“Well thank you!” said Bonnie graciously.
Hal looked like he was about to ask her something, but once again he demurred after a moment. Then Bonnie noticed the time.
“Gotta get to back to work!” said Bonnie, “Bye, Hal!”
The checkpoint had a different guard now. And while Bonnie was thankful not to be asked the sticky question of her origin, she was nonetheless still looked at with suspicion. She tried to hide her shock when she was asked whether she knew anyone who was tied to extremists, or whether she had visited any suspicious websites. She handled it calmly—no doubt the reason why she was let go, but she was still visibly upset once she moved on.
At work, she was on a roll, seeming the very model of efficiency. Her line now moved faster than anyone else’s, and she was ready for any surprise a customer might throw at her.
“Look at this! I haven’t forgotten the greeting once, and my line is moving like gangbusters. I got this job down.”
Lisa recognized the look on Bonnie’s face. It was the kind of too-big smile she had when something was not so right under the surface; behind that veneer was an undercurrent of worry.
“You’re doing great,” said Maria, “What do you think, Nadine?”
“She’s good. She’s good,” said Nadine, “I knew she’d come around. And thank you too, Lisa!”
“Definitely,” said Maria, “We knew you’d steer us right.”
“Thank you,” said Lisa, trying to smile.
Maria and Nadine went back to their business. Bonnie stared at Lisa’s repressed look of anger.
“Hey, they thanked you too,” said Bonnie.
“I know. I know,” said Lisa
Suddenly, Lisa and Bonnie noticed a breaking news report on the TV’s from the neighboring electronics department. There was a bank robbery and hostage situation in Midtown. Lisa turned to Bonnie, but she was gone. However, Bonnie’s line was still there, and picking up.
Lisa took a deep breath before resigning herself to the situation and taking over the register, amazed at her own tolerance of the situation. “How long before she actually admits to this?” she thought to herself, “let alone till she apologizes for making me give up my break!”
At the bank, there was much confusion and panic.
“Everyone into the vault!” cried the leader of the gang, “You are going to have to have your backs turned.” As the last customers and bank employees entered the vault, the door was closed. The robbers slipped out the back door.
According to the news, the three men had first come in quietly, behaving like ordinary bank customers. Whether by luck or by design, an M80 went off just outside, causing a major distraction. They barred the front door before pulling their ski masks down and taking out their guns. There must have been an insider involved, since the security cameras had been turned off.
Bonnie Boring slipped unseen into the ladies’ room of The Big Box. There her super speed rendered her invisible, seeming like a momentary draft as she flew through the window, into the air. Then, easily as a summer dandelion shedding its seeds, Bonnie cast off her human trappings, as she metamorphosed into Ms. Infinity.
It was barely a second before she crossed the East River into Manhattan, and approached the scene of the crime. From high above the bank, she watched with her super senses. The fourth member picked up the gang from the bank in the getaway car, then peeled away off a dead-end street, over a concrete island, through a break in the guard rail, and onto the FDR Drive. Within a split second, Ms. Infinity made a decisive move.
The midday traffic on the highway was suddenly knocked into confusion when a strange figure flew in from above. Drivers on both sides were immediately distracted by the sight of the beautiful, magical woman, suddenly in the middle of traffic. She stood tall, dressed in deep blue, her arms akimbo. Her black hair and yellow cape flew behind her. But if passerby were thrown, the robbers were completely startled, for at her appearance their car came suddenly to a complete stop.
Ms. Infinity held her foot against their bumper. From where they sat, she seemed to block the sky. The driver put his foot down on the accelerator, hoping to force her away, but nothing happened. He pushed harder, soon flooring it, but while the wheels turned, the car did not move at all. He tried to put it in reverse, but she held the car with her hand and prevented it from moving.
