Chapter Two: Promise

A couple of days later, Karen anxiously waited for her brother on the Greeley Elementary playground. This was the first time since coming here that Kenny had been late for recess, and Karen didn't like that at all.

"What if he forgot about us?" Karen whispered to her doll. Maybe Kenny was playing with his new friends today, or maybe he was with that mean fat boy from back home. Her head drooped at the thought.

Karen's body language and little pink doll practically screamed "I'm vulnerable!" to the school bully, fifth-grader Jessica Pinkerton. She'd been scouring the playground for fresh meat, and had had her eyes on the timid new first-grader for a couple of days. Now that Karen was finally away from Kenny's side, Jessica saw her chance to strike...


Kenny was on his way to the playground. At South Park Elementary, there was an unspoken rule about not playing with kids outside of your own grade, but Karen didn't really know anyone else at this school yet, and Kenny couldn't just leave her alone.

Lost in thought, Kenny only barely avoided getting bumped into by one of his new classmates, Stacey. She stopped to catch her breath.

"Kenny," she said between pants, "that brown-haired girl with the doll...that's your sister, right?"

Kenny nodded, feeling a knot twist in his stomach.

"You need to get to the playground!" Stacey said frantically. "Jessica Pinkerton wants to beat her up!"

Stacey ran off in the direction of the principal's office, and Kenny was glad that he'd decided to wear his Mysterion outfit under his parka today.


"Karen McCormick is off-limits!" Mysterion growled at the now bruised and bloody Jessica, shaking her by the hair. "Do you understand? Make sure everybody in this school knows!"

He dropped Jessica, threw some fireworks in her direction, and climbed up to the roof, with Karen holding onto him for dear life. With her added weight, it was a miracle that Mysterion was able to get up to the roof so fast. His back hurt like hell now, but he didn't show it.

"Thank you for saving me and Princess Dolly," Karen whispered, hugging her doll more closely. "My mommy gave her to me; I was scared that girl was going to take her away."

"I told you I would always be watching over you," said Mysterion. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she said, but her bottom lip was quivering. "No!" Karen burst into tears and hid her face n her hands.

"What's wrong, Karen?"

"I hate it here!" Karen sobbed, burying her face in Mysterion's shoulder. "I want to go home!"

Mysterion sighed. "I know, Karen," he murmured, patting her hair. "You'll get back home soon."

Karen looked up at him with wide, teary eyes. "Do you promise?"

Mysterion hesitated before he answered. "Yes, Karen, I promise. Just be patient, and I will get you home."

Karen squealed happily and hugged him. "Thank you, thank you!"

"We shouldn't be here," Mysterion said, feeling a little awkward. "Let's get you back to your classroom."

It was far harder for Mysterion to carry Karen down from the roof than up to the roof, but he miraculously managed. When Mysterion was sure that the coast was clear, he guided Karen over to the open window of her classroom and checked to be certain that it was empty.

"This is as far as I can go," said Mysterion, helping Karen over the windowsill.

"Thank you, Angel," Karen said, letting go of his hand. She turned around and saw that he was gone. "Angel?"

She sat alone at her desk, thinking about all that had happened, when Kenny ran in, hoping to keep his little sister from believing that he'd abandoned her when she really needed him.

("Karen, why weren't you at the playground? I was looking all over for you!")

"Kenny!" Karen clapped and went over to him. "Something wonderful happened!"

At that moment, the bell rang, and in came the scowling old teacher with small, mean eyes.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be here!" she barked at Kenny, sounding a lot like his late school bus driver, Miss Crabtree. "And Karen, your doll has to be in your cubby during class! I won't tell you again!"

("You can tell me later,") Kenny whispered. ("I gotta go.")

Karen nodded, and he left, praying that he'd be able to keep his promise to her. The opportunity to do that would come far sooner than he thought.