Unique Hero

Davy is the youngest of six siblings, who grew up as a sickly child so his mother took care of him until the day she died unexpectedly.  Instead of his siblings stepping up to take care of him they ignored him out of jealousy.  It didn’t matter that he would have died without her constant help.  They felt ignored and it was all his fault.

With his father being a workaholic to provide for the family, and to help with his grief, the children were left with the chores.  Chores which Davy was given the worse.  Did he complain?  No, for he was doing his part to help the family survive.  Even though he was the smallest of his three brothers and two sisters, he was given the toughest tasks.  All was well for Davy for it gave him a challenge, and it made him stronger.

“How can you show love toward ones who despise you?” one of his few friends asked him.

“They are my siblings,” he replied.  “They are my flesh and blood.  You say they are being mean, but what they are doing is making me stronger.  I might not have the physical appearance of one of strength, but there are other ways.  Strength of mind.  Strength of soul.”

“Whatever,” his friend said.  “I think you are a fool, and setting yourself up to always be under one’s heel.”

That was his final day with his friend because he wanted to be around ones who uplifted instead of degrading him.  There was enough of that at home.

Soon, Davy started working late at night, cleaning charter buses for a small company.  Bring in a little bit of money to help with the family.  He kept a small percentage while the rest went toward bills, food, clothes, and other needs.  Someone had to step in since his other siblings either had no job or kept the money to themselves to blow on things that were no help to the family.

It was at this job that Davy started to have unusual experiences that at first he ignored, but as it persisted he wondered if there was more to it.

“Would my family or friends think I am crazy by telling them I see what looks like a shadow of a figure floating around me?” he pondered.

For a long time he kept it to himself, not wanting to bother anyone with his crazy ordeal.

“My imagination at work in the dark.  In the quietness of night.”

The few times he had free time from chores and work he would go to the river to hangout.  To watch the rushing water go by was so soothing to him.  Lay back on the grass, hearing the water, and looking up at the sky felt like heaven.  The beauty of his surroundings put a smile on his face.

“Can I join you?” a gentle voice asked one day as he sat by the bank.

Davy looked back, seeing an older gentleman with a peer white mustache with handlebars, standing there with a warm smile.

“Feel free,” he responded.

The man came over and sat down beside him.

“My name is Mark,” he said as they shook hands.

“Davy.”

“Glad to meet you on this beautiful day,” Mark said.  “Such a wonderful scene to behold.”

“Yes indeed.  The reason why I spend so much time here.”

Mark chuckled as he took a small rock and chucked it into the river.

“I like to tell you that you have a gift,” Mark said to him.

“Thank you,” said Davy, looking at the man, who had a serious look.  “I heard we all have gifts.”

“You have a gift that needs to be used for now on,” Mark stated.

“What do you mean?” asked Davy looking at Mark with a questioning look.

“You have a good heart,” explained Mark.  “In a fallen world you have a pure soul.  With your gift you shall vanquish the enemy.”

“Huh?” is all Davy could say as he scooted from Mark.

He had thoughts of King Arthur.  Thoughts of many heroes, but he wasn’t one.  Just one to survive life, trying his best to be a positive in society.

“You are about to see what your gift can do,” said Mark.  “You will see the cause of so much anguish that takes place in this world.  You will be a help to your fellow humanity.  A gift that no other person has ever experienced.”

“What is this gift?”

“You will find out tonight,” replied Mark, standing up.  “You will do wonders.”

Davy wanted to ask so much, but knew Mark was done as he started to walk away.

“Take care,” Mark called back.  “And to know that all need your help.  Not just a select few.  I know you are a good choice.”

Davy went home, figuring he would get a couple of hours sleep before work.  As he walked down the hallway to his bedroom his oldest brother, Tim called out to him.  He turned around and didn’t hear a thing his brother said for he saw a shadow by his right shoulder.  Then it swooped over to his left shoulder.  Davy didn’t hear a word as the shadow seemed to devour his brother.  His features seemed to get uglier as he spoke louder to Davy.  Davy turned around and rushed into his room.

“This shadow scenario seems to have enhanced,” he muttered as he lay down, but no sleep came his way.

He went to work that night, quite nervous of what was coming his way.  The work began, and hour after hour ticked by with nothing out of the normal happening.  He was nearing the end of his shift when the shadows came.  Before they just floated above him but on this occasion they were quite erratic.  To most they would have cried out and hurried home, but Davy stuck around, and grew quite annoyed.  Reminded him of flies or mosquitoes buzzing around him.

“That is enough!” he called out, raising his hand toward one of the shadows.

A beam of light shot out of his hand and struck the shadow.  Davy could hear the shriek as the shadow dissipated into nothingness.  The other shadows quickly disappeared.

Davy looked at his head in shock then looked around, seeing nothing in sight.

“Is this my gift?” he asked himself.

Davy finished up, and went home.  It took some time to calm down, and go to sleep.

The next day, he got up, and after cleaning up and having some breakfast he went out to do his regular chores.

He wasn’t long into his tasks when his older brother, Tim came hurrying toward him with an angry look on his face.

“What did I tell you?!” he called out.

“Tell me what?” Davy asked.

“I told you to have the bad apples cleaned up from the front yard by this time!” demanded Tim.  “It’s still full of apples!”

Davy was about to apologize when the shadow appeared from behind Tim.  without a second thought Davy raised his hand, and a second later a beam shot out and struck the shadow.  The shadow quickly dissipated, and Tim abruptly stopped.  He looked around disoriented before he fixed his gaze on Davy.

“Why do you have your hand stretched toward me?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Davy replied quickly, putting his arm down.

“Okay,” Tim said, scratching his head.  “I guess just get back to work.”

Tim turned around and walked off.

Time went by, and Davy used his gift on many people, some of them over and over.  He realized people didn’t completely change to the good since we all have free will, but the shadows were enticing them.  They were trying to push and pull people down the wrong path.  Not as long as Davy was around.

No one knows Davy is a hero.  It mattered not for him.  He is just glad to help anyone.