Chapter 15 : Expectations and Reality

He bent his body over the bathroom sink. Henry Pym cupped his hands under faucet and brought the water to his face. He blankly looked at the water that ran down to his chin and eventually dropped back into the sink. After deflecting Yolanda's question, his mind was sending him back in time— to October of 1963. He went back to the discovery that the Erica and Henry had shared with no one.

Erica insisted that she and Henry go to Florida to console her childhood friend, Martha Stapleton Connors after her husband disappeared. Martha had feared that her husband, Dr. Curtis Connors, had fallen victim to the Lizard. The Lizard was the name that newspapers gave a half-human half-reptilian being with incredible strength. The fact that the creature only terrorized and then hid in the Florida Everglades only added to Henry's skepticism.

While Erica comforted Martha, the deductive woman figured out that Martha knew a few small details about the Lizard that the media had not exposed to the public. Add to the fact that the Lizard stories appeared only a day after her husband had disappeared, and Erica told her friend that "horse crap is what you feed a farm soil, not a caring friend."

Little brother wasn't in on the exposure, though. While Martha opened up to Erica at the Connor's home, Hank had taken on his inch-high identity and ventured into the Everglades. He used his cybernetic impulses to assemble his insect detectives to ascertain human presence, alive or dead. With his Boy Scout campfire days long behind him, Hank had no use for monster stories and thus he didn't expect to encounter this Lizard-thing. Then it happened. Close to sunset, the Ant-man had stumble into a fight between the Lizard and an arachnid-attired hero, Spider-man.

The latter did a great job at staying beyond the reach of the slashing claws of the stronger, scaly figure. Because this happened weeks before the Pym Particles could be altered to produce a giant version of himself, the Ant-man's one recourse was to gather an army of insects and readied them to join the battle.

Suddenly, the two combatants entered a long-ago abandoned fortress. In a strange turn of event, Spider-man took out a test tube from who-knows-where and dropped a mysterious liquid into the Lizard's mouth. That close encounter maneuver forced Spider-man into a hand-to-hand combat where the hero was getting his butt handed to him. Ant-man was ready to have his winged Air Force attack the Lizard's eyes and thereby rescue the hero, but it became unnecessary. Whatever was in that liquid caused a great physical transformation. The Lizard disappeared and the mystery of the missing Dr. Connors was solved.

Spider-man reunited the couple, but that wasn't the end of the story. Hank's curiosity over finding a New York crusader in Florida gripped him. The fact that the red-and-blue adventure had the intellect to know what the mystery serum was capable of doing added to his inquisitiveness. It also intrigued Erica. Her last words to the Ant-man, who had mounted her shoulder, was "Sick 'em, Spot."

Given Spider-man's reputation, there wasn't an insect alive that could keep up with him when he swung away on his webbings. The only thing to do was to have a few ants attach themselves to Spider-man and hope that even if he had real spider-powers, he would not detect "food."

The droplet-sized investigator followed his faithful insects' "call." An hour after darkness had settled, Hank's homing devise lead him to a far away hotel suite. To Hank's surprise, Spider-man was more boy than man.

The next day, with the help of Erica's pals in the government, the hotel surrendered the names of the two occupants of the suite. Henry confided in his sister that back in New York, he had seen the middle-aged, stomach-sagging J. Jonah Jameson. The guy would never have looked that intimidating in tights. It was understandable that siblings' ears perked up at the name "Peter Parker".

Hank left the bathroom to return to his bedside. He looked at his phone and thought he might as well listen to the messages on Ant-man line. The voice of the first message was unmistakably Steve Rogers.

What did the bastard want? Was he going to tell Hank, 'Sorry bub, but the best man won?'

