Michael's Hero
Something I wrote several years ago for the Anthrocon Conbook.
Michael's Hero.
Everyone was quietly sitting in the desks, the teacher smiled,
"That was good Susan. Michael, would you please come to the front of the class and read your report please." Watching as the young feline stepped up, she smiled and wondered whom his hero was going to be.
Michael quietly walked to the front of the class carrying his report; the plastic bound paper was clutched close to his chest. His eyes gazed over quietly over his fellow classmates as he prepared to deliver his report, the subject they were given was who was their hero and why. Clearing his throat, Michael took a deep breath.
"My hero.. by Michael DeLion. When we were given this report, I though about a lot of different people that could be my hero, I finally decided on the most important hero in my life, my mom." He sighed quietly hearing a few people snickering in the back of the room, avoiding their eyes, he continued.
"My mother is my hero, I know a lot of people would disagree, But it makes a lot of sense when you think about it. She is the one who scares the monsters under your bed away when you're little. She picks you up when you sprain your ankle, the one who makes your lunch every day. There was a lot I had to consider when I chose my hero, like why did I consider them that, what did they do to deserve to be called a hero and that kinda stuff.."
Michael took a moment, looking around the classroom, seeing what the reactions of his friends and stuff were. There were a few people who were just looking at him, a bit interested; some of the other students were staring at the ceiling not really caring either way. He continued,
"Well the reason I chose my mom, she's the most important person in my life. After my dad died, she was there when I needed someone to talk to.. Someone who could comfort me when I was crying, she told me everything was going to be okay and it has been." He quietly sighed a bit, wiping a tear away from his eye. He continued on.
"She is the person that you look to when you're not sure on something, your best friend when something goes wrong. When you need help with your homework, who do you usually ask; Your mom right? If she weren't there, what would you do when you get a cut or something? I thought bout this from the moment we got the report, Yah fireman and astronauts are really cool, but my mom has been there for me. I can look up to her and know she will always be there for me. I love her with all my heart and know she'll love me no matter what happens. I don't know bout anyone else in class. But the person that I see as my hero is my mom, the other people are really cool, but when it comes down to it, I don't want anyone else for my hero."
Pausing a moment, "And that's who I consider my hero, the person I look up to the most.." watching to see if anyone else was going to laugh at him. Ears folding back when he saw a few people clapping, everyone was paying attention to him. He blushed and quickly walked back to his desk, the teacher's words ringing in his ears to this day,
"Not all heroes are the ones you see in the movies or papers... sometimes they are sitting beside you at home helping you with your homework, or just playing catch with you in the backyard."