[ WP ] Every aspiring superhero must become a sidekick for a few years before being granted full time hero status . You are the strongest superhero in your age group , but believe you have been assigned to the weakest hero . You learn a lot more than you originally thought you would .

I was fourteen months old when my parents realised I was different. It was bath time, and I wanted no part of it. They lowered me into the tub, kicking and screaming, and the water parted like Moses and the sea. At least, that's what I've heard in the countless renditions of the tale. 
 
 Being born with an innate ability to control liquids meant I never had to hold a mug or carry an umbrella, as long as I was in the company of my family. You see, I was taught to keep my gift a secret before I could walk. `` People just would n't understand'', I was often told. Posters of super heroes adorned my bedroom walls, their action figures crowded my shelves. I would lie in bed and look up at them at night, eagerly anticipating the day I could join them in their ranks. 
 
 I attended a normal public school like every other child, but when my friends were heading off to college I was secretly enrolled into a school for'gifted individuals'. It was there where they taught me to truly hone my gift. Finally allowed to embrace my power, I would spend hours practicing, sculpting water into fantastic shapes for my peers. I slowly grew stronger, more skilled. What were once rain drops and puddles were now ponds and swimming pools. 
 
 It was all over sooner than I liked. The time suddenly came for me to graduate and assume the role of side kick for an already established hero. I shouldered and elbowed my way to the front of a crowd of excited graduates that had gathered around a notice on the wall. I quickly scanned the list for my name. Disappointment hit me like a ton of bricks. `` Seriously? *Him*? Of all the heroes, I get *the fucking weasel*? ``, I moaned out loud. 
 
 `` Hey, maybe you can help him with his taxes'', chirped someone from behind me, amongst laughs and snickers. I snatched my envelope from the table nearby with clenched teeth and stormed off, seriously considering quitting the programme entirely. 
 
 I stood on the street corner a few days later with his address in hand, staring doubtfully through the rain at this guy's equivalent of the'bat cave'. It was a rickety, run down old building sandwiched between two taller red-bricked apartment blocks. Window shutters hung precariously from their hinges and the roof was missing far more than one shingle. `` What is *with* this guy? ``, I muttered out loud. Superheroes were supposed to be surrounded by high tech screens and speeding sports cars, not some crooked, ancient shack. Driven by a desire to complete my studies and become a superhero myself, a *proper* superhero, I swallowed my disgust and crossed the street. 
 
 I knocked three times and had to wait only a few moments before he was at the door. An older gentleman, shorter than I was expecting, filled the door frame. Round spectacles sat on his face beneath a rapidly balding head. `` Yes? ``, he asked quietly. 
 
 I had known almost nothing about Eugene, although he had been arguably more famous at school than maybe even Superman himself, although for entirely different reasons. Nicknamed'The Weasel', nobody had quite known why he was the only registered superhero to never respond to any crime or impending disaster in the institution's recorded history. Though, of course, there were plenty of rumours. 
 
 `` Can I help you, young man? ``, he asked again. I could see why he was nicknamed so now, his mannerisms were somehow decidedly *weasel-like*. Even the wilt in his voice cast the mind to thoughts of the critter. 
 
 `` Yes sir, I'm your new, uh...'', I cast a weary eye over my shoulder and dropped my voice slightly, `` uh, *apprentice*''. 
 
 `` Oh, that's alright boy, no need for the secrecy'', he said, smiling slightly. `` Nobody important comes poking around here. Come on in out of that weather.'' 
 
 Inside it was warm and musty, as if the air had n't moved in a long time. `` Now, what is it that you do, uh...?''. 
 
 `` Mitch'', I assisted. 
 
 `` What is it that you do, Mitch?'' 
 
 `` I do?'' 
 
 `` Your power.'' 
 
 `` I can influence liquid.'' 
 
 `` Is that so?'' 
 
 I turned to face him. As I stared at him with a slight grin, the raindrops on my coat began to rise, slowly coalescing into a perfect sphere between us. 
 
 `` Impressive.'' 
 
 `` Thank you. And what is it that you do, Mr Lunder? ``, I asked, dropping the ball of water into a vase nearby. 
 
 `` Please, call me Eugene'', he said, handing me a handkerchief. 
 
 `` What's this for?'' 
 
 He smiled at me. `` Let's just say, I can tell when things are going to happen.'' 
 
 `` You think I'm going to sneeze?'' 
 
 `` I *know* you're going to sneeze.'' 
 
 Sure enough, before I could answer, I felt the uncontrollable desire to sneeze begin to build in my nasal passage. I blew hard into his handkerchief, but not before making sure it was clean first. 
 
 `` Bless you.'' 
 
 `` Wow, that's amazing! How long can you tell before something happens?'' 
 
