HeroDude Kage: Chapter 25
Kage and Raheem head inside their house and glance around the rooms.
"Oh? Quadeem and your mom are still not here? She probably trapped him in another one of her shopping sprees."
Kage tosses the keys to Raheem as he catches them without even looking back.
"Better him than me. It was his turn to go grocery shopping with mom anyways."
"If I didn't tell you to act sick, we'll all be shopping with her. And let's just say. It's been years since I went grocery shopping with your mom and I want to keep it that way."
The two share a laugh.
"You sure you love mom, pops?"
"Of course I do! Me and her we just like to joke around. She's probably out there talking about how I sleep too much."
"That's a valid complaint"
"Ack—you not old, you wouldn't get it."
Raheem twirls his keys around.
"Anyways, you did good today. I'm actually surprised we didn't flip on a bush."
"Stop playing, pops. I'm not that rusty."
Raheem smirks and turns on the living room TV.
"You should head to your room and pretend to be sick again. You don't want your mom to know you're a liar."
Kage starts to head upstairs…
"Yeah."
…until a question pops into his head.
"Uh… Pops?"
Raheem turns.
"Mm?"
Kage rubs his hands.
"Uhh. So you know how I'm a hero right?"
Raheem looks to the side as if Kage just asked a dumb question.
"…yes"
"Uhh. So I'm… pretty aware that Mom has… well. "Skeptical" opinions about that, I know Quadeem and Jamila both believe in me. But what about you, pops? I don't think I ever heard your side."
Raheem tilts his head down trying to think of an answer
"Well. I don't think it matters what I think. I never liked when parents interfered with what their kids want to do. Like I never forced you to… be a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer! You know what all the Caribbeans want their kids to be. But it would be nice if you… you know brought that extra cash to the family."
Raheem laughs while Kage smirks and shakes his head.
"But yeah. Don't worry what I think, pitit mwen. Do your thing and… save the world."
Kage shakes his head once again.
"Pops… that's such a cop out. I know you. If you liked what I was doing you would've said you were happy with what I'm doing."
Kage walks closer to his father.
"Pops. You know whatever you say isn't gonna change what I do. But I still wanna know what you honestly think. So tell me. I really won't mind."
Raheem rolls closer to his son.
"Ok. You got me… to be honest. I would be lying if I didn't think about the fact that everyday could be the last time I see my son. I would be a liar and a bad father if I said I wasn't worried."
Kage raises his eyebrows in agreement.
"But at the same time. That's how I know that I am a good father. A lot of kids are out there pursuing a major they don't want all because they parents forced that career path down their throats. So I'm happy I didn't drag you down that path. Scared. But happy."
Kage slowly nods his head.
"Oh… that actually caught me off guard."
Raheem smirks.
"Didn't think fathers had those type of emotions, huh?
Kage chuckles.
"No. Not at all"
"Yeah dads are good at keeping their poker faces"
"Yeah… I can see that."
"Mhm. But there is still more."
Kage looks up.
"Oh. Yeah go ahead."
"About your morals about being a "hero" and stuff like that. Well. To be straight. You're doing something I'd never do in my life."
Kage raises a brow.
"What you mean?"
Raheem takes a deep breath and rubs his eyes.
"Well. To me, there is a difference between. A hero… and a good person."
Raheem rolls closer to Kage as his gestures his hands towards Kage.
"A hero… Will save everyone! Neighbors, teachers, pastors… everyone."
Kage says in his head "What is he getting at?"
"But. They also save bad people. People who do a lot of… crappy stuff you know? They believe that… everyone deserves a second chance which… is true. But when they say that right in front of a killer. That's bullcrap to me son.
"But a good person… saves good people, People who might be logically redeemable. But at the same time, they understand that there are people who need to be held accountable, people who do need to get thrown in jail. People… who… deserves to die.
Kage's eyes widen.
Heh. But heroes. They always try to see the light in everyone when in all reality, there is no light to be found.
Kage nods. That type of nod you give when you're in a loss of words.
"What I'm trying to say is. All people can be saved… but the real question is… should they be saved?"
Now I'm not saying that everybody that is a bad should die. If that was the case, we'll all be dead. But... There are just some people that are beyond saving. So what I think about your hero stuff? Honestly. I don't want you to be a hero… but I do want you to be a good person. That's my side."
Kage looks down. Speechless.
"Now now son. Just because that's what I think that's doesn't mean you need to listen to it. We all have different definitions on what's right. So if you disagree that's ok! That's perfectly fine. Just some… food for thought."
Kage… slowly nods.
"Think imma. Pretend to be sick now."
"Wait Kage!"
"Mhm?"
"If you do listen to what I say. Please do not cause a genocide on everyone who boos you."
Kage laughs.
"I won't"
END OF CHAPTER.