"Ma,
I've been travelling the globe for about a year now. As I go from continent to continent, country to country, I have seen unbelievable things. I met a man named Kobe in Africa. He taught me that "we can be heroes", everyone. That's what he always said. But I let him down. I know I can't save everybody, but I wish I could have saved him. He was shot by a bunch of child soldiers; they work for a man named Joseph Kony. There is this group out there that raises millions of dollars to help save the child soldiers, but until they've seen for themselves what the people there had to experience, they haven't really got a clue. I help all I can, but if I get to involved, I'm afraid the people will come to rely on me to always be there, even when I can't. I used to be able to say, "I'm only human", and in a way, that still rings true, but I'm not human. I do need rest, I do get weary and need "time off", but I don't need to sleep, or even eat, they're both just pleasures of mine.
But I've been to more than just Africa. I also went to South America. There was this time while I was there that I witnessed something amazing. From the looks of it, it seemed that I found another Kryptonian. As it turns out, this man had been given amazing powers through a dagger that had somehow connected it's bio-metric signature to his, making them one. When I separated them, the man was in a coma. It's not something I'm proud of, but as Chloe said, "Sometimes, in order to save those who are being oppressed, we have to make sacrifices that are hard, and the fact that they are hard, is what makes us human." I'm not sure if I completely agree with what Chloe says, but I have learned over the years that Chloe Sullivan is one of the most trustworthy people on the planet.
But if you thought Africa and South America were bad, try going to China. I was looked at like I was a terrorist everywhere I went. It wasn't even because I was "America" (or so they thought), it was because I was different. Now I understand how Arabic's in America felt after 9/11. It's a terrible feeling, and I hate myself for ever looking at anyone else that way, especially Lex…
Well Ma, I'm headed toward Europe now. I don't know what exactly I'm going to do yet. I've been taking low-pay jobs while I've been travelling. I found myself even writing free-lance articles for local news journals and websites wherever I've been traveling. It's been a fun job; it almost makes me thankful that Chloe dragged me into writing for her at the Torch. How is everyone back home, anyway? Did Lana ever go to community college? I remember her talking about possibly doing that. How's Pete? I know he was going to stay for the summer, but I haven't heard from him in about a month! I don't know if he went to Wichita or not? And how are you Ma? Have you and Pa been doing well without me? Do you want me to come back for a bit before harvest and help plow?
I love and miss you and Pa so much, Ma. I wish I could come and visit more than I do, but I've been looking really hard for somewhere to place the Sunstone Crystal. For some reason I've not been able to activate it in warmer climates. I thought it would because it originally reacted to my heat vision, but I guess not. If only I could jump high enough to reach the sun, but I don't think that's even in my power set.
Anyway, I'm going to let you go Ma. I love you and Pa, and I'll talk to you soon.
Love, Clark."
"Clark,
As interested as I am in your travels son, I'm more interested in what you're doing. Clark, your father and I spent 18 years keeping and protecting your secret, we just don't want you to run into something without thinking about it first. We're so proud of you Clark. We're delighted to hear that you're helping people and putting your own life on the line for them. That is something that you can't just learn, it's something that you have to decide for yourself.
And Clark, you can't blame yourself for how people turned out or even how they looked at you. You can only be who you are supposed to be. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." As long as you show the other people in the world kindness and love and compassion (which I know you can), then you'll be okay. Clark, like you said, you need time to rest. You aren't God son, you can't be everywhere at once and you can't save everybody. It's just not possible. But I am glad that you are getting work in this hard economic time. Journalism is an art that will never go out of date, and there will always be demand for it. It's a good career path Clark; I think Chloe rubbing off on you was a good thing.
As for your questions, I'll answer one at a time. We're great here at home. We miss you very much, and Ben Hubbard asks about you all the time. Remember when you and Lana used to play hide-and-seek in his field? He used to let you do just about anything out there. As for Lana, yes, she did go for a semester, but then dropped out. She decided she didn't want to be a lawyer after all and now works at her Aunt Nell's flower shop. Nell's even thinking of moving to Metropolis and letting Lana have the shop! Remember when Lana worked at the Talon? She used to take forever to make one cup of coffee, but she finally got it. I help out at the Talon now to earn some extra money for your father and I. I actually enjoy the job; it means I don't have to sit around the house all day kitting like an old woman! As for Pete, he decided to stay in Smallville. He's been helping your Pa on the farm every other day, but he also works at his father's cream corn factory. He said he wanted to take over the family business one day. But Clark, there's something you should know. I think the reason Pete may have cut off contact with you is because he's seeing Lana and he didn't want to get you upset. I think you should reach out to him and talk to him about it Clark. I don't want your friendship to be ruined because of a girl. As for your Pa and I (as I kinda said before), we're doing fine, there's no need to worry about us. Your Pa has hired some Crows to help him cover the entire fields, and like I said before, he also has Pete helping him out too. He's kind of made Pete his "second-in-command" so-to-speak. Watching your Pa order those boys around is like watching a Rooster walk around a bunch of hens. It's quite amusing.
Clark, we would love for you to come to visit, but only when you're ready to come back and found what you're looking for. If you need any money or cloths or food, you come by immediately and I don't care what time of day it is, you come and tell me, do you hear? We love you too Clark and we hope to see and hear from you again soon son. Your Pa says "hello", you know how he is around computers, he'll only use them to watch football or buy tickets, although I have gotten him to read some of yours and Chloe's articles from the Torch way back when.
We'll talk to you soon son, don't be a stranger.
Love,
Ma & Pa"
"Ma,
I got your last email Ma, and let me tell you, I'm relieved to hear about Pete and Lana. I did what you said and I called Pete up and we talked about it. It wasn't awkward at all, we've been friends for so long, and I think it was okay. I ran by town and we went out for a night. I'm sorry I didn't stop by, but it was the middle of the night and Pete said Pa had worked pretty hard. I'll make sure to stop by next time though. As for Lana and I, since her and Pete are together, we're officially over, but that's okay. The more and more I look at my future Ma, the less and less I see of her anyway. I think there's someone out there who I am destined to be with forever, someone who will keep me accountable, but also support me. And, obviously, I'll do the same for her. I'm not sure who that is yet, but I know she's out there.
But onto why I really emailed you again, I wanted to tell you that I'm going to Gotham City next. I think I can do a lot of good in that city, there's so much darkness there and crime is through the roof. I've heard about a vigilante who has been taking criminals out. Not killing them, but getting them off the streets. I may have to have a talk with him about civil rights. Anyway Ma, I'm leaving Europe now and I'm headed back home to America. I'll be in Gotham for a while I think, but once I'm done there, I'll come for a visit.
I love you and Pa, and I'll talk to you later.
Love,
Clark"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope you all enjoyed this short and easy transition and catch-up to Clark's worldly travels. I wanted to do it in email format because it seemed like a more modern and realistic approach to how Clark and his parents would communicate in today's world. Much like the Superman: Birthright and Smallville stories. Next chapter should be fun. I'm not sure if Clark will be in Gotham for one or two chapters, but I do know that it's going to be a lot of fun to write, and hopefully (for you) a lot of fun to read. Next chapter is entitled, "Tomorrow's Finest".