Clark's P.O.V

I flip the page and look at Nori's writing. Each word I read inside my head, knowing that I'll never forget them.

"I am 6 years old. I guess my name must be Freak. Mom calls me that a lot. I am writing this so I can give it to Superman when he finds me. He has to save me from her some day. She's really mean. I'm scared of her. I wake up scared because, since today's not my birthday, she's going to hurt me again. She's not going to give me enough to eat again. I want to escape but where would I go? I think Superman would be able to find me better if I escaped. But, right now, I feel too tired. I could get some sleep. I finished my chores. No. I guess I'm not going to sleep. I have to hide this now. Mom's home."

I flip the page.

"So sore. Why does Mom do this to me? I thought families didn't do stuff like this to each other. At least I don't feel cold anymore. Mom had me stay in the refrigerator for a while. Good thing I'm an expert at holding my breath. It was scary in there. Scarier than my room. When is Superman going to find me? He's rescued kids before. Maybe it's because of my tail. Does he know about that? Has he seen it? Does he think that I'm a Freak like Mom does? No. He can't think that. I can see that he's nice. Well, I can tell he's nice from what Clark Kent writes about him. I want someone nice for Christmas. It's coming up soon. But I guess I'm not as good a girl as I thought I was. All I got last Christmas was pain."

Nori hasn't had a real Christmas? I flip a few more pages and discover the day she gave herself her name.

"I am 7 years old now. I'm not going to put up with the name Freak. So, today, I decided to name myself. I am going to call myself Nori. It may be a kind of seaweed, but I think it's pretty. Seaweed is in sushi and I love sushi. Especially shrimp. I just wish I could get it on a day other than my birthday. Maybe Superman will give me sushi when I find him? Until then, I guess I'll just have to see if I can get my Mom to call me Nori. On second thought, no I won't. I don't want to learn another lesson the hard way. I'll just tell myself that I'm Nori. Not Freak but Nori. Nori, the girl who can shift into an otter just like that. I have a power that Superman doesn't. I wonder what he'd say if I told him that. Even if he doesn't like that, I do. I don't think knowing that I can shift into an otter as easy as breathing will make it so I don't have nightmares though. I'm always waking up scared. I know Halloween will be soon enough. I guess Mom doesn't think I'll like candy. Then Thanksgiving will come. But the only thing that I can think of to be thankful for is my new name. Whoever put happy before names of holidays must not have had me in mind. For me, the only day that's happy is my birthday. Maybe when Superman finds me that will change? I know he has to find me soon. Our house isn't lined with lead."

I flip through some more pages. I see the one written the day after her 12th birthday. It's a short entry.

"I just lost my brother today. Well, he was like a brother. He told me I was his sister. Why did he have to die? Haven't I been through enough? Does anybody even care? No. He was just an otter to them. But, to me, he was my brother. I miss him already. I wish I could've told him Goodbye. But Mom wouldn't let me. She did seem to beat me a little less than usual though. I can't be sure because I'm not sore. I'm just sad. I miss you brother. Someone has to."

I see a little bit of water...No, it's tears. There are tears on this page. A look through Nori's diary reveals none of the other pages have tears on them. She does miss him. She cried for him. Nori...I notice the last sentence of the last entry.

"If Superman or Clark Kent (whatever he wants to be called) finds me tomorrow, I'll be able to give this to him soon."

I see that the last entry was written on the day before I found her. I read the rest of it and learn that the day I found her is the day Nori's Mom died. She didn't have room to write about how she finally escaped. I look at Nori. She's looking down at the floor again.

"I guess you know now. Now you really know everything. Do you care that I lost my [brother], Pa? Do you understand? Or was he just an [otter] to you too?"

There's so much sadness in her voice. I think about what to say.

"All I can think to say to you is that I'm sorry. Does that say that I understand that he wasn't just an [otter] to you? That I know he was your [brother?]"

She nods slowly. Nori...I hug her.

"Now I know that you know I lost my [brother.] You do understand."

I nod. What else can I do? She's been through so much already.

"I also want you to know that everything will be alright."

A smile appears on her face.

"I knew that already. But thanks for reminding me Pa. It's something I really like being able to know." "Then I'll just have to tell you it as often as I can."

Her smile widens.

"I'd like that."