The superhero picked up the car by its front bumper. Then, gripping it with both hands, she began to break the entire vehicle in two. She bent it from her right side, now with one arm, and began to tear it apart like paper. There was a deafening metallic sound as the structure ripped at the seams, axles and all, until the whole car was completely sliced, end to end. The men fell from the wreckage to the highway below, shocked from the noise and the strange destruction. They quickly rose, and made a desperate attempt to escape.
But these criminals stood no chance against the hero, her awesome power, and her dizzying speed. They could scarcely begin to run before she tore off one of the car doors, then caught each of the four of them, and placed them on her oversized tray.
With that, she flew. Her captives did not have much time to wonder where they were going. Within a split second, she was back at the scene of the crime. The police were waiting outside the bank.
“These are the perpetrators,” said Ms. Infinity, “Is there anything else?”
“There are hostages,” said an officer, “We got through the front door easily enough, but there are people trapped in the vault.”
“In here?” she asked as she reached the back of the bank.
“Yes,” said the officer, “inside the vault. I don’t know how strong…”
“Say no more!” interrupted Ms. Infinity. With one hand, she casually gripped a side of the vault door. There was a loud crunch as she tore it off, though to watch her, it seemed as if she was barely peeling a gigantic label off of an oversized box. She placed the door against the wall, then entered the vault and faced the hostages.
“It’s safe now,” said Ms. Infinity to the crowd, “The crooks have been caught, and you’re free!”
She prepared to step to the side, expecting the crowd to file out. To her surprise, and her lasting gratitude, she was suddenly overwhelmed with cheers. Every single person looked upon her with tremendous warmth, and before she knew it, she was being embraced by one and all. Having been imprisoned in a small, sealed space, they had to be in a hurry to go home, but most would not leave without a hearty thanks.
Ms. Infinity was moved beyond words. Though her deed might not have seemed great to herself, it had been tremendous to many people, and that was everything to her. And while she would soon defeat menaces far more threatening, and amass accomplishments far greater in scale, nonetheless few things could rate with the face-to-face appreciation of the people whom she had helped. This moment would prove one of her most cherished memories.
A far less gratifying experience awaited Ms. Infinity as she followed the hostages out of the bank, where she encountered a wide swath of reporters. She looked at them with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. A big part of her wanted to disappear and fly away on the spot, but she held forth.
“Well folks,” she said, “you got here almost as fast as I did. Are there any superheroes in this group? We may want to form a team.”
Instantly the microphones were pointed at her like raised hands in an impatient honors high school class. Ms. Infinity picked a reporter out at random.
“Ms. Infinity! George Strong of Morning Strike. Since you’re an alien, how long have you been secretly controlling the government?”
The heroine immediately slouched in an expression of dread. “Beg pardon?” she said, “Just because I’m from another planetary mass, why does that put me in with some weird conspiracy theories? Do you know how prejudiced that is?”
“Give me a direct answer! How long have you been controlling the government?”
“If you want a direct answer, it’s never! I don’t control the gove
rnment!”
“Are you behind the Kennedy Assassination?”
“What? I wasn’t even born yet!”
“How about Lincoln?”
“Use your logic! If wasn’t born yet for Kennedy, then how…oh never mind! Anyone with a rational question?”
“Ms. Infinity, Jill Bluster, from Early Advance. What do you say about the people who claim to have made contact with you?”
“You’re making contact with me now.”
“Really,” said Jill in amazement.
“Of course,” said Ms. Infinity, “If you’re talking to me, and I’m talking to you, then…I mean, what do you think happens? I’m not like a ghost or anything!”
“Hi Ms. Infinity,” said Kaz Pimple, “The world wants to know: What wins out? The irresistible force or the immovable object?”
“Well it doesn’t matter much to me,” said Ms. Infinity, “I could beat both of them at the same time!”
“Really?”
“Of course not! Can’t anyone tell when I’m making a joke?”
“Ms. Infinity,” said another reporter, “If you are an alien, do you have the same needs as us?”
“How do you mean? I could outlast just about anyone in hot yoga before running outside, but…”
“No. Look, you may appear to be perfect, but are you really above the human needs, like you know, the bathroom?”
