Superpowers

“Just so you know, I have superpowers!” says Enid, and her blue eyes light up as if she just said something naughty. She revels in the moment but continues, “For instance, I can make days pass without lifting a finger.” Her old chair fits her like a glove. “I can travel forward in time, if you will, just by staying here. I make time move faster.” She falls silent for a moment, looking to the ground on her left, deep in thought. Then she snaps up, “Ah! I remember what they used to call me!” She pauses again, enjoying the growing anticipation. “Some say I’m the mistress of hours, minutes, and seconds, controlling when they tick away.” She smiles proudly.

“That’s not all, darling, I have another example: I have mind control over other people.” Enid points to the pictures of her family in the window. “You see, when I tell people why I cannot come to them, they believe anything I say. They’ll never know it’s because of my bad leg that I don’t dare to go.” She hits her left leg with a weak fist. “My ability is so strong that only strong-minded people have the strength to ask some questions, but eventually they all believe me, and the questions stop.” Her eyes linger on the picture of a young woman.

“Oh, and sweetie, let’s not forget my invisibility, the epitome of sneaking and infiltration,” Enid says as she imagines herself as an old-fashioned Hollywood spy. “One could use my ability for robbing banks or other evils, but don’t worry, I’m truly an honest person.” She grabs her right hand with her left to reassure herself. “Still, it’s neat, going outside and walking about, no one seeing or noticing me. The only thing is that I cannot turn it off. It would be nice to speak to some people sometime.”

“Luckily, I have another power, which, for safety reasons, I’ve been advised to only use at home.” Enid leans forward and whispers so the others can’t hear: “I can whisper something, anything, to animals, and they will understand me and follow my commands.” She looks around to see if anyone else heard. Reassured her secret is safe, she continues whispering, “Max is sleeping on the sofa now, but when I whisper later that it’s his dinner time, he nods to me and rushes to the kitchen.” She straightens her blouse. “It works on other animals, but I haven’t tried since those boys laughed when I talked to that horse.” She bursts out in a sudden laugh. “Ha! I was just telling the horse, his name was Robert, that those boys were no good.”

“Having superpowers is quite the responsibility, you know. It worries me sometimes that I am the only person I know who can do this. But it also makes me feel special. I guess my mother was always right when she said I was special and different. I try to keep it indoors though; I don’t want to be seen flaunting it and others being jealous. Jealous people are mean people.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I must really get back to my day. Haha! So far, I haven’t developed the power to instantly have dinner ready. But I just realized, the microwave does! I still have some chicken soup in the freezer from last week. That’ll be delish! … Would you like some?”

“Oh, my shows are about to come on. Only 30 minutes left.” She looks at the clock with some delayed worry. “I have to hurry now, you see,” Enid explains. “They always start way sooner than they say. Or maybe it’s my superpower playing tricks on me, Ha! Now, which channel again? I can never figure out the remote. No, you have to hold it up to the screen and press four. Hold it closer, like this. It’ll refuse to work if you hold it so low. Let me help you.”

The television blares soap opera drama as Enid softly blows at a spoonful of her revived vegetable soup. The first sip slightly burns her upper lip, but she doesn’t really notice. Her shows demand all of her attention. Until she falls asleep in her chair. The television shine’s it’s light on Enid alone, as it had been doing all day.