Sidekicks Read Free

couldn’t guess by the name, his head is a pumpkin.
    “
I’ve
got all the powers of a pumpkin,” he proudly bragged to me just moments after he picked me.
    I’m still trying to figure out what that means.
    I sit in algebra class next to Prudence Cane.
    Don’tcha just love that name? I do.
And
her eyes, her smile, her hair, her smell, and even the way she pretends not to know I exist.
    If super beauty were a power, Prudence would be the
Titanic
of gorgeousness. Wait. The
Titanic
sank, didn’t it? Okay, she’s the
Titanic
before it sank. But thinner. And without the smokestacks.
    “Hey, Prudence,” I said as I leaned over her desk.
    She blew a bubble with her gum and stared at me over the pink edge. “Hey, Gary.”
    “Guy.”
    “Whatever.” She turned her back to me.
    Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I should’ve just said my name was Gary! I mean it’s just a name, not like I was attached to that “Guy” name anyway.
    “Guy? Guy?” Miles asked. “What are you doing?”
    “Shut up. My name’s Gary.”
    This is what really kills me about keeping my powers secret. If I just told her the truth, just once, that I could win every track event, be the best basketball player in the school, score a touchdown every time I touch a football, she’d love me. She’d think I was as awesome as I thought she was.
    Instead, I was sitting in algebra class wishing my name was Gary.
    Maybe if I used my powers a little and stuff. Y’know, nothing really big, but just enough to be more popular. Would that be such a bad thing? I once read that with great power comes great responsibility. My power’s not
that
great, so do I really have to be
that
responsible?
    The good thing was, now that I’d totally embarrassed myself in front of Prudence, I didn’t think my life could get any worse.
    “Class,” Mr. Lang, the algebra teacher, said, “I’d like to introduce a new student to you. He’s just transferred from Crystal City Junior High School and will be with us for the rest of the year. Everybody say hello to...”
    No. Please. Not him. Not now.
Did I say my life couldn’t get any worse? I was right. It couldn’t get worse, but it could get terribly, terribly worse by, like, a hundred times.
    “. . . Mandrake Steel.”
    There he stood in front of the class. Tall. Handsome. Muscles. Great hair. And all the power and confidence of a really great smile.
    “Do you know who that is?” I asked Miles.
    “Yeah, Gary. The teacher just said his name was Manbake Style or something. Who cares?”
    I looked around the classroom. The girls were already writing love notes.
    I leaned closer to Miles and whispered into his ear, “Also known as Charisma Kid.”
    “No way!” Miles erupted.
    I smacked his shoulder and pulled him back down into his chair.
    “Dude, I just violated every rule, bylaw, dictum, regulation, promise, and suggestion of being a sidekick. I don’t need you blabbing it to the world. There’s a reason they’re called
secret
identities!”
    “Apparently, not to you,” Miles said sarcastically.
    “. . . and I just want you all to know how excited I am to call Clearwater High my new home!” Charisma Kid finished.
    Sure, no one else in the room knew he was Charisma Kid, but they didn’t need to. I mean, they call him
Charisma
Kid for a reason.
    I heard some girl titter. I turned around to see who the unfortunate soul was. Prudence Cane not only tittered but practically
swooned
when Charisma Kid flashed a toothy grin her way and winked.
    Charisma Kid made his way down the aisle and as he passed me, he cracked a small smile. “Good to see you again, Spuddy.”
    “His name is Gary,” Miles defended.
    Charisma Kid sat behind Prudence.
    “This is so cool,” Miles said, leaning closer to me. “Maybe he’ll let me sit at the same table at lunch. Or maybe even sit
next
to him! I’ve always wanted to meet a sidekick!”
    “
I’m
a sidekick!” I whispered in a sharp tone.
    “Yeah. To a pumpkin.”
    “Didn’t you