Food, Fireworks, and Freedom

Food, Fireworks, and Freedom

Happy Independence Day!

Jamie was tapping away at the keyboard of the small laptop atop the kitchen table. Lois would sometimes bring her laptop home from work and the boys would use it to go online and to chat with their friends.

Suddenly, an instant message window popped up. It was from Russ!

Rusty: Hi Superboy! Happy Fourth of July to you!
Starkid: Hi Russ! How are you? Got any plans for today?
Rusty: No, not really… I’m going to order two pizzas and maybe go watch the fireworks in the park in an hour or so. Want to join me?
Starkid: Sure! Tell me where to pick up the pizza and I’ll get it. You can pay me back later!

Jamie asked his mom for permission to go have lunch at Russ’ house. She told him that it would be OK as long as he is back by 6PM so he can join them and watch the evening fireworks show from their house along with Clark and Wesley.

Jamie flew back to his room and donned his Superboy costume, before heading back to the kitchen. He then sent an instant message to Russ telling him that he was on his way with the two pizzas!

All the workers at Hungry Howard’s Pizza Place were wide-eyed when the boy in the familiar red-and-blue costume walked in. He mentioned Russ’ name and said that he had come to pick up two large pepperoni pizzas for take out!

The workers couldn’t believe their eyes! Here was this kid in their Pizza Parlor wearing the costume of the famous Boy of Steel. When Superboy walked up to the counter to pay for the pizza, the worker behind the counter commented on his costume.

“Hey, kid! Nice costume you got there…” the older teenager said. The boy was about 18 years old, and this was his first job ever.

“Thank you so much! You guys make the best pizza!” Superboy smiled, as he took a deep breath to smell the aroma of fresh pepperoni pizza. “This smells so good… ahhhh!”

“So, kid… What are you dressed up for? Halloween isn’t until October and it is July now! Why are you dressed up like…” the teen began to ask the caped boy.

Suddenly, the teen gasped when he saw the little Superboy rise off the floor, with the two boxes of pizza in his hand.

“Holy smoke! Look at that kid! He’s flying!” the other coworker shouted.

“That’s him! That really is him! That’s Superboy!” the teen exclaimed.

“Yes sir, it’s me!” Superboy smiled, as he floated towards the door. “Well, I have to deliver these two pizzas now… Have a safe Fourth of July! Bye!”

Superboy pushed the glass door open and quickly slipped out the store. Then he took off and flew over to Russ’ house, as the pizza store employees staring after him in awe. They were so amazed, that Superboy had come into their store to pick up a pizza!

Superboy landed at Russ’ house and rang the doorbell.

“Pizza delivery!” Superboy cheered out loud. Russ couldn’t help but laugh at the silly little super kid, who had flown the pizzas to his house.

Russ opened the door wide and Superboy floated in with the two pizzas.

The caped hero floated over to the kitchen counter, where he opened both boxes. He noted that the pizzas had already cooled off a little. He then gazed at the pizza using a gentle burst of his heat vision to re warm them to just the right temperature, just warm just enough but not too hot to eat.

“There! It cooled off a bit while I was flying over here, but there, I’ve got it all warmed up again!” Superboy said.

Russ pulled out some plates and served them both several slices of warm pizza.

“May I sit in your recliner chair?” Superboy asked Russ.

“Yeah… usually my dad sits there; but go for it!” Russ affirmed.

The large pizza box was on the small coffee table, right between the couch and the recliner. That way, both boys could take additional pieces from the pizza, and enjoy them until nothing was left!

Russ couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the young super kid, as he was munching on his pizza. The super boy had removed his long, red boots and socks, so he could see Superboy’s toes sticking out from the front of the recliner. The chair was so big, that his legs couldn’t even hang from the front edge of the seat!

As Superboy ate, with each bite more melted cheese began to drip from the edge, eventually running over his hands and onto his costume. And he had a generous helping of cheese and pizza sauce on his lips and cheeks!

Without saying a word, Russ walked into the kitchen and promptly returned, holding a large roll of white paper towels in his hand. Then he squatted down, just in front of the recliner where the little Superboy was seated.

“Hey super dude… I know you’re much stronger than me; you’re faster than me; and you’re a lot more powerful than me… But, you’re also a lot messier eater than me!” Russ laughed.

“Awwww… “Superboy chuckled. “I don’t know what it is… I can never eat anything before it melts or gets all over me… Especially ice cream! It drips all over me! And I love ice cream! It must be my body heat or something…”

“Could be… Well, I appreciate you coming over, Superboy…”

“You bet, Russ… I couldn’t let my buddy go the whole 4th of July all by yourself,” Superboy cheered, as he helped himself to another slice of pepperoni pizza.

