The Supergirl

“Hey guys,” he yelled into the hungry crowd standing with their trays in line to get some of the horrible canteen food. “Look!” Like a glorious hero he waved the picture above his head. “Look what Kent carries around in his wallet!” He straightened the picture and held it still; making sure everyone could see it. “This is his girlfriend!” The crowd giggled, some joined in laughing at Kent, teasing him, and they wouldn't stop. For years this went on. When he ran into them in the hallway they would greet him with words like, “Hey Superboy, saw your girl the other day on TV. Hot, hot, hot.” And then they would burst out in laughter. Kent was sick of it but also didn't know what to do. There was the option of forgetting about her, but he would never be able to do that. He loved her too much. Even though she was just an artificial character, created after someone's imagination, drawn on paper. “Don't worry about it,” his mom would say whenever he complained about the daily harassment at work. “One day you will find the right girl and it will all be okay.” First of all, what would be okay then? Would he then forget about Tamiko? Second, how could any girl come even close to her? And third, why would any woman put up with his lifetime passion for Anime, Manga, and, since he was an adolescent, Hentai.