The Kryptonite Kid: A Novel (19 page)

It was Robert’s father.

So I just stood by the door and watched everybody for a while. But my dad didn’t see me. He was talking to the bar tender who was giving him another beer. So I waited. And nobody saw me yet. So I waited some more. And the man started singing louder. And somebody told him to shut the Hell up. So I started going into the room and that’s when the bar tender saw me. So he pointed. And my dad turned around. And so did Robert’s father who was bowling. And Robert’s father said WELL IF IT ISN’T LITTLE BUSTER. And I really hated that. So he grabbed me by the shoulder and he brought me over to my dad and he picked me up and he put me on a stool. Right next to my dad.

And the bar tender said WHAT’LL IT BE, KID? And everybody laughed. And somebody said GIVE HIM A BEER, SAM! And everybody laughed louder. And my dad’s eyes were all red but he wasn’t mad. He looked like he didn’t feel very good. Somebody poked him on the shoulder and said, HEY, YOUR KID’S LOOKING FOR YOU! And everybody laughed and somebody said WHERE’S YOUR MAMA, KID? HA-HA! And my dad burped. And the man way at the end started laughing and singing real loud. And what he was singing was THERE’S NOooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO PLACE LIKE HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME! 
HA-HA! So my dad just looked at me. And then he said You better go wait in the car. And everybody laughed again. And somebody said HE’LL BE RIGHT OUT, KID! and everybody laughed louder. And so I walked towards the door and I looked back and everybody waved and laughed. Except my dad. He didn’t do nothing. He just sat there.

He didn’t come outside for a long time because I waited. And waited. And then I walked home all by myself in the dark. And when I got home my mom was crying again. Only she wasn’t mad or anything. Not at me. But she called the Italien Club and they said he wasn’t there. But my mom knew he was. Because I told her. But she just said WELL IF HE COMES IN TELL HIM TO COME HOME and she hung up. And then she gave me a sandwich and some milk. And then she said it’s time to go to bed. And then she started crying again. She was crying real soft but I could hear her all the way from my bedroom. She cryed for a long time. Until I fell asleep. And then I had another dream.

I dreamed I was walking into a bar that looked just like the Italian Club. Only I wasn't little anymore. I was big. Like my dad. I sat down on a stool and the bar tender said HI'YA, JER and I said HI’YA, SAM and then I said GIMME A BEER and he did. And there was somebody way at the end of the bar who was burping and singing to himself. I couldn't tell who it was, but he looked a lot like Robert Sipanno. Except I wasn't sure because he was wearing a helmet. A soldier's helmet. And his head was in his arms and his arms were on the bar. And so was his gun. He was fingering it mechanically, like rosary beads. So I looked at Sam and I said WHO'S THAT OVER THERE? And Sam said I DUNNO, HE JUST CAME IN OUT OF NOWHERE. So I picked up my beer and I walked down the bar and I stood right next to him. ROBERT? I said. But he didn't look up. ROBERT? ITS ME—JERRY. He was still sort of singing but he wouldn't look up and that's when he
 
started laughing, high and screechy like a girl, laughing and crying and singing at the same time. So I grabbed his helmet. I started pulling his head up. But allofasudden he jerked around quickly, fiercely—like a bullet he sprang forward and attacked me and I knew it was Robert. I KNEW it! It didn't matter that his face was covered with blood and he didn't have any eyes and there was a statue of the Virgin Mary in his pocket, crying. It didn't matter because nothing mattered.

Because I woke up.

Everything was quiet, Superman. Except for my dad. He was snoring on the couch because my mom locked the bedroom door. And Buster was talking in his sleep like he always does about Mary Louise. So I couldn’t go back to sleep.

I tried, but I couldn’t.

So I decided to get out a piece of paper and write you a letter about Robert, my BEST friend. The only person who really understands me and helps me and loves me, Superman.

He says I have X-ray Vision and I can find Kryptonite. BOY can I find it! ALLover the place!

He stands beneath that apple tree and smiles, then laughs as I fly into the sky like a plane, my arms out in front of me, my cape flapping behind me—flying higher, making loops, snatching an apple from the uppermost branch: HERE, ROBERT, CATCH!—then shooting straight up like a rocket, like a streak of light: WATCH THIS, ROBERT! LOOK, ROBERT! I’M FLYYYYYYYYYYYYING!

Now do you understand, Superman? I could fly. I did fly. I CAN fly because Robert’s looking up at me. Because Robert believes in me. Because that’s all there really is, Superman.

That's all there ever was.

  

Dear SUPERMAN,

The other day Jimmy Sinceri saw one of my comicbooks in my notebook and he grabbed it. And I said YOU BETTER GIVE IT BACK!

And he said I’M GONNA SHOW IT TO SISTER MARY JUSTIN!

