"Michael, are you sure this will work?" Max asked very concerned.

"Of course it will Maxwell. It was your idea. And all of your ideas work." Michael pulled on the ends harder to tighten up the knot. He turned Max around so that Max's back was facing him and straightened out his cape.

"I don't think it was my idea Michael-" Max tried to persuade his friend that he didn't want to do this. Well he kind of did, but his stomach was feeling pretty funny, and when his stomach felt funny, that meant he was going to get sick.

"Yes it was. You said 'I want to be Superman when I grow up', like I will be Spiderman when I grow up. But you just can't be Superman, Duhhhhh- you have to practice first." Michael put a comforting arm around Max's shoulder as he explained. "See, I've been practicing, and you haven't. So this is just practice."

Max looked over at his long time friend and smiled. Michael was right, he needed practice and Michael was just helping him get on his way to being Superman.

The two seven year olds started to walk towards the open window in Max's room. Michael climbed out first and took a few steps on to the roof. He looked back and waved his hand, signaling Max to join him. Max looked at Michael and swallowed hard. He took a couple steps back. It was Michael calling his name that stopped him in his tracks. Max took a deep breath then started to walk towards the window again.

"Maxwell, c'mon-"

Max slowly climbed out of the window and took pain stakingly slow steps towards Michael, who was very close to the edge.

"Ok Max, this is only a test run. Just make sure your cape is on straight so you can fly."

“Michael, I really don’t think this will work. I mean I’m not an alien and I can’t fly.”

“Ah- you’ll do alright-” Michael was about to nudge Max close to the edge when they heard voices. Both boys looked around until they spotted Kyle Valenti and Alex Whitman.

“What are you guys doing?” Kyle screamed with this hand around his mouth like a megaphone.

“Yeah- what are you guys doing?” questioned Alex, he took a few steps closer to see them better.

“Go away you two, we’re busy.” Michael rolled his eyes. He was never going to see Max fly now.

“What is Max doing with that red towel around his neck. He looks stupid.” Kyle started to chuckle as he pointed at Max.

“None of your business!” Max yelled down at Kyle. He never did like Kyle Valenti. Looking over to Michael, Max sad pleadingly “-I don’t want to do this with them being here.”

“Don’t worry about them-” Michael was interrupted by Kyle. Kyle was laughing so hard he started to snort. “What’s your problem Valenti?”

“Max- Max wants to be Superman!” Kyle gasped between fits of laughter.

“Michael-” Max whispered between his clenched teeth. His hands grabbed the ends of his cape, holding it tight to restrain his anger.

“Don’t worry Max. He’ll see-” Michael said comfortingly to Max as he put a hand on Max’s back. “We’ll see who will be going to laugh now-” Michael screamed down towards Kyle.

“Michael- what do you meaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnn-” Max wasn’t able to finish his question before Michael nudged him hard. Max fell forward and went off the roof. At that moment a strong breeze from nowhere blew and caught on to Max’s cape that he was holding. Max glided down and dropped on the bushes below with a hard thud.

Michael quickly climbed back into Max’s room and ran downstairs to the front yard. He ran towards Max, joining Kyle and Alex as they both detangled Max from the bush.

“Oh My Gosh Max, that was so COOL!” Kyle said in amazement.

“You’re brave Max! I would have never jumped-” Alex said as he picked out the leaves out of Max’s hair.

“Max- Maxwell- are you ok?”

“Uh-huh” Max assured his friends. “Michael, did you see me fly! That was so COOL!”

“Yeah- that was so AWESOME! Can I try Max?” Kyle asked.

Max looked over to Michael to see him smirking. Max was speechless; he had never expected Kyle to say anything good to him. Max was about to answer, but was interrupted by a female voice from inside the house.

“Max- honey, dinner-” bellowed the feminine voice. Mrs. Evans, a tall, dirty blond woman came round the house so see all of the boys standing around Max. “Well hello boys. Would you like to stay for dinner?” She smiled when all of them nodded their heads. “Well come inside and wash up before dinner. Honey, why do you have one of my best towel tied around your neck?”

Max looked over to Michael for help.

“Oh, we’re playing Super Heroes ma’am. I’m Spiderman, Max is Superman, Alex is Batman and Kyle, well he’s the bad guys,” Michael said confidently.

“Oh, that’s nice. Now hurry up and get washed up, we’re having frijole fritatta today.” Mrs. Evans turned around and walked in the house, leaving the boys alone once again.

“Hey, why am I always the bad guys?” Kyle whined.

“Because you are really good at it-” explained Alex.

“I know, but why can’t Michael be the bad guys. He’s good at it too.” Kyle started to pout. He didn’t like being the bad guys all the time.

“Because I’m always Spiderman.”

“And I’m always Superman.”

“And since I’m the smart one, Batman.” Alex gave everybody a big grin. “How about you be the Hulk, Kyle. Super hero and bad guy in one.”

Everybody was looking at Kyle for his reaction. Kyle smiled and nodded at the suggestion. He could be big, green and mean.

“Ok then, lets shake on it.” Michael then spit in his hand and put it out for the rest of them to do the same. Max and Kyle followed suit, but Alex seemed hesitant.

“Guys, that's really dirty. All that germs and stuff,” Alex said pleadingly as the guys moaned at his argument.

“C’mon Alex, stop being a wimp!” Michael said.

“Yeah Alex, c’mon-” Kyle pressured.

Alex finally succumbed and quickly spit in his palm and shook their hands.

“Max- what is this frijole fritatta?” Kyle asked as the four boys walked in the house rubbing their palms on their jeans.

The End

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