“I’m pretty sure my little Crystal has been Called,” Kate said mournfully, stirring her tea with a honey swizzle stick.
The Team made little sympathetic noises tinged with surprise, and Lady Vengeance patted Kate’s hand and gave a compassionate head-tilt.
Captain Tiger buried his face in his teacup. His own son had been Called recently, and the young hero had spent the past months taking his father on a wild roller-coaster ride with his newfound powers, eventually resulting in a drunk-driving arrest. The Calling was often fraught with danger, as The Team knew all too well.
“She’s so young,” The Flying Terror said with disbelief and then immediately fluttered her small plump hands in nervousness as if surprised at having spoken aloud.
“I know,” Kate agreed. “She’s only nine. I shouldn’t be dealing with this yet. Not till she’s a teenager, right?”
The Team nodded in agreement, their heads bobbing in colorful unison.
“Maybe,” Samuel America said, “you’ve misread the signs?”
Captain Tiger looked hopeful and bit into a blueberry scone.
Kate waved away the thought with a dismissive gesture. “She’s been throwing ninja stars for days now. The drywall in her room is probably going to collapse into dust considering all the holes she’s made. And she won’t tell me where the shuriken are coming from.”
Captain Tiger looked as though the scone had turned to ashes in his mouth.
Water Lad nodded. “Yeah, she’s probably been Called. Have you asked her about it?”
“Of course,” Kate said defensively. “I’ve tried to drop hints. ‘Where are you getting those weapons?’ ‘Are you a ninja?’ ‘Have you ever heard of The Way of the Ancient Order?’ But she just draws that hoodie of hers even closer around her and acts as though she doesn’t know what I’m talking about.”
Lady Vengeance made a brisk tsk-ing sound. “Now, Night Ninja, this was going to happen eventually. We all knew it. A bright girl like Crystal was going to get Called, so there’s no use crying over it. After all, not everyone turned out like Captain Tiger’s delinquent.” Captain Tiger gave a choked cry and coughed scone crumbs onto the kitchen table, and Lady Vengeance shot him a silencing glare. “Well, it’s just a fact, Captain Tiger. After all, look at my Justin. He was Called three years ago, and he’s been a model hero ever since. He goes by Sir Retribution now, and his father and I couldn’t be prouder. You are The Night Ninja, Kate, so just pull it together. Crystal will make an excellent hero.” She looked around the table, daring The Team to disagree. None of them did, although Captain Tiger coughed again in what sounded like a vague protest.
The Flying Terror spoke up, her jowls jiggling as her reedy voice gained in strength. “This is the way of things, as we well know. We pass into middle age, and the younger generation gets Called. It is our job to ensure that they do not fail their Calling, that the world remains safe under their care as it continues to remain safe under ours.”
The Team stared at her in surprise. The Flying Terror rarely spoke so much. She blushed prettily, shedding pounds and years for a brief moment under the scrutiny, and then hastily started munching on a donut.
Kate sighed. “You’re right,” she said, giving The Flying Terror a weak smile. “I just wasn’t ready for this right now.”
“Hey, Night Ninja,” Water Lad said, his blue glove slipping over her hand protectively, “we’re a team. We’re The Team. And we’re here for you. Lady Vengeance is right–Crystal is going to be a great hero.”
The Team nodded in unison, their faces a picture of love and affection as they stared at their comrade in black who looked suddenly small and frail in her distress.
“I don’t know what I would do without you guys,” Kate said.
The front door slammed, and The Team started in surprise.
“She’s home early,” Kate whispered, and there was a flurry of activity as The Team collectively leapt towards the kitchen door. Kate reached for the bathrobe hung over the pantry door and drew it closed over her form-fitting black catsuit. “See you guys next Tuesday,” she called softly to the mish-mosh of spandex and capes that was currently squeezing its brightly-colored self through the back door. A rainbow of hands waved goodbye and then The Team was out in the backyard, flying and darting and stumbling away through the hedges.
Crystal entered the kitchen, her hoodie pulled low over her brow, her backpack slung heavily over her shoulder.
“You’re home early,” Kate said.
“Someone pulled the fire alarm, so we got a half-day,” her daughter replied, glancing at Captain Tiger’s half-eaten scone. “Were you having a party?”
“Not really. Bridge group.”
Crystal nodded, her eyes growing distant. She cocked her head as if she were listening intently to some unseen person.
“Mom, can we go to the zoo this afternoon? It’s important.”
“Oh? Why?”
“What?” Crystal said. “Oh, right. It’s… um… it’s for school. I have a… a project.”
“Let me just change,” Kate said agreeably. Crystal had definitely been Called. And the gods only knew what problems lay at the zoo that needed her daughter’s small hands and shuriken–but they were Crystal’s secrets and Crystal’s adventures now. She headed up to her bedroom to change clothes. In the depths of her dresser was the box of shuriken that had led to her own Calling so many years ago. She pulled it out and brushed the warm cedar lightly with her fingers, flipping it open with a quick flick of her wrist. Inside were the shining ninja stars, the beautiful shuriken, that she had once carried everywhere. After a pause, she slipped a few into her belt-case. After all, she was still The Night Ninja.