And I said YOU BETTER GIVE IT BACK! again.

And he said WHO’S GONNA MAKE ME?

And I said ME!

And he started laughing and so did Duane Machado who flunked the first grade and so he’s a lot older than everybody else. And also a lot bigger and fatter and uglier. And Jimmy said he knew FOR SURE there wasn’t a real Superman and I was the STUPIDEST kid in the class and maybe I was the STUPIDEST kid in the entire world. And Duane said that Robert Sipanno was the second stupidest kid and they both started laughing again. Robert wasn’t around because he was in the lavatory. So I tried to grab the comicbook but I couldn’t because they’re a LOT bigger than me. Especially Duane who’s the biggest person in the class and who pushed me against the wall. Real hard. And so I said YOU JUST WAIT TILL I GET SUPER LIKE SUPERMAN! BOY ARE YOU GONNA GET IT!

And they both started laughing REAL HARD. And Jimmy said WHO’S GONNA GET SUPER—YOU?

And I said ME!

And he said HA-HA!

And I said YOU BETTER STOP IT!

And they both said HA-HA and then Duane pushed me again. So I pushed him back. So he hit me and I hit him and he hit me again and my nose started to bleed when I fell and he kicked me. And Jimmy just watched and laughed. And Duane said IF YOU GET UP I’LL HIT YOU AGAIN! And Jimmy grabbed my comicbook and he tore it up and he threw it allover me and he said SUPERMAN and they both HA-HA’d again. And so now I REALLY hate them and they don’t like me either. And neither does a lot of the other kids in school. In fact, just about everybody doesn’t like me very much except Robert. And you. And my mom said WHAT HAPPEND TO YOUR NOSE?

And I said I fell.

And she said YOU’RE SO DAM CLUMBSY!

And Robert said it don’t matter what everybody else says. Because he’s my friend and I’m his friend and we’re both your friend, Superman. And there’s nobody else we want to be friends with anyway except maybe Jimmy Olsen. Except he don’t go to Holy Redeemer School like we have to. So we talked about it a LONG time and we decided when we make our First Holy Communion next month, that’s when I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna fly, Superman.

I’m REALLY gonna fly!

I’m gonna jump off the roof of my dad’s apartment building so I can get a real good start. And then I’m gonna fly all the way to Holy Redeemer Church and get my First Holy Communion in front of Jimmy Sinceri and Duane Machado and Sister Mary Justin and everybody. Except Robert said maybe I should wait until AFTER we get our First Holy Communion and this way if something goes wrong then I’ll go to Heaven for sure. But I told Robert that I want to do it when EVERYBODY’S gonna see me, especially
 my mom and my dad and Veronica nextdoor. And Buster.

BOY are they gonna be surprised!

LOVE,

JERRY and ROBERT

PS: When I decide what time I’m gonna do it exactly, I’ll let you know OK? This way you can come and see it if you want. Or else you could watch it on your X-ray Vision.

DEAR SUPERMAN,

My mom said she’s gonna get me a new suit for my First Holy Communion, and so I’m gonna make sure it’s a green one. And just before I fly I’m gonna get some chalk and write KK on it. And then I’m gonna borrow my mom’s green towel and I’m gonna put it over my shoulders. And then I’m gonna climb up on the roof through the attic window and I’m gonna stand there until somebody sees me. And then I’m gonna wait until a few more people see me. And then I’m gonna put out my arms and bend down and jump up and flyyyyyyyyy all the way across the Clarion River and right to the foot of the altar where I’ll stick out my tongue and get my First Holy Communion wafer.

Except Robert said maybe I shouldn’t fly off my dad’s roof. Maybe I should fly off a wall or something. But I said the reason I can’t fly very far right now is because I gotta be higher up. Just like you, Superman. You’re ALWAYS jumping out of windows and stuff all the time and you’re not afraid of falling. And so neither am I. And I figure the 
only way I’m ever gonna do it is if I do it. And besides, I KNOW I can do it because I REALLY hate Jimmy Sinceri and I’ll show everybody. I will. You’ll see.

Goodby.

THE KRYPTONITE KID 

and ROBERT SIPANNO

PS: I figure I’ll be doing it about 10:30 in the morning because Sister Mary Justin said Mass starts at 11. And it’s not this Sunday and it’s not next Sunday because it’s the Sunday after that. So don’t forget to remember.

Dear MAN of STEEL,

This afternoon we had to go to church like we always do so we could confess our sins to Sister Mary Justin. And every time we walk over to the church we have to stand in line like soldiers and we aren’t allowed to talk to NOBODY because Sister Mary Justin keeps walking up and down the line to check on us. And if she sees us talking, then she’ll pretend that she didn’t see us talking until it’s our turn to go into the booth. Which is when we’re supposed to confess it before she does or else we’re in REAL trouble, Superman.