Jonathan ended up being thankful that he hadn't insisted on holding Clark back a year from starting school. Clark was clearly thrilled, and he talked about kindergarten incessantly the week before school started.

On the night before the first day of school, Clark wouldn't go to sleep. He jumped on his bed, literally bouncing off the ceiling, until Jonathan made a thoughtless, empty threat to make him wait another day to start school if he didn't behave and go to sleep. Clark shrank and crawled under the covers immediately, his wide blue-green eyes filling with tears as his lower lip trembled.

Jonathan couldn't imagine how his son would have reacted if they had told him to wait another year. He knelt down and kissed his son's forehead, and when Clark rolled over to sleep, Jonathan rubbed his shoulders until he calmed down enough that his breathing evened out.

Martha got up an hour earlier than she usually did on that first day to make breakfast. Jonathan finished up the morning chores faster than he normally would have as well. Clark woke up at the same time they did, and he could barely stand still long enough to change into his new clothes, let alone to sit at the table and eat breakfast. Martha took a few dozen pictures and wiped away a couple of tears. "He's so grown up," she kept saying.

Jonathan knelt down in front of Clark, who stood beside the door with his backpack and lunchbox. "Okay, son, what did we talk about?"

"Daaddy, I knoww."

"I know you do, but I want to hear it again."

"Do what the teacher says. Sit quiet 'n pay 'tension. Be nice to the other kids."

"And?"

Clark pouted. "And don't show anyone my powers."

"Are you going to pick up anything heavy?"

"No."

"And if someone asks if you want to race?"

"Let them win."

"Good boy." Jonathan tousled his hair. "What else do I always tell you?"

"I dunno."

"Every night before you go to bed, what do I tell you?"

Clark's little brow wrinkled. "Brush my teeth?"

Jonathan laughed. "I love you."

"Oh! You love me!"

Jonathan pulled his son into his arms, backpack and lunchbox and all. "Yes I do."

"Love you too, Daddy."

Jonathan stood up. "I'll see you after school. You're going to tell me all about it, right?"

Clark's jaw dropped. "You're not taking me to school?"

"Mommy's going to take you."

"I want you."

Jonathan glanced back at Martha, who shrugged. He sighed and looked down at Clark. "I have chores to do, Clark."

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"But . . . Daddy . . ." Clark dropped his lunchbox and grabbed Jonathan's hand with both of his.

"What's wrong, son? Don't you want Mom to go with you?"

"Mommy stays with me all day. You always do chores." He crossed his arms and pouted. "You like chores more than me."

"Hey." Jonathan surprised himself with the sharpness of his voice. He took a deep breath. "I do not. Believe me, son, I'd much rather be with you than do chores all day."

"But . . . Please Daddy?"

Jonathan glanced back at Martha, who stepped forward and scooped Clark up into her arms. "Daddy's going to be here when you get back."

"But . . . but . . . what about the bad scientiss?"

Martha looked up at Jonathan with a bit of a glare. She hadn't exactly been happy when she found out that Jonathan had told Clark the truth about the dangers he faced. Jonathan was still convinced he'd done the right thing, even if it meant they returned to the nightmare phase for a little while.

"There are no bad scientists at school," Jonathan said.

"But you said I couldn't show anyone my powers."

"I know, but . . . I don't understand, son, you were so excited to go to school just a minute ago."

"I didn't know you weren't gonna take me!"

Martha winced, keeping her eyes on Jonathan. She mouthed, He's scared.

Jonathan sighed. They'd talked about this a few times, usually after Clark was in bed. Martha could kiss and coddle away their baby's hurts and sadnesses, but when he was really scared, he needed his father.

"Okay, little guy, listen." Jonathan reached out and took Clark from his mother's arms. "Mom's going to do some of the chores this morning, and I'm going to take you to school. But this is just for the first day. Tomorrow, Mom's going to take you."

"Okay!"

Jonathan set Clark down. "Go kiss your mother good bye. We're gonna be late."

----------------------------------------

It had been a long time since Jonathan had been in a kindergarten classroom. A long time since he'd even seen one. The room was decked out in so many colorful decorations, it made his eyes hurt. Kids and parents—mostly moms—milled about the room, finding desks and cubbies and carpet squares.

Clark's eyes were wide, and his gaze kept flicking around the room. Jonathan held back a grimace. Martha had been right that they'd been sheltering him too much. He'd never been in a room with more than a few other people at a time, and he'd only ever met two other kids. He was overwhelmed.

But they couldn't hold him back. Jonathan could see that now. He was already the tallest kid in the room.

Jonathan grasped for something familiar he could point out. "Look, Clark, Lana's in your class."

Clark nodded, but his eyes were still wide. He had only played with Lana for a few minutes; he probably didn't know her well enough to find her presence much of a comfort in a sea of unfamiliarity.

"Hey." Jonathan reached down and took Clark's hand. "I'm here, little guy. For as long as you need me to be."

Clark nodded and squeezed Jonathan's hand so hard that Jonathan started to lose circulation in his fingers. He wouldn't be able to stay with his son every day, but Martha said it was typical for parents of kindergarteners to stick around for a bit on the first day of school.

A young woman in a long skirt and white blouse came over to meet them. She smiled down at Clark. "Good morning, young man. Are you starting school today?"

Clark nodded, but took a half step closer to Jonathan.

"What's your name?"

"Clark," he said softly.

"It's nice to meet you, Clark. I'm Miss Swanson. I'm going to be your teacher this year."

"Hi."

Miss Swanson smiled up at Jonathan before looking back to Clark. "Do you want to put your lunchbox over in your cubby? It has your name on it, and there's a hook underneath where you can put your backpack."

"Okay."

Jonathan walked him over to the wall with the cubbies and helped Clark find his name. Clark's eyes were still wide and wandering around the room. Jonathan put away his things, then glanced around the room with Clark.

That's when Pete and his mom came in.

Clark perked up suddenly. "Pete's in kindergarten too?"

"Of course. He's five, too." It suddenly occurred to Jonathan that they'd never actually told Clark that outright.

"Pete!" Clark ran across the room—at a speed typical for a five year old, thankfully—and to Jonathan's surprise, he actually threw his arms around Pete. Pete looked as relieved as Clark did.

Clark ran back to Jonathan and hugged him as well. "Bye Daddy!"

Jonathan blinked, squeezing his son for a moment before letting go. "Hang on, didn't you want me to stay for a little while?"

"Nope!"

"Okay, well can I help you—"

"Bye!"

"Maybe I should—"

"Bye Daddyyy!" Clark started to push him toward the door.

Jonathan stumbled back a little, then began to walk on his own. Clark followed him to the door. "Okay, okay. Mommy's gonna pick you up, is that okay?"

"Yes! Byyyye!" Clark waved.

Jonathan chuckled to himself all the way back to the truck.

And he'd been so worried.