by Starsky Hutch 76
Clark Kent was forced to contain his enthusiasm as he moved into his new home. It would have gone far quicker if he had been able to use his powers to move everything into his house at super-speed. Several of his friends, hearing about Clark’s situation, had wanted to help with the move. So now he was forced to go at a normal pace.
The biggest surprise for him was when Steve Lombard showed up to help him move. That was, until Steve reminded him of the mover’s obligation to his volunteers. “You mean you didn’t get any beer?” Steve said incredulously. “You ask us here to help you move, and then you don’t even buy any beer?”
“Well, Steve, I, uh…” Clark was at a loss for words. There was no nice way to say he hadn’t invited them.
“Don’t worry, honey,” Kristin Wells said, walking up. “I’ll run to the store for you and get some. Just give me your car keys.”
Clark handed her his keys, and she kissed him on the cheek and said, “Now, you boys don’t work too hard.”
Steve’s eyes grew wide as he watched her leave. “Way to go, Clark! Didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Sure you did,” Jimmy said, nudging him. “He dated Lana, didn’t he?”
Jimmy, if you only knew that she was your direct descendant, Clark thought.
“Hee-hee. You always did have a thing for redheads, Kent,” Steve laughed, then suddenly clapped his hands together. ”So, let’s get this show on the road. Say, is that a new large screen TV? Bet I can lift it. I’m still pretty close to the shape I was in back in my football days.” He squatted down and stretched his arms around it, letting out a loud grunt as he lifted with his knees.
“Here, let me help you,” Clark said nervously, moving to his side.
“Don’t worry about it,” Steve said, looking over his shoulder at him. “I’ve got it, Kent. Why don’t you grab that box of pillows there?”
It’s going to be a long day, Clark thought.
***
After several hours, the work was finished. “I can’t believe we managed to go the whole day without breaking anything,” Clark whispered to Kristin as they watched Jimmy Olsen and Steve Lombard leave.
“Look at him,” Steve called back. “He matched me beer for beer, and he still looks the same as he always does!”
Clark looked down at the beer in his hands with surprise. Alcohol didn’t really affect him, so he hadn’t been keeping track of how much he had been drinking. “I’m feeling it just as much as you are, Steve. I’m just good at hiding it.”
“That’s what I thought,” Steve laughed. “If you and me are going to start hanging out, you’ve got to learn to let your hair down, Kent.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Steve,” Clark said, waving goodbye.
“Say, Steve, how about letting me drive?” Jimmy said.
“Itching to drive the Porsche, huh?” Steve chuckled, tossing him his keys. “Sure, knock yourself out.” The two men hopped in the car and pulled out of the driveway.
“There’s a side of keeping a secret identity I wasn’t used to,” Clark said to Kristin as he set the can down and joined her. The two strolled through the house, walking up the stairs to the next level.
“I imagine there are a lot of new things you’ll have to get used to,” Kristin said.
“I’m sure there are,” Clark said. The two of them stopped in front of a doorway, watching as Aunt Gerta read Jasma a bedtime story. “But somehow, I think it’ll all be worth it.”
The End