Turning the morning time back, in Neshoba County, Mississippi Sam Paige had turned around to allow his sister to continue her physical transformation from stone back to flesh. As she shook pebbles from her underwear, in Queens County New York Delfina was questioning where the plan of Brygitka and Yolanda was going. While she was expressing her concerns, in the southern part of Kings County— otherwise known as Brooklyn, New York—a Lincoln Continental was steering out of the Cross Bay Parkway and into the exit that led to Floyd Bennett Field.

The trip there didn't exactly make Elihas feel like he was a welcome passenger. The two large-built thugs who brought Elihas to the destination where laughing about a crime witness who had suddenly gone on a vacation that was so good, he had never returned. Elihas couldn't see the humor in that, but he determined to laugh at the next story.

The nerdy genius thought that he was following the second story well. When it veered into a similar path as the first story, Elihas laughed at the word "gone." He had thought that his chuckle would have made him look like he could potentially be one of the boys.

Alas, the driver looked at him, via the rear view mirror, with daggers. Balboni, sitting next to him in the back seat, gave him a disgusted glaze.

"Hey, humpty-stupid", Balboni said. "Freddy wuz one a owa bes' men. I don't see anythin' funny 'bout dat. He wuz worth a million of yous."

Due to that exchange, Elihas kept to himself during the long morning rush hour trip. Now, as the car moved through the last gate to access the area, Elihas looked out into Floyd Bennett Field.

The Egghead was familiar with the history of the vast field. At one time it was the city's first commercial municipal airport, then US Naval Air Port, now part recreational park, part protected historic site, part air base, part storage rental facility wherein the landlord was the NYC Parks Department.

The area was the starting site of many air races. It hosted the start and finish of Howard Hughes' record flight around the world. Some of the many aviation record-breakers who used the field included Wiley Post, Laura Ingalls, Amilia Earhart, Major John Glenn, Jr.

The most famous take-off from the site belonged to Douglas Corrigan. After being repeatedly denied permission to cross the Atlantic Ocean, he set course for California and "mistakenly" landed in Ireland. Thus, the moniker "Wrong Way" Corrigan entered aviation legend.

Sitting in the black vehicle, Elihas was determined to not only etch his own name into the Floyd Bennett Field's lore, but also eclipse all the previous celebrities. The Egghead was going to be the brains behind the take-down of both Giant-man and Spider-man.

Elihas marveled at Blackie Gaxton's nerve. He also was wrecked with his own nerves. The area was the base of the New York City Police Helicopter Division and of the New York Air National Guard. Blackie was going to have the Egghead construct a criminal production within of the jaws of the beast, so-to-speak.

The shiny Continental followed the stretch that was once a take-off strip and turned to the left. The vehicle moved towards the front of a large former aircraft hangar. It badly needed a paintjob, but the "people" double door entrance looked newly installed upon the giant sliding airplane door. The car slowed down yards in front of the entrance.

A white van with lettering on its side that announced that it made deliveries for a certain delicatessen pulled away, leaving Balboni to salivate: "Looks like we gots breakfast waitin' fer us."

That sounded great to the Egghead. The car eased into the spot that the van left vacant. Elihas dismounted when the car stopped between two grey passenger vans. The driver stated that the grey vans brought in helpers for his project. The odd-shaped man only paid passing attention. He only had food on his mind and he hurried behind Balboni. The dark-haired brute reached for the handle on the door that was carved into the larger hangar door.

Balboni pulled the door out and the quick-stepping and distracted evil genius behind him hit the doorframe head-on. He fell backwards and Balboni laughed. The driver was walking up behind them and Balboni pointed to the floored man whose stomach looked like a hill. The driver didn't look as entertained as his pal. He kicked Elias' foot. When there was no response, the two gasped in stereo:

"OHHH, SH-T!"

Fast forwarding to the present, Hank was greatly ashamed of himself. He had listened to the five messages that Steve Rodgers had left him with the intent to find something incriminating in his words and then use it as ammunition against him and Jan. It wasn't the vision of sugar-plums that was dancing in his head. It was the imagery of using Jan and Steve as footballs kicked into the up-right.

