HeroDude Kage: Chapter 23
Kage and Raheem pull into a parking lot to eat. Kage thinks it's pretty good while Raheem thinks it was a waste of money.
Afterwards, Kage manages to drive back to the house. No music was playing. The tension was lingering. Right when Kage was getting close to maybe forgetting what happened, he was reminded once again.
The two make it back, dealing with two reality sorcerers along the way. When they make it home, Kage finally speaks.
"So. how did you…"
Raheem chuckles
"Your mom. She was bothering me all night about people that were talking down on you."
Flashback: Yesterday.
Abigail is in the break room with her computer up and bright while she's on the phone with Raheem.
"UGH! Look at all of this! Look!!! They're gonna talk s**t about OUR son? Who do the f**k think they are? Acting like they're not 30 year old virgins living with Mama and Papa!"
"You know that's what all these people are Babe! Cause who else would waste their time to talk S**T on this Instagram thing!"
Abigail smacks her lips as she scrolls through all the memes aboutHeroDude.
O-O!! Look at this, Raheem! LOOK AT THIS!
She points her phone at the screen as a reel plays with the caption, "When you trynna state your opinion but you're talking to HeroDude."
"This is OUR SON they are talking about! You know what! Imma make…the MOST RUTHLESS, DISRESPECTFUL, IG COMMENT—
While Abigail is ranting, Raheem is through the screen staring with a straight face. But it's not actually Raheem, it's just a cardboard cutout of him while the real Raheem is on the couch, trying his very best to get some sleep.
PRESENT TIME.
Kage looks down in disappointment.
"Oh… I didn't know that Mom was… doing all that."
Raheemchuckles some more.
"Yeah it was kind of funny. You should've seen it."
Raheem smirks but Kage remains quiet. Raheem notices and starts to get serious.
"So you don't want to talk about it?"
Kage doesn't respond. Raheem leans closer.
"Silent treatment. Mmm. You know I'm here for you pitit mwen. I'm not mad… honestly I'm not even disappointed. Even sixteen year olds can have temper tantrums, you know? But… it's still surprising to see you like that. So I just want to know. What triggered you to the point that you just had to snap?"
Kage grips the steering wheel tighter. Raheem notices that as well.
"What? The steering wheel was booing you too?"
Kage looks up at him
"No! It's just…uhhh"
Kage stumbles on his own words while trying to figure out what to say.
"It's just… I've been saving people for two years now and it's… I just thought people would be more grateful for that. Some of them are yeah but… not all of them."
Raheem nods on as Kage continues.
"Almost everyday when I save people there is always someone. Someone! That always got something to say and for some reason that person would always be the loudest."
He stares down and starts shaking his head.
"And it would only get louder… and louder… and louder… Until next thing I know it's 5 people, 10… 20. They would call me a poster. A fraud, people like me only exist in comic books as if we don't live in a comic book fu—
Kage pauses to take a deep breath.
"as if we don't live in a comic book world."
Kage leans back and stares at the car ceiling.
"You told me to respect and understand others. But I just don't understand why? Why can't people accept me as someone that just wants to at least try to make the world a better place…"
Kage thinks back to when he snapped.
"I guess I was just… so tired of not having answers."
Raheem looks down raising his eyebrows, thinking about what to say.
"Well, to be fair, you didn't save much houses"
Kage looks away
"Why did I even tell you…"
Raheem puts his hands up.
"Joking! Joking! Sorry. But still, son. Let's get one thing straight. People are moso fatra (Pieces of trash). People can be ungrateful, petty. Always complaining. Always crying. There's always something wrong with everyone!
Kage keeps his ears open
"But! That's just how people are. You can't tell a dog to stop barking. Just like how you can't tell a k**a (s**t) to not be a k**a. That's unfortunately… just how people are.
Kage nods.
"But at the same time. You can save people, yes. But what about their houses? Their businesses, their shelter? That's a big thing you gotta protect if you want people to be happy."
Kage head quickly pops up.
"But ain't their lives enough? What's the point of a house if you're not alive to live in it?"
Raheem raises his hand up to get Kage to calm down.
"I know. I know. I get it trust me, son, I do! But what I'm trying to tell you is…"
Raheem sighs
"..People expect people like you to be perfect! The perfect superhero! They expect you to save every single part of their lives, and when you can't do that, they will use the life that you extended for them to say some… stupid s**t! But this is why I taught you to respect and understand others.
"Sometimes you don't need answers to understand someone. Sometimes you just gotta look around. Look at the situation they're in. If they still gotta house? Or if their uh… their pet is alive or gone? What I'm trying to tell you, son, with that lesson, is that there will always be people that will piss. You. Off.
Kage nods
"But you can't let them change who you are. You don't need to yell at them back that will only cause more problems. You just need to understand that even if you save their lives, they might not even have a life to go back to."
"So people will be angry yes! But at the end of the day you are the reason they still have a chance to repair their lives. So if you still don't understand why they boo. At least understand that you still gave them the chance to reset and rebuild."
Kage nods slowly.
"Yea. I guess you're right"
Raheem leans back.
"And besides! It's not like everyone hates you. Your mother found quite a few videos about people supporting you. Her favorite one was when this girl with her kid came out to defend you. It's my favorite too."
Kage gives a light smirk
"Yea. Heh. I know exactly who you're talking about."
Raheem opens his passenger door.
"Yeah. Just go rest on it for a while. But know, no matter what people say. You're doing good things out there…"
Raheem swings his legs outside and quickly remembers that he's paralyzed.
"Oh yeah… son, can you…"
"Yeah, I got you, pops."
Kage grabs the wheelchair from the backseat, unfolds it, and places it right next to Raheem.
"Here you go… uh you need me to—"
"Ha! You know the answer to that pitit mwen!"
Raheem forward rolls out of the car. And flips onto his wheelchair. Kage lets out a chuckle.
"You sure you're paralyzed?"
"Do I need to tell you my life story again?"
END OF CHAPTER.