 `` Oh, not very long. A few minutes would be stretching it.'' 
 
 `` Why are n't you using your powers for good?'' 
 
 He raised his eyebrows. `` For good?'' 
 
 `` Like, out there fighting villains and shit with the rest of them? You could predict punches before they land!'' 
 
 He chuckled. `` Oh, I'm not one for such antics. It's all about performance with them, is n't it? All throwing fists at each other, trying to make tomorrow's front page. I've never even been in a fight! Besides, I do n't see myself wearing spandex any time soon...'' 
 
 `` But what about the fame? The money! The girls! Do n't you want any of that? One day, I'm going to have the fastest car money can buy and it will shoot water instead of bullets!'' 
 
 `` Like a fire truck?'' 
 
 `` What? No! What kind of superhero drives a truck? ``, I laughed out loud. `` Any superhero worth his salt has some kind of suped up sports car or motorcycle. It has to be voice-controlled, have cloaking ability, covered in weapons and, I do n't know, maybe even be able to fly.'' 
 
 He chuckled softly, shaking his head. `` My boy, you have no --''. His head shot up, eyes wide. He stood there for a few seconds, almost staring through me, focused on some non-existent point far, far away. 
 
 `` Something wrong?'' 
 
 `` Quick! We have to go. Come with me!'' 
 
 `` What's going on?'' 
 
 `` Hurry!'' 
 
 He lifted his jacket off the coat rack and slipped it on with amazing speed. I followed him out into the drizzle as he hurried down the sidewalk. He had an impressive stride for such a short man; even with my foot or so of height over him, I had a hard time keeping pace. 
 
 `` May I ask where we're going?'' 
 
 `` Just follow me. Quickly now!'' 
 
 We turned two corners and came to a rest outside a grocery store, huddled under an awning. 
 
 `` What are we doing here?'' 
 
 He rose a finger to his lips before grabbing me by the arms and thrusting me into a spot just beside the shop's glass door. I was amazed by the strength this old, frail man had. There was definitely something'super' about him, although you could n't tell for looking. 
 
 `` Ever play any baseball?'' 
 
 `` A little in high school'' 
 
 `` What position?'' 
 
 `` Fielder mostly'' 
 
 `` Perfect. Wait right here.'' 
 
 He stepped out from under the awning and took position alongside the road. 
 
 `` What is *with* this guy? ``, I muttered softly for the second time today. 
 
 A few moments later, the shop's door swung open, accompanied by the faint ring of a bell and the noise of conversation inside. A young woman stepped out with a paper grocery bag under one arm and an umbrella under the other. It might have been the cold air or the damp road, but she suddenly remembered the reason she carried that umbrella and set about opening it, crossing the sidewalk in front of me, still clutching the grocery bag to her side. Her attention not on her feet, she stepped into a puddle and lost her footing, slipping on the wet surface. 
 
 She spun wildly, trying to catch herself. As she did so, she sent her umbrella and grocery bag flying. The umbrella clattered onto the ground, the paper bag right into my open arms. I looked up, astonished. There he was, almost hidden by her, holding her securely under her arms. Then it hit me. *He knew. * He had planned this all. 
 
 `` Steady on'', he said kindly, helping her to her feet. 
 
 `` Wha? I... thank you! ``, she said, clearly frazzled. 
 
 `` Not at all. How lucky that my grandson and I were here to help! And look at that, he's managed to save your groceries. We were just entering the store ourselves.'' 
 
 `` I ca n't thank you enough'', she gushed, straightening her coat. 
 
 `` Well, you're very welcome. Do try and be careful where you step, lots of accidents in this weather'', he said, handing her her umbrella. 
 
 She smiled at me as I passed over her grocery bag, thanked us again, then set off on her way down the sidewalk with a more ~~weary~~ wary gait. I turned back and found him leaning against the grocery store wall, cleaning puddle water off his glasses. 
 
 `` All in a day's work, my boy'', he said behind grin. 
 
 `` That was awesome!''. I struggled to contain my enthusiasm at that point. `` How often do you do that?'' 
 
 `` As often as I can. I've spared many a sprained ankle or broken arm, you know, but every so often I get a chance to do something far more meaningful - save a life. You'd be surprised just how many people cross the street without looking around here.'' 
 
 As he stood there before me, wiping his foggy spectacles, I began to realise that I really was in the company of a superhero. One that sought not fortune or fame, but the wellness of others, even those he'd never met. Enamoured with my adolescent thoughts for capes, cars and crap loads of money, I'd never realised what it truly was to be a *super* hero. I stood for a moment in silence, humbled entirely by this small man before me. 
 
 `` Right'', he said, pushing the frames squarely onto his face, `` ready for lesson two?''. 

