly opened the door. "Ah! Peter! Good Morning!" She checked her watch. "And two minutes early. Please come in." She opened the door and stepped aside to let him in.

"Thanks. I didn't want to keep you waiting." He stepped into the office. Unlike his other profs' offices back east, her bookshelves sat empty. Laptop and Landline kept each other company on the desk. Curiosity nagged him.

She shut the door behind him. Observation admired his eye for detail. She knew about his photography skills and reputation. The photos related to Octavius' arrest in the Talon and T' Challa's visit landed him on the Daily Planet's staff. She had sat in on his photography workshops. Writing smoothed his style. Organization punctuated Story's bullet points and the lead. "I appreciate that. Please take a seat."

He took the seat across from the teacher. "I appreciate the chance to take the whole class. I missed a lot of it in the beginning."

She took a manilla envelope from her desk. "Here's your final project. I really liked what I read there, Peter. My feedback's on there. I think you can work on being more concise. That's really my only real criticism." She handed the envelope to him. "You can read it over at your leisure. You have come so far in just four months. Your interview skills are better. Your instincts are sound. You just need to practice. Execution and more execution. You're ready for the Planet. I've said as much to Ms. Travers and Mr. Taylor. I told them about your guest lecture on news photography."

He rubbed his chin. "Thank you. You've been really great, Mrs. Donnelly. It's like one of the other teachers said at Smallville High, one door closes, another opens. I never thought Dr. Connors would get sick. I never saw Mr. Jameson making his change."

She sighed. "J. Jonah Jameson's always been a pig headed fool as far as I'm concerned. When you can impress the Planet with your initial attempts, that says a lot. How Jameson didn't see this is beyond me. The important thing is that Travers does see it. You have a great mentor there, Peter. Keep working hard." She stood and put her hand out. "Good luck with your new position and the move. How's your wife doing?"

"Gwen's all registered at Metropolis University. She'll start in the fall. Meantime I'm looking at apartments for my aunt and us. My Aunt May's trying to sell the family house back in New York. Gwen's doing the same. We're all moving forward." He shook her hand. "If Ms. Travers says all right to it, I'd like to do more photo workshops in Smallville or here."

"You let me know when and where. I will definitely make sure there's a full audience." Donnelly tapped her calendar. "Anyhow, good luck on everything. I'll be interested to read your pieces in the Planet." She powered down her computer. "Sorry but I have to get back to Smallville. Did you need a ride?"

"I'm good. Thank you. Lex Luthor's picking me up. I have to pack. My flight's day after tomorrow up to JFK. Have a safe drive. Best to Mr. Richards and everyone at Smallville High. Right now, I'm just looking forward to one of those Talon mochas."

"When it comes to their gingerbread lattes, I know the feeling. I'll be there later. Take care and enjoy." She slipped her laptop into her bag.

"Thank you." He collected his envelope and notes. He shut the door behind himself. He walked down the nearby stairs. Relief eased his mood. He cut across the grass covered plaza and toward the street beyond. If this was New York or Metropolis, Spidey could get back to the Talon much as he did from the Bugle to the Coffee Bean. Guilt ate at him.

The black Ferrari honked at him.

Right on cue. He turned toward the jet black Ferrari. How many guys have their ex-boss as a chauffeur? He opened the door. "Hey, Lex! I hope I'm not inconveniencing you."

"You're fine, Peter." Lex shrugged off the point. "So how'd it go?"

"She wants me to practice more. She thinks I'm ready and told the Planet that." Peter took a deep breath.

Lex nodded. He started the car and drove back toward Route 58. "Just let it all come together. Have a latte and enjoy being free for a while."

Yeah free. Just need to move and get ready. Peter leaned back in his car seat.

Sometimes things just weren't easy….