HERODUDE KAGE: CHAPTER 33
HeroDude and Quadeem make it to a spot where HeroDude can change back into Kage.
Afterwards, the two walk back to their house and then just stare at the front door, knowing that a loving…but pissed-off mother is waiting for them… or should I say… one of them.
Quadeem pats his little brother on the shoulder.
"You remember that extra padding, right?"
Kage pushes Quadeem's hand off him
"Come on. I know she'd pissed, but she can't be…THAT pissed."
"You never know. Her level of pissed depends on her day at work. So let's hope she at least had a good day at work…"
"….Quadeem."
Quadeem raises his eyebrows
"Yeah?"
"She took off today to go to ya college."
Quadeem slowly nods his head while turning to the door
"….yeah you're cooked bro."
"Loveee your confidence dawg."
"Ok, well maybe you're not cooked. It is a day off…. A day off without any hours though… so less money on the—"
"I'm just gonna… I'm just gonna open the door."
"Just like that? You don't wanna think about what you're gonna say."
"What you think I've been doing while we were walking here?"
Kage opens the door to see his dad Raheem watching TV in the living room.
When Raheem sees the two, he rolls over to them
"Ayyyy, look at my boy Kage!!! Saved the day from big bad man once again!"
He wraps both Kage and Quadeem by his Arms
"By himself too!"
He looks over at Quadeem.
"Well, kinda by himself."
He whispers
"We gotta talk about you throwing my sword later."
"How did you—"
"But anyway, Kage! You did good today!"
Kage rubs the back of his head.
"Well."
He looks over at Jamila, who is running in for a hug.
"I did have some help."
But then, he hears his mother's footsteps as she walks out of the dining room
"H-hey… Mom"
No response. Abigail has a serious look. It's almost like she's staring into Kage's soul. The look your parents give you that sends shivers down your body.
Raheem sees his wife and rolls over.
"Cheri!! You see? Our son really is a little superhero! He gonna be out there fighting them big battles by himself one day!"
Abigail turns to her husband with an expression worse than what she just had.
"You're celebrating this?"
It goes silent. Quadeem pats Kage on the shoulder and walks to his room. Jamila runs back to her room as well. Raheem tilts his head towards Abigail.
"Cheri…."
"No! Pitit gason nou an te prèske mouri nan batay sa a, EPI W AP FETE-AK—
"(Our son nearly died in that fight, AND YOUR CELEBRATING—)
She turns her face away from Raheem with her hand palmed on her forehead.
"I'll deal with you later."
"Abby…"
"I'LL DEAL…..with you later! Just…let me talk to my son, okay?"
Silence again…Raheem slowly nods and rolls away. It's now just her and Kage.
"Mommmm, Mom! Did I ever mention that I love what you did with your hair?"
"Uh huh."
"…and you always make the best cooking."
"Yeah."
"And you're just all around the best mom in the world! The entire world!
"Right…right."
"…And you know the world is pretty big."
"Are you gonna cut the BS or should I!?"
Kage sighs.
"Here we go."
"Cause if i remember correctly! You went into a destroyed museum by yourself and fought someone that almost killed you! Right or wrong."
"Mom…"
"RIGHT OR WRONG."
"…right."
"And not just that, you wasn't gonna tell me, you wasn't going to tell your brother, that is SUPPOSED to be their whenever your doing this…dumb...crap! And I don't know WHY your dad didn't tell me anything but—-"
"Mom…"
"DON'T…cut me off, boy—"
"MOM!!!!"
Abigail leans her head back and looks her son up and down.
"O-O! You think you're grown now, huh? Don't wanna listen to you mother? Huh?"
"It's not like that! Just please listen!"
Abigail raises her eyebrows as she crosses her arms and leans on the wall
"I know I shouldn't have went there by myself, I know that. In a perfect scenario I would have done that! You know!
"But sometimes when it really comes to that, you have do stuff that you normally wouldn't do when it comes to doing the right thing."
Abigail remains quiet. Kage is kinda surprised about that.
"And…I can't just sit down and wait when other people could lose their lives."
Abigail walks closer.
"But what I don't understand is why do you care so much about these people! We're black! HAITIAN people in America, and especially when we do what some Americans think we're aren't able to do…
Abigail spins her finger around
"We start getting surrounded by people who… who say stuff like "why are people like you in such a position. I didn't know your kind could make it". That's who you save!"
"…well not all of them but I can understand where you're coming from."
"Yeah! So why Kage. Why do you care about these people so so much. Cause if one day God forbid one of them sorcerers get you! People aren't just going to see a hero….
"…Their gonna see just another dead n***er on the street. Not cause it's true but that how people think!"
Kage smacks his thighs and turns his head for a moment. Thinking about what to say.
"Mom…it's…it's kinda like your job! Okay! Your a doctor! Your saving lives! I'm just doing the same thing!"
"So WORK, Pitit Mwen! Become a doctor like me! Help people without risking your life!"
Kage shakes his head.
"No no…no! Mom you don't get it!"
"WHAT DON'T I GET!?!? PLEASE TELL ME CAUSE IT FEELS LIKE I'M THE ONLY ONE IN THIS HOUSE THAT DON'T GET IT!"
Kage turns and starts to walk away
"AYE!"
Kage stops as Abigail aggressively points at him.
"Don't.."
Kage slightly turns his head back at his mother.
"Mom…You help people who are already in the hospital. You can save them from diseases. Sickness. Tumors. Injuries, etc! But those things are not the only causes of death anymore! That's where I want to come in!
I want to save people from getting their life took away just because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. And with this power I can do that… At least…I want to try!
Once again…silence. Until Abigail walks closer.
"But is that worth your life?"
Kage turns away
"You still don't get it."
Kage walks to his room. Abigail quickly follows.
"Kage…"
"Mom… we can talk about this later.. or not at all."
"KAGE!"
Kage dashes to his room before Abigail can grab him….she grinds her teeth and grabs on to her belt.
"BOY YOU BETTER--"
Raheem rolls towards Abigail and grabs her shoulder.
"Abby… we're not doing that… I'm fine with the yelling and all that. But I wouldn't let you scoop that low… you know how I feel about…that."
Abigail takes a deep breath…
"Ti gason."
…and then storms off to the kitchen.
"Poukisa m te fè I vin nan mond lan? Pou I vin doktè oswa avoka! Men nonnn, li vle ap jwe wòl sipè-ewo epi fè kaka! Mezanmi wooo!
(Why did I bring him in this world? To become a doctor or a lawyer! But nooo he wants to play superhero and s**t! My my goodnessss!)
END OF CHAPTER