NOW PLAYING "CLOBBERMAN''

"That was awesome!" "So true Charles. Best movie ever!" Adam chimed in. "Clobberman was so good. Makes me want to become a superhero" I added. "Well you'll have to get blasted by cosmic rays like Clobberman did first" Charles joked. "Ha! Ha! Very funny. I'm serious. I think I would be an amazing superhero. This city would love me." "Keep dreaming Tony" Charles said as he patted me on the back. "Stop!" a voice screamed out. "What's all the hubbub?" I wondered. Out of nowhere a large, angry man came rumbling towards us. Before we could take cover, the man tripped over my foot and fell to the ground. He was then apprehended by the police.

NOW PLAYING "CLOBBERMAN''

"Great work kid!" the officer said to me. "Actually he just ran into me and...." "Nonsense! What you did was really brave. Jake "The Volcano" Gilroy was one of the most wanted men criminals in the city and you captured him. You're a hero." "Really?" "I'm going to tell the Chief of Police about this and I'm pretty sure you'll be getting a very special reward." This was so cool. Like a lot of heroes, I didn't set out to become a crime fighter. It just happened as if it was meant to be. I wonder what type of reward I was about to receive. A medal? Key to the city? Money? "Looks like you truly are a superhero Tony" Charles said with a smile. "Yeah, I guess I am."

BLACKBURN CITY HALL

MEDAL PRESENTATION CEREMONY

"On behalf of The City of Blackburn, I'd like to present Tony Alarcón with The Medal of Bravery. Tony assisted our local police department in capturing a dangerous fugitive. Congratulations Tony. You're a hero." "Thank you Mayor Kirby. I look forward to helping keep the citizens of our fine city safe from evildoers." "That's very commendable Tony." After I received my medal, a group of photographers and reporters converged upon me. I felt like a real superstar. I posed for pictures, answered questions from reporters, and even signed a few autographs. Sure I got lucky when I tripped that criminal, but as far as everyone was concerned, I was a hero.

CONGRATULATIONS TONY!

When I returned to school on Monday I became the toast of Northview Grammar School. All the kids in the hallway wanted to give me a high five or shake my hand. A couple of girls even kissed me on the cheek which made me blush. To top it all off, Mr. Hodges called me up to the front of the class where I received a standing ovation. For that entire week I felt like a rock star. Teachers, fellow students, and even parents picking up their kids from school were fawning all over me. I was even invited to have lunch with the Grade 8 kids. Pretty impressive for an awkward Grade 6 student.

After a couple of weeks, 'TonyMania' had started to wear off but I was still part of the 'in crowd.' Unfortunately, it meant that I couldn't hang out with my friends Charles and Adam. We've been best buds since kindergarten but they just weren't cool enough to hang with me and my new crew. It made me feel so uncomfortable when I ignored them electing to I join my new friends for lunch instead. It was a whole new world for me. They didn't eat in the cafeteria like the younger kids. They went to big time places like Subway and McDonald's. It was around that time when I began to notice a change in my personality. I used to struggle with my self-confidence at times but now I seemed to be acting a little smug.

I had become so insufferable that I began to annoy my parents, my sister, and even my beloved budgie Brewster. I had alienated my old friends and soon I was about to start getting the cold shoulder from my new so-called "friends" as well. This hero business had really gone to my head. And the worst part was that I honestly wasn't a hero. I didn't subdue that criminal. It was just a lucky accident. I was in the right place at the right time. Rather than cop to what really happened, I allowed for a lucky coincidence to spiral out of control. Once you get a taste of fame and adulation from your peers, it's hard to give that up. But I had to. This wasn't who I am. I was better than that.

"JAKE 'THE VOLCANO' GILROY HAS ESCAPED!"

Little did I know that my aggrieved friends Charles and Adam were planning on teaching me a lesson. They set up an elaborate prank in which it would be announced that Jake "The Volcano" Gilroy had escaped from prison. To make matters worse, the report said that he was looking to find the kid who had lead to his capture. That kid would be me. I panicked at first but then regained my composure. Perhaps this would be my defining moment, a chance to prove my heroism to all the doubters. And so I reached deep down and summoned all the strength I had inside me. I balled my fists, grit my teeth, and then ran away as fast as I could.