“Mom?” Crystal called impatiently.
“Coming,” she replied. My little Ninja Girl, she added to herself with a smile.
Teresa Koeppel is a fledgling writer and superhero living in Connecticut with her husband, who shares her love of fighting crime and eating scones.
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14 Responses to “THE TEAM MEETING • by Teresa Koeppel”
Comments
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August 5th, 2008 at 3:41 am
Had a very cosy English vibe. Not a single novel or interesting idea or turn of phrase in it. Congratz, you made superheroes bland, which may well have been the idea. It just wasn’t a good idea.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:54 am
“Had a very cosy English vibe” – no, see ‘“Mom?†Crystal called impatiently’. “Mom” is US English, as is “brightly-colored” (though the latter is just spelling, the former is actually a different sounding word from the British “mum”). Similarly, see “stirring her tea with a honey swizzle stick”; honey in tea is not absolutely unknown in the UK, but it is definitely not typical. Also “a blueberry scone” indicates another non-British practice (scones are typically plain, although again oddities do occur – but it’s yet more ambience that doesn’t fit a UK setting).
August 5th, 2008 at 6:02 am
A cute concept, Teresa. Some humorous moments. The end was full of maternal poignancy. Keep writing. Don’t let the critics get you down.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:31 am
I thought there was a lot done right in this piece. There were some well crafted sentences and the dialogue was authentic. This is no small accomplishment. The idea of revealing the very ordinary behind-the-scenes lives of superheroes is a funny idea, although it has been done before- The Incredibles comes to mind and a few other movies the names of which I can’t recall right now. Unfortunately the fact that it’s been done already takes away from the piece. But overall I thought the writing was good. I agree with Greta- keep writing!
August 5th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I loved this story! I’m a fan of superhero fiction, and found this to be a great glimpse at life behind the spandex. It stood out from the crowd for me. Great work!
August 5th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I enjoyed the visuals – the superheroes sitting around the kitchen having tea was a hoot – and their names were good, too.
I admit I was a little lost until I “got” that they were superheroes, etc. Maybe bump up the explanation paragraph a bit? But that really might just be me.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Daringly cute.
Liked the concept.
Are there English superheroes? Always thought of that as American & Japanese comic book fare. And scones are as numerous as pine trees in America. Walk in any coffee shop…
Nice story, Teresa.
–dj
August 5th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Thanks to everyone who has commented so far (both the positive and the negative!) This story marks my first attempt at flash fiction, so I am admittedly quite a newbie at this. I really appreciate all of the constructive criticism – every little bit helps.
(Side note: Just to clarify, I never envisioned this story set in England or with British characters. But I’m sure there are British superheroes out there, dj! Everyone needs a superhero or two…)
August 5th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
It was well written and captures the scene well. In a way i feel like the plot could have had more to it, but other than that its a great story.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I like it a lot, Teresa. It just so happened that as I was reading it, my three-year-old was “singing” the theme song for The Justice League. He’s, of course, Superman right now, and that’s why he has to do the theme. Rescuin’ chicks. Seems I should hook him up with Crystal…
August 5th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Thanks for the comments, Sherlock and Kevin. “Rescuin’ chicks” is, indeed, a noble pursuit. I see your son is angling for a spot on the next generation’s Team. A Superman is always welcome…
August 5th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
though it’s complete in and of itself, i’d love to read the further adventures…
August 8th, 2008 at 8:23 am
I agree with dj…it’s cute. Problem is that sort of it. The story takes the amazing and makes it mundane, but it doesn’t really get to the absurd point (like Hitchhiker’s Guide) or extraordinary. Like Alison mentioned, The Incredibles did this, but they gave us true humans behind the superheroes…not sure if this piece makes it to the same pt. Part of a longer piece? that may be why Gerard thought it was bland..
Curious…why didn’t the collection of superheroes in the room notice that there’s something wrong at the zoo? Could it be that they’re getting old and tired? or is Crystal exceptional?
Keep on it and good luck!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Thanks for reading and commenting, avi and sara. It’s interesting to see different people’s reactions to this piece. Everyone looks at it from a new perspective, and I find that really educational. I do understand what you are saying, sara – I’m not sure I necessarily broke any new ground here. For me, the piece was more about the mother-daughter relationship than the superheroes, although I definitely framed it in terms of superheroes. More than anything, however, it was an experiment in trying to write a story in less than 1000 words – and what a fun and challenging one it was. It’s great to see people like it, it’s helpful to see people criticize it, and overall, it’s been a really valuable experience for me as a writer (and a reader!) Thanks again to everyone!