Skyler was working on his addition with his fingers. He liked reading homework, but he didn't like math. It's not that he couldn't do it. It just took a long time, and it was boring. +
The window was open, letting in the cool spring air. There was a knock on their apartment door. His mom looked at the clock. It must have been late because his mom frowned. Skyler didn't know what time it was because he couldn't read clocks with hands very well. He had to rely on digital clocks. His dad opened the door and Uncle Jimmy came through the door like a hunted rabbit. He rushed in and slammed the door shut before he could be invited in. He locked the triply lockable door and put the chain in its place.
"What in the world-" his mom started to say.
"What's the matter?" his dad asked, concerned.
Jimmy turned around to face them, but he kept his back against the door. Skyler half expected that a bad guy was chasing him. "It's Kara."
His parents looked relieved, amused, and annoyed all at the same time, if such a thing were possible.
"What about her?" his mom asked.
"That woman is nuts!" Jimmy said, checking through the peephole to make sure no one was out in the hallway.
"What do you mean?" his dad asked.
"Well, you know how Kara and I have been dating over the past couple of months?"
This was news to Skyler. He knew Kara had had a crush on Jimmy for as long as he could remember, but he didn't know they'd actually started to date. His parents knew it though.
"Yes," his dad said, waiting for him to continue.
"Don't get me wrong your cousin's really hot and she's a good, interesting person," Jimmy said. "I've always thought so, but there was just always something in the way. I was dating Chloe or she was dating somebody and to tell you the truth, she's on the aggressive side, which scared me a little at first, but I was finally convinced to take a chance."
"Is there a point to all this babble?" his mom asked, getting frustrated at Uncle Jimmy's long-windedness.
Jimmy took a deep breath, "She thinks she's an alien."
His parents looked shocked that Jimmy knew. Skyler laughed. Aunt Kara didn't just think she was an alien, she was.
"I know. She's crazy and then she started talking about demonstrating her powers, so I hightailed it out of her apartment and came here as fast as my legs could carry me. I mean who does she think she is? Supergirl?"
"Why couldn't she be?" his dad asked him.
"Because I've known Kara for years; I mean I think I would know if she was. Chloe had that meteor power that I didn't know about at first, but that was different. Besides, CK, if she's your cousin and Supergirl both that would make you--" he didn't finish his sentence.
The sudden silence said it all.
"Oh my gosh, you are," he continued at last. "You're Superman. That's why you started wearing glasses and she dyed her hair brown, or I guess it's a wig since Supergirl has blonde hair. I feel like such an idiot. Did you know I've went on and on in front of Kara about how I have a crush on Supergirl and you guys--I thought you were my friends."
"We are Jimmy," his mom said. "I know how you feel. I went through the same thing, you did."
"It's not that we don't trust you," his dad said. "It's just one of those things where the less people that know, the better. I've never told anybody willingly except for Lois."
"And he still was forced to tell me because if he hadn't, I would have figured it out when our kids started flying around the room."
"Of course, my parents knew," his dad said. "And some people stumbled across it accidentally and our kids have to know, but other than that… it's not an issue of trust believe me. It's just a big weight to have to carry around. You shouldn't be angry. Kara must be serious about you. She loves you or she wouldn't have told you. Put yourself in her shoes for a minute."
Jimmy thought about it. "You're right. You can't just tell everyone you know with a secret like that, and I love Kara too."
Kara came flying in through the open window. "I'm so glad to hear you say that," she said.
Jimmy looked at the window with his mouth agape. "That's going to take some getting used to."
"That's perfectly normal and I don't blame you a bit," Kara said, throwing her arms around him and kissing him.
When they stopped, Jimmy looked at Skyler and Noel in awe. "I just realized. These kids are Superman's kids. Does that mean they have powers?"
His dad answered, "Skyler only has super speed and strength right now, and Noel just has strength."
"Whoa, little kid superheroes."
"They're not superheroes yet," Kara said.
"Like you said they're little kids," his mom said.
"Of course," Jimmy agreed, "I didn't mean they should be fighting crime or anything. It's just mind-boggling. You know what it reminds me of? The Incredibles. I can't believe there's a real superhero family. Can you do anything, Lois?"
His mom crossed her arms and glared.
"You don't have to do anything. You can kick butt with those glares alone," he continued his babbling.
"Come on, Jimmy," Kara said intervening. "We have still have our dinner reservations."
She opened the door and they left but Skyler could hear Jimmy talking all the way to the elevator. "Does this mean our kids could have powers?" he heard him ask.
Skyler smiled. Uncle Jimmy was funny but best of all, Skyler didn't have to hide his powers and the Superman secret in front of him anymore. That made him happy. That was one more person he could relax and be his total self in front of. His parents seemed pleased with the situation too.
Skyler sighed when he had to get back to his homework. Uncle Jimmy had been a welcome distraction from the dull homework. It was going to be hard to get back on task, but he had to do it.
TBC