“Well… You’ve been so nice to me, even though I acted like such a jerk… You’re almost like a little brother I’ve never had…” Russ said softly. A tear came from his eye, as he looked down at the little, caped boy who sat in his recliner chair.

For once, very serious, Jamie answered. “Russ, you’re like a big bro to me! And I’m so happy it’s worked out this way.” he replied. “Here, I’m having my last slice. We’ll fly over to the park, as soon as I’m done, okay?”

“The entrance to the park is right down the street! We don’t have to fly; it’s walking distance! When’s the last time you went anywhere, without flying? Sometimes it’s just as much fun to take your time and enjoy the walk.” Superboy smiled as he noted the wisdom in young Russ’ remark.

“Sure! We can walk over there, if you want!”

Russ and Superboy used ½ a roll of paper towels to clean up after themselves. Superboy did almost everything at super speed. They were ready to go in less than a minute! He quickly slipped back into his socks and red boots, before the two of them walked through the front door of the small apartment.

When they walked into the park, they were greeted by the usual stares from curious kids in the crowd. Everyone recognized the caped super hero, and this made Russ a little uneasy at first.

“Dude! Everybody’s looking at you!” he whispered to the boy.

“I know! I’m used to it!” he responded.

The two of them walked over to the snack bar, where they bought two large sodas.

There were three boys, ages eleven to fourteen, who spotted the Boy of Steel, and they had set out to meet him in person.

“Guys! Look! It’s him! That’s Superboy, he’s walking around right over there!” the youngest of the three brothers pointed out.

“Madison! What do you think you’re doing, sneaking up on him?” Mathew warned his younger brother.

Michael was the one in the middle, and he immediately took sides with his younger brother.

“Let’s go up to him and say hi to him!” Madison said.

“No! He’s a famous celebrity! Leave him alone! He’s not going to want to talk to us!” Mathew warned his brothers in a stern voice.

Madison continued to walk closely behind Superboy and he tried his hardest not to let him out of his sight.

“Follow the kid with the red cape!” he chuckled.

Michael and Mathew stayed close behind him, but still maintained their distance.

Superboy finished all of his soda, and he glanced around for a trash can to dispose of his cup. There were none immediately visible so he took to the air to get a better view of the park.

As soon as he leaped into the air and started to fly away, the three boys gasped all at once.

“Darn! We lost him…” Michael cried.

“Awwww… I wanted to talk to Superboy…” Madison murmured dejectedly.

But Superboy had only wanted to find a trash can. He found one, tossed his cup into it and headed back to rejoin Russ, much to the delight of Michael, Madison and Mathew.

“Look! He’s back! Let’s go up to him!” Madison cheered, as he led the other two brothers to walk up to the caped hero.

Unfortunately, they got distracted by the announcer, who was about to introduce the Mayor.

None of the boys had realized, however, that Superboy had overheard their conversation and that he realized that the three brothers were eager to meet him in person. It couldn’t happen just now, because the formal presentation was about to start!

A large crowd had gathered in the park. There was a large table set up, just behind the lake, where a small delegation was ready to address the crowd. There was another table set up on the other side of the lake, where several men were setting up the fireworks to be displayed.

The Mayor of Metropolis was present at the small table in front of the lake. In his hand, he had a large poster, a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence. Somehow, word had gotten around that the Boy of Steel was wandering around the park and mingling with the crowd. The Mayor thought it would be fun for Superboy to come over and to read the Declaration to the crowd.

The mayor took the microphone and introduced himself and members of his staff. Then he continued, “Now, we hadn’t plan for this, but it has come to my attention that we have a very special guest among the crowd today…” the Mayor announced over the microphone.

There was a murmur coming from the large crowd.

“My security personnel had pointed out to me, that we have a young super hero who is visiting with us here in the park!” he continued.

People started to look around at the crowd.

Superboy stood with Russ at the rear edge of the crowd. He was easy to point out, since he would occasionally float off the ground with Russ so they could see over the heads of all the people who were standing in front of them. Suddenly, everyone began to gawk at the little Superboy.

“I’ve been told that Superboy is in the crowd somewhere. I’d like to ask him to please come forward and join me up here in front!” the Mayor suggested.

“Huh?” Superboy said to himself, when he heard his name. “Me?”

“Superboy… Superboy… Where are you?” the Mayor teased. Several kids, who had spotted the young caped hero, began shouting out “Over here! He’s over here!”

Superboy lifted into the air and floated up to the Mayor, and landed right next to him.

“Darn it! We missed him again…” Madison moaned. “Oh well… Let’s wait till after the show is over…”

Meanwhile, the Mayor spoke into his microphone.

