The story written below is actually based on a true story, I wrote it for the 6th issue of the NPM and it serves as kind of a prequel to a character within the Rage universe. By the way, you can check out the 6th issue of the NPM for yourself in the North Philly Metropolis part of the site.

Ms. Henderson’s Boys

It was the day before Thanksgiving in the city of brotherly love, schools were letting out early, students didn’t have homework, and the only thing occupying everyone’s mind was how much food they would consume the following day.

“Happy Thanksgiving Jessica” Ms. Henderson said happily to her best student, as the rest of her class emptied out.

“Happy Thanksgiving” Jessica replied, brushing hair out of her face.

“Do you need a ride home?” Ms. Henderson asked, watching Jessica retrieve her things and reaching the door.

“No I’m fine. See you next week Ms. Henderson”

As Jessica left Ms. Henderson strolled around her classroom  looking out the many windows and watching all of the students leave for the holiday. All of them happily running around the school yard, smiling, laughing.

“Don’t you just love the holidays” She said to herself quietly, looking around her classroom one last time before exiting it.

Giving everyone a healthy smile before leaving for the remainder of the holiday, Ms, Henderson hopped into her car and drove off into the crowded streets of Downtown Philadelphia. Every store was crowded as could be, some even had their Christmas decorations all ready up, and people outside were trapped in their overcoats just as warm as could be, which only made Ms. Henderson happy as she pulled up to Pierce Elementary school.

“How was your day” She asked her son Anton as he got in the car.

“Fine” Anton replied in almost a whisper.

“What’s the matter with you?” Ms. Henderson asked, pulling away from the school.

“Nothing” Anton replied. “I’m fine, just a little tired”

The rest of the drive home was quiet as usual, Ms. Henderson’s son was tired as can be but happy that the holiday break had finally arrived with a few days he could use as an excuse to just lay around the house and do nothing.

The car came to a stop and they were home. Ms. Henderson quickly stepped out of her car eager to start on her Thanksgiving cooking when she came to a sudden stop; Anton of course followed but came to a stop as well. Both were thunder struck at the sight that had been awaiting them on their step, wearing nothing but a shirt and a pair of baggy jeans.

“Robert” Ms. Henderson said calmly but quietly to herself.

“Hi mama” Robert said, smirking afterwards. “I’m home, what’s for dinner? You know what I’ll just wait till tomorrow”

At the sight of her other son, Ms. Henderson’s emotions were mixed with anger and sorrow, any parent would have been happy to see their son, in fact any parent would have been happy to see Robert because of all the good he had done for the community, but…

Anton continued staring at his older brother Robert in awe with his own mouth literally wide open; Ms. Henderson without taking another look at Robert quietly walked up her steps, grabbed her house keys from her right pocket, and entered her home. Both boys followed her in.

That night no one really slept well, Robert stayed up all night calling his so called friends and making arrangements so they could meet the next day, Ms. Henderson continued on with her plans of cooking the perfect Thanksgiving meal through the night, forgetting and remembering that Robert was again home.

The next morning as Anton awoke, the aroma of Cornish hens and sweet potatoes filled his nostrils and with the knowledge of knowing he was safely home in his warm bed, in his warm house in general made him feel for some reason better than he had ever felt before. As he wandered down to the kitchen, his mother seemed happy as she continued with the last of her preparations for the evening meal, all the while watching the Thanksgiving parade.

“Good morning mom” he said almost in a whisper.

“Good morning” Ms. Henderson replied her too almost in a whisper.

“What time is Uncle Randy coming over” he asked, trying to sound a little excited that it was Thanksgiving.

“Sometime in the afternoon” she replied, again in a whisper.

Anton quietly walked into the living room where he turned on the television to watch the parade; sitting there he started wondering where Robert was at and why his mother was suddenly acting strange. Minutes of the parade quickly turned into hours and before one could notice, Santa Claus was making his might return down the Benjamin Franklin parkway.

“What’s up nephew” called Uncle Randy.

“Uncle Randy” Ms. Henderson’s son cried as he ran into his uncle’s arms.

“Sorry I took your house keys” Uncle Randy added as he dug deep into his right pocket. “I swore they were mine”

Anton’s uncle had came once before in mid July to visit his sister and his nephew, but on the last day of his visit, he had mistakenly grabbed Anton’s house keys instead of his own.

“It’s ok” Anton said, forgetting the whole thing and just happy to see his dear old uncle. “How are you and Ms. Tina?”  

“Were fine, she said to tell everyone hi.” Uncle Randy said. “Hey baby sister” he added as Ms. Henderson walked into the living room.

“Hey” Ms. Henderson said, flopping down on the couch and wiping sweat from her face.

“Is it time to eat” Uncle Randy asked sarcastically.

“Yeah” Ms. Henderson replied.

“Well come on nephew I’ll make you and me a plate”

Ms. Henderson’s son started to follow his uncle into kitchen when Ms. Henderson called him back and pointed to the door with an almost sad expression on her face.

“Look and see if you see your brother” she said.

“Ok” he replied as he turned to the door.

The cold forthcoming December winds blew into the house as Anton opened the door; outside he could see Robert walking along slowly with a girl he knew to look rather familiar and two other beefy looking guys, each (except for the girl ) smoking.

