I Am A Superpower

  As she walked into the Superpower Café, she saw the superpower to move objects sitting with power to fly, super human strength, and power of invisibility.  She ordered an iced tea and walked past the power’s table and with a smile she greeted them. They all shrugged and gave her a halfhearted hello then continued with their discussion. She walked to a neighboring table to sit and relax. As she sat quietly, enjoying her iced tea she could hear the new conversation from the superpowers table. 

  " Superpower!! Ha!!”  

Was heard from power to fly. 

  “How can you call that a superpower? I still shake my head.” 

Added power to move objects. 

Just then, the power of invisibility stood up and walked over to her table. As he stood over her, he would disappear and reappear. Finally, he spoke, 

“So, let me ask you little girl, who in the world deiced that YOU were a superpower? The superpower of love, hugs and smiles .Pssh .Ridiculous!” 

 “Yeah, Ridiculous!” “You tell her!”  “That is not a superpower.” 

Could be heard from the power’ table. She sat calmly in her chair watching power of invisibly continue to appear and disappear before her. Finally, he remains visible and says, 

   “The superpower of love, hugs, and smiles HA! You are powerless! I’ve seen the world down there, and it certainly is not love, hugs, and smiles. So why don’t you just step down or go search for real superpower.” 

  She smiled at him as she stood from her chair.  

  “Well, Mr. Invisibility I too, have seen the world below and I believe that my superpower is seriously needed. In fact, they are in greater need for me than say huh you. And I do say that in love. Now, if you will excuse me, I do have to be on my way.” 

As she reached the door, she turned and addressed the room, 

   “And remember Smile and have a happy.” 

  Upon reaching the small town, she strolled the sidewalks, went from store to store, and stopped at the park, hoping to come in contact with the town’s people. It was Thanksgiving time so there were many folks out and about. As she passed the town’s residents, she couldn't help but notice the long expressionless faces.  

   “Oh my. This is so sad, all the blank faces, not a smile in sight.” 

She thought to herself. 

   “Oh, superpower of love, hugs, and smiles we are sorely needed here, Let’s get to work.” 

   In the grocery store, as she pushes her cart, she began to use her superpower. She became interested in one thing and one thing only and that was to make eye contact with the people she encountered. Once eye contact was achieved, she smiled and joyfully said,  

   “Have a happy Thanksgiving.” 

   With most, she would hear a Happy Thanksgiving in return or with others it was a smile and a nod. She went through out the store, aisle after aisle, wishing strangers a happy Thanksgiving. When she turned down the vegetables and fruit aisle, she was surprised to see an old friend of hers. As the two greeted one another, she reached out her arms and the two gave a loving hug. In the few moments that the friends chatted and laughed, all those within hearing range began to smile, as the power of love, hugs and smiles swept over them. Slowly, the long faces were gone. Now a smile ruled their expression. And, they carried that smile with them, sharing it with all they passed. Finally, the two friends hugged and bid one another a happy Thanksgiving, ending with ‘love you.’  

   Upon leaving the store, she stood at her car putting the items she had bought in the trunk. But her real focus was fixed on the doors to the grocery store. A smile crosses her face, as she watched the people exiting the store smiling and wishing those that were entering a happy Thanksgiving. 

   “Now, that is progress. But that is only the start.”  

She said to herself. 

She left her car sitting in the parking lot, as she crossed the street to the local flower shop. 

   “Good morning” she said to the woman behind the counter. The lady had a frown on her face, but still returned the greeting. 

   “Oh, all your flowers are so beautiful,” 

Then she leaned into a boquet of flowers as she breathed in their fragrance. 

"And they smell delightful.” 

   “Yea, flowers do tend to smell. Now, do you want something? I have work to do. 

   She stood smiling as the lady spoke. 

   Yes ma’am, I would most certainly would like something, I will take those four bouquets of mixed flowers,” she said pointing 

“I think that planter with the red carnations will make a wonderful gift. 