But Steve's messages were forthright, humble and sympathetic. He firstly denied any intent on his part to hurt a fellow teammate. Secondly, he offered up a defense for Jan's action and a reason why Giant-man should continue his relationship with the Wasp.

Steve's plea on her behalf was based on the high tension environment. The stress of seeing so much carnage and barbarism was so overwhelming that her mind temporary took shelter in a cerebral sphere that could help her avoid a melt-down. Steve had seen it many times in World War Two. Some soldiers went into a defensive "zombie" mode where they were taken out of their present reality. Some broke into abandoned liquor stores after a battle and nearly drank themselves to death.

Cap said that Jan wasn't "Jan" it that time. Her common sense was overridden by the primitive instincts of self-preservation within the mind. It was not an actual conscious reaching out for a romance partner, nor was it a deliberate effort to satisfy a desire. It was something inside of her that took over—something that needed to grab something temporarily to keep it together.

He and the Wasp were never an item and they never would be. If she wasn't all for Giant-Man, why had she stuck around for those years?

If he believed Steve's assessment or not, Hank still had to shake his head in admiration— what a guy this Steve Rogers was. He proved to be a man of such a high standard of integrity and class. It was a plateau that Hank hoped that he could one day approach.

Hank got into his warm-up clothes, though it wasn't likely that he was in the condition to exercise. The heartbreak that he endured allowed him only spotty sleep periods. He was exhausted.

Dr. Pym shut his bedroom door behind him and considered taking the elevator down to the kitchen. Of the eight elevators in the Kurztberg Building two serviced Henry Pym's four-story penthouse. But they also were utilized by other occupants of the building. That meant that the duo lifts would only be available to Hank if the in-cabin sensors indicated that no other rider was in the elevator. On weekday mornings the wait for the elevators was long. That is why Hank took the stairs on the east side of his abode down to the kitchen.

On his way to the steps, he passed by Jan's bedroom door. Henry continued a normal pace that held no hint of the inner conflict that was brought upon him as her door reminded him about last night's event. Dr. Pym forced his mind to concentrate on a new life. It would be without Jan; without a superhero persona. His sister Erica had encouraged both.

It was also without the governmental and Stark Industries weaponry paychecks that left him open to public scrutiny by publicity hounds like Senator Byrd. It meant an end to everything related to Giant-Man, but also the beginning of commercial sponsorship for his inventions. It was just as financially advantageous as his other pursuits, but with less complications.

As he descended down the stairs, Henry was reminded of last summer. They had just moved into the penthouse and as he climbed up the stairs with small lab equipments in his arms. Jan snuck up behind him to tweak his butt. He later returned the favor. The visions of their playfulness saddened the biochemist.

He asked himself, for peace-of-mind, would it have been wiser to wait for the elevator? But there too he would've been haunted by his happier times with Jan. There was the childish thrill of "getting caught" that ran through the couple as they made-out before the doors opened to other riders.

And what could he expect at the breakfast nook? The whole place triggered memories that could bring Hank down. But, …. he wasn't moving out this time. JAN WAS!

Henry Pym again attempted to engaged his mind in other directions. The battle for his thoughts had robbed him of his usually cheery morning face. And that was noticed by the kitchen reception committee— Bridgitka, Delfina and young Yolanda.

The three hearts sank for his ordeal. It was ironic that after seeing their expressions, Henry asked them, "Why the long faces."

Hank sat down at the eating counter that divided the kitchen from the nook. He looked up from his ham and eggs, clearly anticipating an answer. Yolanda thought to lighten the atmosphere by asking him what experiments Hank was working on. But as she was about speak, the corner of her eye spotted movement. Brigidtka had forcefully freed her arm from Delfina's grip. Bridgidtka then slapped a folded newspaper on the side of his plate.

The offending picture was the image that he had wrestled with all night. The bold caption above the photo stated that Captain America and the Wasp were romantically connected.

