Scene 13: Road Home
Our hero goes towards the highway leading to New York, suddenly the next headache attack hits him so hard that John stops in the middle of a busy street, grabs his head and, starts wincing in pain. He fells onto the sidewalk. This time there are much more voices:
Old man passing by
Another drug addict. Oh Lord, what this city has become. In my time, there were no drug addicts here, or at least they kept their heads down and hid in their holes…
A mother with two children passing by
So young, and already all sick. Don’t worry, once you have children you won’t have time for being sick or for anything else…
A guy in headphones
That must be some good stuff…
A man in a robe
What’s wrong with you, a new fake phobia? Stop pretending to be special and go to work, you idiot!
People were passing by while John continued to writhe in pain. The voices this time were much louder than the voice of the McDonald’s employee.
Suddenly, the voices subsided and the pain was gone as it had come – as if they were not there at all. Not without difficulty, John stood up very slowly and continued his way to the highway.
Despite the fact that this method of traveling was old-fashioned 20 – 30 years ago, our hero, to his own surprise, very quickly managed to stop the car.
The first car belonged to a mother with three children, restless and very noisy children. Our hero was very patient, and almost did not pay any attention to the children sitting in the rear seat. But it was their mother who started the conversation about naughty children:
Car 1, mother with 3 children
Car 1, mother of 3 children
I’m afraid that they will not calm down, they can fight all the way, and then continue at home and so on until night. I only have peace at night and at work. I thought it would not be so hard to raise children and it was, but since their father died, I can barely cope with them.
Our hero:
You have very nice children.
Car 1, mother of 3 children:
(this time we don’t see her lips moving)
You know, I couldn’t talk to them properly about what happened to their father and how we should continue to live without him. I guess I’m just not completely accepting that he is gone myself. Maybe, it seems to me that if I talk to them about it, I’m kind of saying goodbye to him forever, but I don’t want to say goodbye to him. I just can’t do it, overcome myself, do you understand me?
Our hero:
My parents disappeared when I was only 4 years old. There aren’t many memories left of them. I didn’t have anybody to talk about it back then for a long time however I would like to have someone to talk to about them, someone who understands how I feel. I think you should talk to your daughters about what happened. Furthermore, I think that would be good for you too.
Car 1, mother of 3 children:
(Suddenly the mother began to speak to the children, with whom she had not been able to talk about it for a year. In the car, with a stranger.)
Children, listen! Your father has passed away and that mean he will no longer be with us. You must understand that this is forever…
Our hero did not expect it and now didn’t know what to do. He felt that he should not have been there at the moment. The children calmed down at the same moment as their mother uttered the first sentence and silence reigned in the car. He seemed to shrink into the seat in embarrassment.
Children begun to ask some questions one after another. But our hero didn’t hear almost nothing, because he was mentally plunging into his own childhood memories: all the events since his parents hadn’t come home from work and his nanny had called the police and his first day at the shelter had played out in a kaleidoscope. He recalled how he could not fall asleep and came across a woman on the reception and how she calmed him with her soft voice, kind conversation and warm tea…
Since that conversation, the children have stopped fighting and shouting at each other. The mother also fell silent and everyone drove in silence for about 30 minutes – before the car did not start to stop – because here the family had to turn onto another road in the different direction from New-York.
Car 1, mother of 3 children:
I’m Sorry that I started this conversation in front of you, but I felt some strange relief and strong motivation, courage and realized that I should talk to them immediately.
Our hero:
It’s okay, I understand. Thank you for the ride!
Car 1, mother of 3 children:
Thank you for inspiring me to this. Good luck on the road!
Our hero:
Thank you, good luck to you!
The first car has left. John took his cardboard and stood the next road direction leading to New-York.
After John left the car and was already heading different direction, children were looking at him while they could, through the back window and asked their mother:
Car 1, children:
Mom, who was that guy?
Car 1, mother of 3 children:
He is just good man who is heading to the New-York City, and he has no parents. That’s all I know.
Car 1, children:
He is very strange though – he didn’t say a word all the way.
Car 2: two strange guys.
Our hero didn’t have to wait for the second cat either – after just a few minutes, a car stopped, in which there were two guys of 30-35 years old. From the very beginning, they were very friendly, but somehow strange at the same time.
Car 2, guy #1 (driver):
– We are also going to New York, get in – more people more fun!
Car 2, guy #2:
– Are you going alone and you are Hitchhiking?! It’s unusual for these days.
Our hero:
– Yes, I’m returning from a business trip. I lost my passport, so I can’t fly. I decided that I would hitchhike and that it’s even safer – I don’t like to fly.
Car 2, guy #1 (driver):
– “Business trip?” You look 17 years old, you still have to go to school.
Our hero:
(our hero felt his dignity was hurt and decided to brag)
– No, I almost dropped out of school! I am an orphan, I had to grow up earlier. I already have my own firm. Last month I made $20,000!
Car 2, guy #1 (driver):
– Not bad! Do you have some kind of a start-up?
Our hero:
(answering a bit hesitantly, thinking if he had said too much)
– Yes, kind of.
The robbers looked at each other. Obviously, they were thinking that this would be almost the perfect combination for a robbery – a young orphan businessman returning from a business trip who has lost his passport… With him, at least there should be a phone, cash and a watch – maybe even a classic watch, which, judging by the stories of our hero about his earnings, could be quite expensive.
Car 2, guy #2:
(reaches into the glove compartment and pulls out a gun):
– Look, you’re not a bad guy. So, let’s not be stupid. You will give me everything you have: wallet, cell phone, watch and what else you have… and everybody will go his own way.
The driver, meanwhile, continues to drive, but watches our hero in the rearview mirror. It seems like this is not their first ride.
Our hero:
(he didn’t expect nothing like this)
– Wait!… Listen!…
At these words, the driver abruptly pulls over to the side of the road and brakes. His friend was not fastened and he hit hard on the panel.
Car 2, guy #2:
– What are you doing?” Why did you stop?? Because of you, you piece of shit, I’m bleeding now!
Car 2, guy #1 (driver):
(he speaks with a tremor in his voice)
– I’m sorry, but I felt that I had to stop. Like that would be right…
Car 2, guy #2:
(pointing the gun at his partner)
– Did you felt it?! I didn’t know you were so sensitive! Maybe I should shoot you, too, since you’re no use to me?!
The situation was heating up and our hero decided to intervene.
Our hero:
– Listen, we all need to calm down!
Immediately after these words, both the robbers changed their tone – the one who was yelling changed his tone to more kind one, and the one who was worried stopped being afraid and spoke in more calmed manner.
Suddenly, our hero clearly understands that he hears the thoughts of each of the robbers, that the gun is not loaded, that the guy #1 (driver) has long wanted to leave and find some normal job, and much more.
Now our hero begins to understand that he has the new superpowers after all and this is mind reading and telepathy.
He “forces” the robbers to drive him all the way to New-York. He also forces them to talk to each other openly. And this is how they spent the whole way – the robbers shared their feelings and experiences with each other, decided that they were both tired of doing this business and that they need to find something else. So, when they get to New-York, the ex-robbers and John say goodbye to each other almost like friends.
He really liked the way he used his new powers – he realized that he had influenced the lives of at least six people today and changed them for the better and maybe even saved somebody’s life. Today is the first day when he first realized what it is like to be a real superhero.