I’ll take it, too. Your flowers will bring a smile to someone's face.” 

   “What do you mean ‘someone's face? Don’t you know who you are buying these for? 

  Smiling she shrugged saying, “Actually, no I don’t.” 

   “What? Did I hear you right? You don’t know who you are giving these to.” 

   “Yea, I thought I would just give them to someone who needs a smile today. And, if your flowers don’t produce a smile on their face, well then there probably isn’t one. But I have no doubt that your beautiful bouquets will summons a smile on any face.” 

  While she spoke, she watched the florist begin to smile. 

  “Well, let me get those flowers wrapped for you.” 

She said as she pulled the paper from the roll. “And really, you’re just going give these away, to strangers.” 

  “Yes ma’am, that is my plan.” she answered as she picked up the planter. But this planter, I think needs to go to an older woman. Do you know any ladies that are alone? Who could use a smile?” 

  “Infact, I do. Mrs. Conroy, a widow. She lives down this street in a blue house. Her daughter is in the Air Force, and it doesn’t sound like she’ll make it home for Thanksgiving. She has no other family around here.  So, if you are looking to share; she would be good one.” 

She watched as the lady's hands loving wrapped the flowers. The florist smiles at the thought of her flowers being given away to brighten someone’s day.  

   After, receiving the wrapped bouquets, she couldn’t resist holding them to her face. Then she closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet fragrance that the flowers produce. 

  “I know these will make a wonder gift,” she said as she laid the flowers on the counter, before reaching for her purse. The florist rang up her purchase and handed her the receipt.  

   “That is a very good price for these.” she said as she counted the bills from her wallet and laid them on the counter, beside the flowers. 

The woman picked up the bills and began to count, 

   “Oh, wait you have given me too much money.” 

She had already picked up her flowers from the counter, 

“No, I don’t believe I did.” 

   As she turned to leave, she thanked the florist and wished her a happy Thanksgiving. 

   “OH yes! Happy Thanksgiving to you, also” 

    Before she reached the door and young man walked in. He stood and held the door for her. She smiled and thanked him, and of course, wished him a happy Thanksgiving.  As the door closed behind her, she could hear the florist with a happy uplifting voice say, 

   “Good Morning. How can I help you?” 

With a smile on her face she started up the street saying, 

   “Ok, next stop blue house.” 

  As she neared the blue house, she could see Mrs. Conroy sitting on her porch swing. 

 “Oh my, she looks so sad and lonely.” 

As she walked up on the porch, she greeted the woman with a warm smile, as she spoke, 

   “Happy Thanksgiving.” 

The woman slowly lifted her head to looked up at her and replied, 

   “So, what's to be happy about? Alone at Thanksgiving, there's nothing happy about that.” 

   “Well, if you don’t mind, I would like to give you this planter. Just a little something to brighten your day.” 

The lady cocked her head and asked, 

   “Why would you give me that beautiful planter? I don’t even know you.”  

   “Well, I don’t think it’s necessary to know someone to brighten their day, a little bit.” 

   The woman patted the empty place on the swing next to her. As she sat down the lady began to speak, 

   “My my I do have to say that planter is very pretty and thank you. I did need a bit of an uplifting. You see my daughter is in the Air Force, and so this Thanksgiving I will be spending it alone. But I did go ahead and get all the fix ins for a dinner; not sure why. I’m even going to be my daughter's favorite pie, pumpkin, of course. Guess it will make me feel a little closer to her.” 

She listened as the woman spoke then reaching over, she took the woman by the hand and said, 

  “You know, sometimes the things you want most, just might happen.” 

The woman smiles thinking how wonderful that would be.” 

  Standing, she hands the lady the planter, she then bid her goodbye and a happy Thanksgiving. 

  “Thank you for the planter and I hope you have a happy Thanksgivings, as well.” 

  Walking off the porch she quietly spoke to herself.  

‘What’s the use of being a superpower if you don't use it? So, love, hugs, and smiles bring this nice lady her Thanksgiving desire.” 