The article below screamed, asking if Giant-Man was out of her life or was he merely a fool she strung along. There is no hint of conscience or outrage in the piece. It ended with what the idiot writer thought was funny: There should be a long line of guys who would try for her now that the big guy seems to be missing or maybe just a clueless sap.

Henry put the paper down to the right of his plate. He closed his eyes, leaned back on his seat and wished that the world would go away.

"Garr? Comin' to da meetin'?"

Sam and Paige's dad stopped piling the grain sacks on the man's pick-up truck. He tilted the bill of his baseball cap high enough to allow the back of his thin hand to wipe the sweat off of his brow.

"Mel, ah don't know. Taday ah have ta stay at da hardware store 'til closin' time. By the time ah'll gets there, Ah reckon dat ever'body will be sayin' deir good nights."

The graying, potbellied man nodded. He gestured for Garrett Guthrie to continue loading up the heavy bags. "Yeah, well-in, no one will think any less of a man takin' care a his responsibility fo' his family. But le's remember da .. da bigger picture.

Fo' all owa goods, we need to be … to be watchful. We need to raise owa kids in a place where we keep da races pure."

After the last two sacks were loaded, the Garrett turned to Mel. The slender man agreed with the grain purchaser.

"Ah'll be dere nex' time, ya'll be certain a dat."

Mel tapped the worker's shoulder and added "Yer a good man, Garr."

Garrett's hand closed around the tip that the man left him. It was impolite to look at a gift in front of the giver.

"Yer a good man," he repeated louder from his truck's window. Mel drove off while his tires kicked dust towards the Guthrie male. Garrett looked at the tip that the driver left him and responded, "An' yer a f- - kin' cheapskate, Mel."

The petite woman with the large opinion ignored the pleadings of her sister, Delfina, and her pal, Yolanda. Brygitka insisted that Henry Pym do something about his public humiliation. But Hank's fourth and angriest reply of "I'll take care of it," finally quieted her.

The solemn male walked away from his half-eaten breakfast and headed for the solitude of his lab. He made it to the living room when Yolanda called out to him. He turned and saw Brigitka rushing to carry the Pym cordless phone towards him.

In 1964, households welcomed the new plastic-coated coiled telephone cord that stretched from the phone unit to accommodate one's activity during a call. Then they were hit with the push-button interface that replaced the decades-old (and still reliable) rotary number-dial. Folks were amazed at the technology. But no one who listened to Delphina and Brigitka boast of their employer's invention were ready to believe that Dr. Pym had perfected a cordless, cellular phone. And if the two sisters insisted that the whole mechanism was lighter in weight then the traditional phone's handset, they would've questioned the old women's sanity.

Dr. Pym's little marvel was one of the two reasons that Brigitka's girlish-glee was quiet apparent. But Henry suspected that there was something else to her smile as she handed him the phone. The woman was a cheering. It was the same expression that young Yolanda had as she scrambled out of the kitchen seconds behind the smaller woman.

Yolanda began, "Remember when I said that there was an earlier caller whom I asked to call later? Well, she's calling back now."

Yolanda had brought in another invention of Dr. Pym— a unit small enough to carry. She rested it on the coffee table signaling Hank to sit. The unit had two speakers (each the size of her palm) on either end. It had a metal cradle in the middle where the cell phone could be placed and the call could be heard over the speakers. Hank sat down on the recliner and after the phone was set up to broadcast over the powerful little speakers, all three women sat opposite him on the couch.

Yolanda shrugged coyly and smiled. "She said that she wanted to make this a conference call and include everyone."

Oh, no, he thought.

"Well, good morning, Sleeping Beauty," the caller said. As he feared, it was his sister, Erica.

"Sooo…, "she continued. "I wake up, get the newspaper and guess what was there, before my eyes."

Hank wasn't prepared for this, nor was he in the mood. He knew what was coming and he weaved around her on-coming jab like an experienced prize fighter.