“But when did I ever say…. No! I have to breathe, eat, and sleep like everyone else, and yes. I go to the bathroom too! I’m a living person with all the needs.”
“So, can you give details?”
“You mean details about….No!! Do people ask you questions like that?”
“So Ms. Infinity,” said Jenna Storm as she pushed to the front of the crowd, “What else can you tell us about yourself? Okay, you’re not secretly controlling the world, and you’re not a ghost. But then, who are you really?”
Suddenly, Ms. Infinity remembered that Bonnie Boring had left her job waiting.
“Just what I said,” she answered, “I’m Ms. Infinity. I’m afraid I can’t stay right now. Never forget the power you have inside you.”
With that, Ms. Infinity flew away, once again seeming to disappear. Jenna gave Jake a hard look.
“What’s the matter?” snapped Jake, “I didn’t even say anything?”
“Yeah,” said Jenna, “At least you got that much right.”
Lisa heard the conversation over the TV’s from the electronics department as she worked the register. There was that nervous, overconfident tone that she knew. No doubt about it. She counted the seconds between Ms. Infinity’s disappearance from the scene and Bonnie Boring’s return to the store. Upon Bonnie’s emergence from the ladies’ room, all of Lisa’s remaining doubts disappeared.
‘There you are!” snapped Lisa at Bonnie, “Here! Here’s your register.”
“I’m sorry,” said Bonnie, “I just ummm. I just…”
“Yeah Bonnie,” interrupted Lisa, “I know. It’s fine.”
“What?” said Bonnie nervously, “I was just in the…”
“Never mind!” snapped Lisa, “Just…get back to your register already!”
Hal was sitting on the couch in the Spartan living room of his family’s apartment, waiting for someone to finally return one of his calls. From sending resumes to pounding the pavement to making endless calls, something had to work. He refreshed the emails on his cellphone, and checked and rechecked the voicemail. Still nothing.
Suddenly he noticed yet another news story about Ms. Infinity. This time she interfered with a bank robbery. He was ever captivated by her, but in his frustration, he was also beginning to feel some jealousy. Did she have any idea what it was like to struggle just get a first job?
There, as always, was the saying next to her: Never Forget the Power You Have Inside You. It was easy for her to say. She had superpowers! But then, maybe there was some meaning for him. Maybe somehow this career could happen, if somehow, he could find the power inside.
His cellphone suddenly buzzed. Hal jumped up with a start. But he stopped when he realized that it was just a text from Teddy, “U gna ask dat girl out yo?”
Hal thought of Bonnie. Maybe he should go ahead and ask her out. Perhaps there was a place where maybe, just maybe, he could finally take decisive action in improving his life. He got up from the couch and began to get ready to go to The Big Box. He was about to go when his mother came in, Stacy lagging behind her.
“I’m never getting that Silver Swimmer Certificate,” said Stacy.
“Come here girl!” said Hal warmly, getting on his knees to speak to his sister at eye level, “What happened?”
“I messed up the dive. I was just about to do it, but then I slipped. I’m never going to get it!”
“Now don’t say that. If you’re that close, then I’m sure you’ll get it soon. You just keep doing your best, and I know you’ll get it sooner or later.”
Sarah stood impatiently by the door. “Stacy honey, can you please go to your room? The big people have to talk.”
“Aw! Why can’t I stay?”
“Stacy!”
Stacy gave her mother a look of resentment before reluctantly going to her room and closing the door. Sarah then motioned to Hal, clearly looking very sad.
“Mom, I was about to go out. You see…”
“Sit down, Hal,” said Sarah.
Hal was in no mood for a heart-to-heart with his mother, especially the loaded kind he had come to expect from his parents, but he reluctantly got up off his knee and sat down at the unfinished wood dining room table next to her.
“This place is clean,” said Sarah, “Did your father…”
“No. I did it,” said Hal, “I spent half the morning…”
“I knew it! That jerk never pulls his weight here!”
