Smart kid, TERRIBLE singer!

Opening the door to their home and running inside to put their belongings at the side of the front door and head to the couch where their uncles Ben and Johnny sat, Franklin and Valaria took up the space of the couch as the two men cheered their nephew and niece returning from school.

“Hey kids! How was school?” Asked the Human Torch, sitting Valaria next to his side while Franklin sat at the far end of the couch where Ben ruffled up his hair with his stoney hand.

“It was good.” Answered Franklin, looking around the living room. “Where’s mom and dad?”

Trading looks, the two men winced and tried to look away and avoid answering.

“Well… Reed got yer mom angry again so she’s out blowing off steam and yer dad’s in charge of dinner tonight.”

Hearing that, both children shared a look of worry, remembering the last time their father was **** to cook. Even with HERBIE’s help the man was doomed to make something inedible. “Yay…” Changing the subject, Valaria unzipped her backpack.

“I think I earned another doctorate at my school, the principle says if I keep this up, they might run out of fields for me to study and won’t be able to charge daddy with any more university education.” Explained Valaria, showing her uncle the framed award, she pulled out of her backpack. Smiling, impressed, Johnny nodded and looked to Ben who whistled from his recliner.

“Another one fer the pile huh kid?”

“Yup, my wall’s covered in them now.”

“Must be nice…” Groused Franklin, folding his arms under his chin and harrumphing to himself. Seeing the boy looking disappointed, Ben leaned over to whisper to the young boy.

“Come on kid, you’z got some gifts yerself.”

“Yeah… I just can’t use them at school, or at home, or anywhere.” Sulked Franklin, talking of his powers to alter reality on the fly. He knew they were both dangerous and unpredictable, but there were times he wanted to show his family just what he could do if he set his mind to it. But then a thought came to mind that made him smirk and sit up. “At least I’m good at ONE thing my sister can’t do.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” She scoffed, glaring back at her brother who continued to give her a smirk she didn’t like.

“Our music teacher gave me an A… Unlike Valaria.”

“S-So?! That hippy doesn’t know real musical talent!” She pouted, crossing her arms and looking away.

“He said my sister was tone deaf, and if she were to ever open her mouth to sing it was meant to be an act of ****.”

“He did NOT!”

“Well lets hear you sing then.” Offered Johnny, leaning back and smirking to watch the drama unfold between his niece and nephew. Almost not catching Franklin shake his head furiously before clasping his hands to his ears and shut his eyes.

Sitting up proudly, Valaria sang ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ a melody first heard by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz back in the 1930s. The song was a classic, memorable, and what put the singer and actress in the green light of cinema to be forever remembered even close to a century later. The agonising voice that escaped the girl’s voice sounded like someone was gutting a cat with a shrimp fork! It took Ben and Johnny everything they had not to look like they were in pain and reach for their ears as the girl sang her heart out. Oblivious to how her family acted like someone was dragging fingernails across a chalkboard to their ears.

Eventually Johnny waved his hands up and pretended to clap, applauding the girl if only so she could stop.

“WOW Val… Just… WOW!”

With her hands at her side and her chin up high, Valaria looked to her brother and stuck her tongue out. “See? And to think he thought I was tone deaf!” Picking up her new doctorate, the girl jumped down from the couch and made her way out to her room. “I’m going to have HERBIE make room on the wall.”

“Yeah, sure kid, go nuts.”

Seeing the little girl march her way to her room and close the door behind her, the three in the living room collapsed in their seats, covering their faces and each looking like they had endured a traumatic experience.

“Aww jeez! That sounded like someone was putting a power drill to my ears!” Groaned Ben, draped over his chair like he had landed there.

“That music teacher isn’t paid enough to hear that every day…”

Hearing Reed coming into the living room from the hallway, the man found his son and friends sitting fatigued and drawn as if they had just survived something horrible.

“Is everyone alright? HERBIE told me over the intercom that the audio sensors picked up what was best described as a buffalo being tasered for harvesting.”

“Park a seat Reed, I think you might have a PTA meeting to go to in the future…”