"Yeah," Henry interrupted. "Officials may not have gotten it yet, but if you look at the picture of the would-be bomber outside of the Avengers Mansion and the gunman who faked a suicide attempt and nearly shot Spider-man, you'll see some facial similarities.

"Look at the lips and the nose. I encountered Darren Glover and this "Ted" guy who Spider-man subdued was really his older brother Jeff."

His sister seemed to have been distracted from her original intention. "Wow, your new and improved truth serum does its stuff, huh? It's something that could've been used a long time ago to find out some close-to-home secrets."

Hmm, Hank thought. She was leading into what he expected her to use to beat him over his head.

"Not only for me," Hank counter to keep her off balance. "But also for that FBI fellow, I hitched a ride on. She seemed nice, but a little slow."

"She?" Erica asked.

Damn it-that was an unpardonable slip-up. He knew that his sister was going to bring up Jan. Trying to steer the conversation away from his former love-interest, Jan was also on his mind. That was why his distracted thoughts pushed out the word "she" in reference to the male agent.

"Did I say that? Sorry— he. ... At any rate, extracting that much info from the first terrorist should earn him a good raise.

Hank continued, "But I have some mixed feelings, here. Yes, I was the target in both cases because of the press conference where I blasted the Sons of the Serpent. And I'm glad that they are behind bars. I'm also happy that Darren said that they weren't connected with those serpent crack pots. I couldn't imagine the nightmare if they were so organized as to send a hit team up north. No one close to me would be safe.

"On the other hand, the brothers were sympathizing copy cats. If that comes out in the press, they may encourage more mindless imitators to get into the act and get for their demented selves the attention of the nation's eyes."

Erica lamented, "Yeah, and you know how socially responsible the media is. If they had a choice to hold down a story that could hurt innocent people or be the first to get it out …"

"That's why I'm more determined than ever to cripple the Sons of the Serpent."

"Whoa, way, whoa! What do you mean YOU are going to cripple … Nee, how many ti-. Don't you stick your nose into this. The FBI is handling it."

"And they're doing soooo well. No doubt you're already planning to set a road block for me because the Feds have a handle on things, correct?"

An argument ensued, and Yolanda waved open hands in front of Hank. Her intent wasn't clear. Was she solely trying to ease the tension between the siblings? Or was she expecting to redirect the conversation to go in the original direction that she and Erica planned?

"Well, isn't it true," Yolanda began, "that you aren't in the situation that could allow you to do anything like that right now?"

Henry replied, "Well, maybe I need four or five days of preparation."

"Good," Erica said, suddenly calmed. "I have a few days to smack that nonsense out of you. But the reason I called'—Henry groaned—"and no diversions from you— is that picture where Captain America was having his lips sucked off his face by that tramp you always defend."

The three women synchronized their move to edge of their seats.

"Erica, please."

"Please what? Shall we go over Miss Drop-My-Panties history?"

Brigitka yelled, "Yes! Yes!"

Brigitka was still nodding unashamedly as three pairs of eyes looked at her in astonishment.

Brigikta asked, "Why are you looking at me? …. Let's get to it. Erica, who starts, you or me?"

Conundrum. Sam Guthrie knew what the word meant even if he wasn't sure how it was spelled. He had heard the story about the Tennessee squirrel that had cheeks and handfuls of nuts. He had too much to successfully make the climb up the tree and store them in his home just before the first frost. Now, should he put half of them down and go up to store the rest? Even if he knew that there were other squirrels looking at him from behind bushes? And if he did, should he even bother to return for the other half?

That was somewhat the same uneasiness and hesitancy that the two boys experience as they saw their three-year-old sisters play with each other. Heck, just being in each other's company alone was cause for discomfort and apprehension.

The Negro 9-year-old looked on as little Samantha happily playing with the rusty-haired white girl just as if they belonged together. He launched sneaky side-eye peeks at the white brother who was close to him. But it was best not to acknowledge his presence.

