I walk about 15 steps behind them as we reach the bus stop, watching them play and laugh and talk. Did I mention I want them married?

"And then I morph! Dragonzord! Huh-hi-ya-huh!"

"Me too! Me too! Pteradactyl Dinozord! Hi-ya! Hi-ya!"

They throw their arms out in karate mimicked moves. Clark suddenly runs ahead and it looks to me like he's about to super speed. I almost yell out his name. But he stops and turns to face Lana and puts his hands on his hips. Lana begins to pretend she's a robot.

"Ha ha ha! You'll never defeat me power rangers!"

"Oh yes we will!"

They put down their back packs and start mock fighting. I watch almost nervously. Maybe I shouldn't let Clark watch such violent shows. Violent? This is power rangers for goodness sakes Martha. Everything's fine.

I look down the road for the bus when I hear Lana cry out in pain.

I rush over to where Lana's fallen in the dirt. Tears are streaming down her face as I check her over. I sigh in relief as I realize the tears are more from embarrassment than injury.

"Oh, it's alright sweetheart. You're all right. Now come one, upsadaisy." I pull her on up and dust the dirt off her lavender overalls. She wipes the tears from her face.

"There. See, you're all better now. What happened?"

"It was an accident, Mrs. Kent. Clark didn't mean to push me down."

Inside my mouth my teeth grit. I slowly turn to Clark, His face is white and he looks more shaken up than Lana.

"Clark, what happened?"

"I-" He squeaks. "I-I didn't mean - I-" He looks like he's on the verge of tears. I kneel down by him.

"Alright, alright, shh. It's alright. She's fine. Everything's okay." He hugs me and buries his face in my dress. I can feel him shaking. I just hold him for a little while longer. When he finally stops trembling I say,

"Hey. Everything's okay. You're alright, right Lana?"

"Yes, Mrs. Kent."

"I know it was an accident, Clark. I know. But everything's okay." He looks up into my eyes. I whisper,

"You'll just have to be a lot more careful next time, won't you?"

He nods and slowly removes his death grip from around me. I pat him on the head as the bus finally pulls up. Lana picks up their backpacks.

"Come on, Clark." She hands him his bag as she puts her arm around his shoulder and they walk toward the bus. I watch as they get on and sit in the back seat. They wave to me and shout as the bus drives away.

"Bye Mrs. Kent!"
"Bye Mom!"

Clark looks cheerful once again. I envy children. They so easily switch moods. I wave back furiously until the bus is no longer in sight. But then I tense up. I always do when Clark leaves my care.

I've gotten better since last year. I really have. Ha, you should have seen me and Jonathan during Kindergarten. I suppose as time goes on I'll realize there's nothing to worry about and ease up completely.

Working in the garden is a passion of mine. I think I must have developed a green thumb when I married Jonathan, because before, I had no interest in nature.

It's like I became an entirely different person. Entering this family changed me in more ways than I can name. At least that's what my parents thought. I don't talk to them as much as I used to.

I lived in Metropolis, I was a city girl. And now I'm a farm girl. It's strange how what I valued in life changed over night. Drastically more so when Clark showed up. Clothes, money, appearance. It was so important a life ago. Family is all that counts now. Happiness. And protecting one another.

I found it so very strange to visit my mother and not know who she was. And she not know who I was. We lost touch. I lost touch with my mother. Does that happen to normal people? Who just loses touch with their mother? I wonder if she ever had a green thumb.

I'm digging up some weeds when I hear the phone ring in the kitchen. Instantly, and instinctively, chills rush across my goose bump laden skin. I don't know why the phone does that to me.

Ever since Clark started school, my fear has been that the next call I get will be about him. And that it won't be good news. I rush back inside but the machine's already answered it. Oh, well, it's probably not about Clark anyway. I sit and fan myself as I listen to the caller.

"Mr. And Mrs. Kent, this is Principle O'Neil from Smallville Elementary. Your son Clark is perfectly fine, but there's been an incident involving him and we need you to come in immediately."

My head jerks up, my face drawn tight with fear. Suddenly I feel ill. Clark? I must have been hearing things. I grab the phone and speed dial the school even faster than Clark could have.

"Thank you for calling Small-"

"This is Martha Kent. Clark Kent's mother. Can you tell me what happened?"

"Mrs. Kent, hello. Your son is fine, he's not hurt in any way. But we do believe he might have been involved in another student's injury. The principle would like you to come down here, so you can find out the details."

"Alright, I'm on my way."

I can't think. I can't imagine. Nothing rushes through my mind. My only focus is Clark. And the fact that I have to get to him. I grab my keys and head for the truck when I remember, right, I have a husband. I run towards the barn instead. Jonathan's inside using the noisiest piece of machinery he could right now.

"Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!" I yell. I wave my arms so he'll notice me. He turns it off.

"Clark." I realize is all I can say, in a strange squeaky voice I don't recognize. What could have happened to Clark? Will they take him from me? Jonathan stares at me and then throws off his goggles.

"Come on!" He yells.

We both run for the truck as fast as humanly possible and jump in. I start the engine and we bolt down the road.

"The principle called, and Clark's fine, but some other student got hurt." I was able to control myself until that moment and my voice became fast and annoying. And tears started sliding down my cheeks.

"What if he used his strength, Jonathan? What if the other boy's seriously hurt? What if they've called in experts already? What if they take him from us?"

"That's a lot of what if's Martha. We don't know what's happened, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. If it is something serious, the best thing we can do is stay calm, keep our nerve." Jonathan sounds peaceful compared to me. But then his rational took an unexpected turn.

"But they won't take our son. Over my dead body will they take him. I'd rather runaway with him and you, before he's dragged off to some lab."

"So much for staying calm." I almost laugh. He does, but it's a strangled, nervous one.

Suddenly in my rear view mirror I see blue and red lights. Perfect timing. Jonathan swears as I pull over. I'm still crying and I feel like my hands are stuck to the steering wheel. Jonathan holds my arm.

"Martha."
I stare into his eyes and nervously tremble. I've never in all my life been this hysteric, not even during the meteor shower. I let him pull my arms away. Ethan's footsteps crunch on the gravel as he comes to my window.

"Martha, do you know why I pulled you over? Martha? Good heavens! What's happened?"

I try to respond but somehow can't. I turn to Jonathan. His face is as white as Clark's was this morning. But somehow he keeps his voice smooth and unfaltering.

"There was an accident down at the elementary school, and they called us to come on down."

"That was Clark?! I heard about it on my radio. Oh, Jonathan, Martha, I'm sorry. But shouldn't you two be headed to the hospital?"

Jonathan tensely shakes his head.

"Clark's not hurt. But he might have been involved somehow."

A terrible silence ensues.

"Oh, I see. Well, I'm sorry. Don't worry about the speeding, but I think you two should switch places."

I nod and Jonathan gets out. I slide over to his seat as he comes around. We drive off towards the school.

I turn my head around as I see Ethan standing there just watching us. At least I've stopped crying now. But I have a headache. I hold my head.

"Hospital." I mumble to myself.

"Hospital." Jonathan just repeats me.