Grandma asked me this morning, “What’s with this superhero talk you’ve been bringing up lately?”
I explained, “I have supernatural powers, so that makes me a superhero.”
Pondering my idea, Grandma pressed her finger against her cheek and was quiet for a while.
“Well,” she said, “there WAS that time at Aunt Sara Jane’s where I saw you looking up as though you saw someone and was listening to him. It creeped me out because I didn’t see anyone.”
“And there was that time when we lived in the canyon, that Edward the horse got out from the pasture fence. All you did was bark at him from the yard- you didn’t even chase him. He obeyed you and went back under the wire into the pasture. I thought that was very strange.” Grandma was leaning forward in her chair now.
“And it cannot be denied, I’ve seen you walk on water.”
That last one made me laugh. “Guess what my superhero name is,” I said.
“Is it Mr. Ears?”
We both laughed at that one, but I answered, “No.”
“What about Tractor Man? I’m sure that’s what your name is.”
“Maybe.”
Her eyes brightened. “I got it! You’re the Surfin’ Samurai!”
I rolled my eyes. “Now you’re being ridiculous!”
“Ok, then. What?” she asked, throwing up her hands.
“I’m Mr. Universe…”
I continued, “If I’m Mr. Universe, I can be whatever I want to be for what is needed at any time. If someone needs me to listen, I’ll be Mr. Ears. If someone needs help on the farm, I’ll be Tractor Man. If someone needs a friend, I’ll be Buddy Boy…”
Grandma nodded her head. “Petey, you’re a very special dog. With all the trouble going on these days, we need a superhero like you.”
“Grandma, now that you understand I’m Mr. Universe, do you know what that makes you?”
“What?”
“Miss Universe!”
Grandma is still laughing.