With that said she continue on her quest. The park was just up the street, so that was the direction she headed. 

   “Surely there will be someone there to share these flowers.” She didn’t have to look far; on the swing sat a young girl, looking so sad. 

   “My, why do you look so sad on this gorgeous day?” 

She asked the girl. Looking up the girl said, 

   “This Thanksgiving we are having the family over.” 

   “Why that is wonderful.” 

   “Well it would be, except mama is so stressed, she is super moody and not very fun to be around; I even offered to help. But, NO!!” 

   “Maybe if you took her this bouquet of flowers it will bring a smile to her face.” 

   “Really? You would give me those flowers for my mama!” 

   “Yes, I would love to give these to you. If, of course, you would want them.” 

   “OH Yes! Yes! And those are my mama’s favorite colors.” 

As the girl jumped off the swing, she handed her the flowers wishing her and her family a happy Thanksgiving 

As she watched the girl skip away, she turned and sees an older couple walking towards her. She noticed the silence and distance between them. Walking up to the couple, she wished them a happy Thanksgiving and handed the woman a bouquet. 

The lady looked at her husband, of many years. Saying, 

   “Honey, look. This looks just like the first bouquet you gave me. Remember, our senior year of high school.”  

   “It sure does. And I still remember what you said, ‘These flowers make me smile today, but you bring a smile to my face every day’ Do I still? 

The lady leaned in and kissed her husband then said.  

“Yes, my love every day.” 

The couple thanked her for the flowers and wished her a happy Thanksgiving. As she returned the greeting, she couldn’t help but notice as the man reached over and took his wife’s hand as they continued on their walk. 

   She walked through the small town continuing to make eye contact with the town’s people. And as she did, she would smile and wish all a happy Thanksgivings, the smiles and happy Thanksgiving were returned. With her last two bouquets handed out she called it a day. 

   Her days that followed, were as the first, she traveled the small town smiling and wishing everyone she made eye contact with a happy Thanksgiving. She smiled to herself as she watched the town’s people embrace the power of love, hugs and smiles. 

   Unbeknownst to her, power of invisibility had been close behind her. Watching to see if truly love, hugs and smiles could possibly be a superpower. He stood amazed as he saw the small-town transform from a bah humbug to a loving smiling place. 

  “I don’t believe it. This girl’s superpower is contagious.” 

He thought himself. 

  “These people are changing before my very eyes.” 

  Thanksgiving Day finally arrived. She decided to take one last walk through the town before departing. She watched as families began to gather in their homes and around the tables. It was obvious that love hugs and smiles were present, and when love, hugs and smiles are joined together laughter emerges. This Thanksgiving, was a wonderful joyful time in the little town. Families hugged each other as they greeted and again when saying goodbye, ending with ‘love you’. Then, she walked past Mrs. Conroy’s house, where she stood watching and smiling. Mrs. Conroy, stood on her porch with tears in her eyes, as she watched the taxi stop in front of her house and her daughter step out  

  “Now that was worth every day I was here.” 

She said out loud to herself. 

 The next day, she returned to the superpower café. Once again, the superpowers were seated at their usual tables After she had gotten her iced tea, she heard, 

   “Hey, superpower of love hugs and smiles come join us.” 

As she took a seat at the table, all the powers began congratulating her on the changes in the small town. She sat listening with a confused look on her face. 

  “But how? How do you know what I did?” 

  “Power of invisibility “said power to move objects, he was following you, he saw everything.” 

  “Yea, he was AMAZED at the superpower of love, hugs, and smiles.” Added power to fly. 

  She looked over at invisibly, 

  “You were following me?” 

  “Guilty as charged.” 

  “But why?” 

  “Because I said love, hugs, and smiles was not a superpower and you proved me wrong...So very wrong. I watched, I listened, I saw and I learned.” 

  “What did you learn?” 

   “What do you think I learned?” 

She got a big smile on her face and said, 

  “I am a superpower.”