It was stupid, of course—like hearin' da buzzin' of bees an' not haulin' one's butt outta da place in a flash. Still, he WAS one a dose pale things dat thought demselves so much better dan him.

Well, really, da boy wasn't like one a those Sons of the Serpent demons… he didn't come afta Samantha an' him with a weapon or nothin'. He was civil-like.

But white is white, y'know? What could a normal person possible say to dis white boy? Even if he wasn't fussing, his kind neva shared nothin' in common with Colored folks. Den again, dere in front of him were Samantha an' da white girl, laughin' and playin'.

Being a couple a months shy of his 10th birthday, Samuel Jonas Guthrie faintly smiled. His doll-clutching sister and the Negro girl applied their dancing talents to a perceived waltz as if there was no difference between them. Sam tried to keep his eyes on Paige, but he couldn't help but slip his peepers to the side, towards the Negro brother when he made the slightest movement or sound.

Maybe it was da bes' thing ta avoid eye-contact. Dat's what folks said ta do when one acciden'ly passes in front of a bear who was eatin'. Still, dis boy didn't act wild. He was well behaved, really.

Sam gave a long exhale. Dere was no sense in makin' his acquaintance, even though Momma woulda said dat it was da polite thing ta do. What would dey say ta each other? Coloreds and Whites had nothin' in common , 'cep-in sufferin' through da summer weather? It was like a beaver an' a possum crossin' paths. Sure dey were four-legged an' furry, but one went his way towards da river and da other went towards da tree. Dat's one reason dat Negros neva got too close. But den, look at Paige an' that Samantha girl. Dey dizzied demselves an' dey stopped ta sit on da same rock. Da girls were lockin' one arm to the other girl.

Sam looked towards the river on the other side of the dark-skined boy. The other boy kept his face towards the girls, but his eyes were on full alert duty on the white boy.

The boy asked himself, Was da white boy expectin' company? Was he lookin' fo' more Negro child'en? And in either case, wha' was he plannin' to do?

Sam felt the other boy's tension—it was a nonphysical thing that males could sense, but couldn't explain.

Why was he all tense? Well, da girls were havin' fun, so Ah'm not gonna start anything if da Negro kid didn't.

In truth Sam's steady gaze was being guided by his curiosity; the river that was behind the bushes to his right; the lake that was situated behind him, some distance away.

Sam pondered, Both were da Good Lord's creation fo' white people's entertainment, right?

Well in Sunday School, he had heard that when bad folks partook of something God gave good folks, judgment followed.

It wasn't pretty dat time dat da Philistine took da Ark of da Covenant away from Israel durin' da time of Samuel, da prophet.

Dose Negro kids— DIS Negro kid standin' beside him. Dey all look just fine an' healthy. Maybe Poppa was wrong. God's gifts were fo' Whites and Colored.

Suddenly, at the mention of his father, those bad feelings began to well up again. What came into remembrance was that man's thoughts on Sam and Paige.

If that drunk was wrong about his own kin, den he surely had to be wrong about this too, Sam reckoned.

Suddenly the girls fell off of their rock seat and landed on the ground in a heap. Both brothers rushed forward thinking to separate them and finally get them to their own kind. But the girls were not hurt. Even the more, they may have purposely fallen because they were giggling and hugging each other.

Sam stopped. The colored boy stopped two paces in front of Sam.

OHHH NO, the Guthrie Man of the House said to himself. This Negro boy wasn't getting closer to his sister than he was. Sam made up the difference. But his defensiveness melted away as he saw a big smile on the boy's face. Sam smiled also. Suddenly the four male eyes made contact and the boys turned away from each other.

"Uh," said the first boy.

Uh,.. yeah." replied Sam.

Reference:

The Spider-man vs. the Lizard fight happened in Spider-man # 6 (1963)