“Mom! Is that why you…”
“No! Hal. Please. I just feel like you must hate me now. I know what you saw, and I can’t lie to you and tell you that you didn’t see it. But please Hal, listen. It’s not all just one side.
“Honey, once your father and I were young. When you have that feeling of being in love, you have no sense of logic. That other person is just perfect in your eyes. But honey, love doesn’t work the way you expect. What will that person be like when you can’t afford rent, and you have two kids to worry about?
“Oh Hal, you don’t understand, when the one you love is not who you thought they were, and you’re trapped somewhere all alone, and the fate of the world is on your shoulders, and you’re helpless to take care of things yourself, and all you can think about is, ‘When is this going to end!’ Oh God, Hal. I just pray that never happens to you.”
Hal didn’t answer. He just looked at his mother in shock.
“Anyway,” continued Sarah, “I’m sorry. Just please don’t hate me. Alright.”
“Alright,” said Hal blankly.
Sarah went into her bedroom crying. Hal looked again at his text message from Teddy. “Forget it,” he said to himself. He sadly returned to his room.
As Bonnie and Lisa walked home, Bonnie finished a candy bar and smiled. “You know I depend on my chocolate fix. I hope I’m never anywhere where I can’t get my candy.”
Lisa tried to avoid shaking her head in disbelief. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m betting wherever you go, you’ll always get to your candy somehow. You’re not lacking in means of transport.”
Bonnie looked back at Lisa anxiously, “What do you mean?”
“Whatever!” said Lisa brashly, “So Bonnie, tell me now, what exactly is going on with you lately?”
“Nothing much,” answered Bonnie, “This job is wearing me out...”
As they approached Bonnie’s house, Betty was waiting outside. Her ears picked up at their heated discussion.
“Oh, I don’t know,” said Lisa, “I don’t think you wear out so easily. You seem to be much more durable than I ever suspected!”
Bonnie looked uncomfortable. “Uh, I don’t know
…”
“So, what’s with these?” said Lisa, reaching for Bonnie’s glasses, “I mean, since when do you wear glasses?”
“Ummm, well you know. They just look cool. I always wanted to wear glasses.”
“Just now. Just like that?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with now?”
“Curious coincidence, no?”
“How?”
“Damnit, Bonnie, I want to know already. Who are you really?”
“Lisa!” cried Bonnie, “What kind of question is that? I’m your best friend, and you know who I am! I’m Bonnie Boring, and I always have been!”
“Oh really?”
Lisa could scarcely control her anger and disappointment, yet she little considered the reasons for her friend’s reticence. Perceiving as she did the privileges of power, fame and glamor being withheld from her, she could not yet fully grasp the deep-seated shame and fear that haunted her friend. Even as Bonnie came forward in a transformed guise, she lived with memories that filled her with terror at the thought of being discovered as she truly was. The public’s response was also unnerving, and something in Gunn’s threats reminded her of humiliations from deep in her past.
Moreover, Lisa’s suspicions were slightly misplaced. For all the secrets Bonnie was keeping, she had actually just answered her friend’s question truthfully, allowing for a necessary and only slightly significant caveat.
Noticing Bonnie’s eyes, Lisa could tell that she wasn’t just nervous; she almost looked panicked. Out of sheer mercy, Lisa swallowed her anger. “It’s alright, Bonnie. Never mind.”
“Sorry I haven’t called you,” said Bonnie, “We’ll get together soon. Let’s talk about it later.”
“Sure. If nothing else, you certainly have no problem telling me your bathroom details.”
“What?”
“Never mind…”
As Bonnie went inside, Lisa began to walk away. “Lisa!” called Betty, “I’m sorry to pry, but I sense that Bonnie hasn’t been, well, how do I put this?”
“She was gone for half an hour!” snapped Lisa, “You know what? You can figure out the rest!”
Where Infinity Begins Page 10