“Greetings, Superboy!”

“Hello, Mister Mayor!” the boy replied politely.

“Are you enjoying your Fourth of July here in the park with us today?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Have you had enough to eat?”

“Yes, sir!”

Russ couldn’t help but laugh, when he noticed that Superboy was standing up front, while he was being interviewed by the Mayor.

“Now, Superboy… What does the Fourth of July mean to you?”

“It’s the day when the United States became a free country. That’s when we declared our independence from England!” Superboy responded.

To himself, the mayor noted Superboy’s use of the world “we.” Even though the boy of steel was an alien, like so many immigrants who had come to make this great country their home, he counted himself as AMERICAN!

“Exactly! Today, we celebrate the day when Congress announced the Declaration of Independence! Before we light the fireworks, I’d like to ask you to read the Declaration out loud for us. Can you do that for me?”

“Oh yes sir! I’d be honored!” Superboy responded with a wide-mouth all-boy grin. The Mayor handed him the rolled-up poster. Superboy opened it up while holding onto the top with his left hand, and the bottom with the right hand.

Superboy surveyed the words on the poster he held in his hands. His heart stirred at these immortal words:

* * *

The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies

In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For protecting them by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren.

We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.
We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.
We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence.
They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare.

That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,

and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved;

and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce,

and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
The signers of the Declaration represented the new States as follows:
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

* * *

“Thank you, Superboy, for reading those immortal for us on this great day of remembrance!”

There was a loud applause from the crowd of onlookers! Everybody clapped following Superboy’s reading of the Declaration of Independence.

“Superboy, would you please fly over to the other side of the lake, so that you can help set off the first batch of fireworks for us?” the Mayor asked the young hero.

“Yes sir, Mister Mayor!” he cheered, as he leaped into the air and flew over to the table on the other side of the lake. Several rockets were lined up waiting to be launched. One of the fireworks technicians pointed out which rockets Superboy was to ignite first.

Using his heat vision, two bright red laser beams fired from his eyes, striking the thin wick extending from the rear of one of the paper wrapped rockets. The fuse was lit and sparks began to fly, as the rocket shot straight up in the air! Within seconds, there was a loud bang, and many different stars of all colors illuminated the dark sky!

The crowd cheered on, as the fireworks show had finally begun, thanks to Superboy!

After the show was over, Superboy flew back to rejoin Russ, and the two began to walk out of the park. Superboy suddenly spotted a group of kids, and he told Russ that he would meet up with him later. He wanted to spend some time getting to know kids, before he headed back to Russ’ house.

Mathew, Michael, and Madison were walking out of the park, when a familiar blue figure flew right over them.

Suddenly, the caped boy swooped down, landing right in front of the three brothers!

“Hi!” Superboy smiled, as he walked right up to the three boys, who were staring at him with eyes and mouth open wide.

“Oh my God… It’s him!” Madison cheered.

“I know you guys have been looking for me… I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to meet up with you earlier… I guess, when the mayor asks you to read the Declaration of Independence, that it’s probably a good idea to listen to him, huh?” Superboy explained to the three brothers.

“Yeah… I, I guess!” Michael said wide eyed.

“Nice to meet you, Superboy!” Madison said. He walked right up to the caped boy, and extended his hand for a handshake. The two shook hands and they wandered down the small lane, which wound through the park.

“Thank you so much for taking the time to come over and meet us!” Mathew said to him.

“I must admit that I was a little scared to meet you in person at first” Michael admitted. “Now that I get to see what you’re like in person, I guess I was wrong. You’re just a kid like the three of us!”

“Sure…” Superboy laughed.

“Hey, Superboy… Do you play cards?” Madison wondered, while showing him a small deck of cards, containing drawings of popular cartoon characters on each card.

Superboy grinned “You bet I do! Look!” he said, as he reached back and pulled the edge of his long, red cape towards him. He zipped opened a pouch hidden away on the inside and drew out his own deck of game cards!

“Wow! Superboy! You collect cards, just like me!” Madison cheered.

The two boys exchanged their card decks, and they each spent the next few minutes browsing through their cards. Afterwards, they exchanged names and email addresses! The three boys were thrilled, that they had finally had the opportunity to say “hi” to their super hero in person!

Superboy flew back to Russ’ house, before making the journey to home, where Wesley, Lois and Clark had been patiently waiting for him. They had seen him on TV so they knew that he had been at the park.

The four of them stood out on the balcony, overlooking the city where, together, they enjoyed the colorful display of fireworks in the evening sky over Metropolis.

Happy Independence Day!

The End