“That’s it” Robert said to the three. “That’s my last one, never gonna touch the stuff again, I’m starting anew” he added, flicking whatever he was smoking into the distance.

“Whatever” one of the beefy looking guys known around the streets as “Trick” said. “Once you realize what you just did in the morning, you’ll rush to my house”

“I’ll holla at ya’ll later. Jessica I’ll call you” Robert said as he entered the house. “What’s up bro?” he added, as he rubbed his younger brother’s busy but nappy hair.

“Bye” Jessica said, happy that her boyfriend was back.

“…Robert” Uncle Randy said, holding both his plate and his nephew, but just as shocked. “Y-Your back”

“Uncle Randy I didn’t know you’d be up here, how’s New York?” Robert asked, coming to a stop and seeing his mother.

“What’s that smell?” Ms. Henderson asked, sounding a bit angry.

“N-Nothing ma” Robert answered nervously.

Uncle Randy had noticed the smell too and tried his best to pull Anton in the kitchen, like many others he had thought Robert was a good and honest person but like so many others he was proven wrong.

“What’s that smell” Ms. Henderson asked, this time standing up.

“Ma don’t worry, I’ll just spray some air freshener and…”

“You an’t been here a full week and already your starting trouble”

“Ma I’m not doing anything wrong…”

“Look at you; you’re too loaded to even know what you’re doing”

Robert walked slowly toward the kitchen but his uncle quickly stepped in his way, Anton looked on, confused.

 “Don’t you walk away from me boy” Ms. Henderson yelled.

“Boy” Robert almost yelled back. “Mama I’m your son, and if you’d wait a minute and let me explain, I…”

“You’re my mistake” Ms. Henderson yelled at the top of her lungs.

The living room went quiet, even the voices of the news media on television sounded as if it went completely mute.

“What” Robert said, looking his mother in the eyes.

“I never thought I’d say this about any of my sons…I hate you Robert and I wish you were never born” Ms. Henderson said as tears flowed from her eyes. “I have nothing to be thankful for, not after what you did”

“How can you be saying this” Robert said angrily.

“Robert you killed that boy and for what, you killed him and you come back here like it’s nothing and for that I swear to god I wish you weren’t born”

Robert turned furiously toward the front door and opened it wide.

“I said don’t walk away from me boy” Ms. Henderson yelled again, but trying to calm down a bit.

“Is it that much of a big deal? You don’t even know the kid or what he did, or…”

“It doesn’t matter” Ms. Henderson shouted, jumping up and down frantically with tears filling up in her eyes. “You killed the boy, you killed him, you killed somebody, and over what Robert, over what?”

Uncle Randy rushed to his sister’s side, trying to calm her down as Robert looked on.

“Was it worth it Robert, was it?” Ms. Henderson said, crying full tears now.

“I thought…that I could come here and start over, I was listening to my beats yesterday in my room, I fixed my computer, I’m going back to school, Mama we can forge…”

“Before you say another word” Ms. Henderson said, getting up and pushing her brother aside. “Get out, get out now!”

Robert eyed his mother as if she had just told a funny joke that no one but himself understood.

“Mama you don’t…” he started.

“Get out!” Ms. Henderson roared.

“Mama, you can’t be…”

“I said get out!”

Robert turned around towards the door way and buried his head in his arms before turning around one last time.

“…Happy Thanksgiving, be thankful I’m not here” he said, slamming the door and walking out of his mother and brother’s life forever.

Ms. Henderson turned to the kitchen where her brother was waiting to try and calm her down, her son returned to the living room still confused and even a little frightened, not for him but for his brother as he watched television.

“Police are still baffled” The television echoed. “It was just last week that the vigilante, calling himself Rage was spotted by police by 32^nd street near Strawberry Mansion High School where he stopped a group of individuals who were selling marijuana and other drugs.”

“It doesn’t affect me at all, I believe myself to have done some good in Philadelphia without the help of Rage.” Answered Police Commissioner Bale.

“Sources say that you have been coaching on Lieutenant Catherine Pressley to run for your position as the next Commissioner of Philadelphia’s police force.”

“I have been in conversation with the lieutenant; she has done a fine job in her current position and will do so as the next commissioner. When first hearing that she showed interest in becoming the next Commissioner I was thrilled, but I never ‘coached’ her on as you say.”

 “I have a question about Rage.” Asked journalist, Larry Sox.

Police commissioner Bale stood at the podium in Love Park, an officer on either side of him. He was feeling up with anger, glaring at the reporter who had just asked that question. It had been over a month since the costumed figure known as Rage arrived in Philadelphia, cleaning up its crime ridden streets. The first sighting being made of this…vigilante in Fairmount Park.

There were now rumors circulating throughout the city that the sudden arrival of Rage meant that Philadelphia police had suddenly unleashed some kind of secret weapon upon criminals because they themselves could not stop the overwhelming crime. The secondary rumor was that in someway Rage was connected with the sudden arrival of the mass murderer, Crow.

The Philadelphia police had not been able to bring the criminal to justice where as Rage had been able to stop a number of his crimes, generating more heat on Commissioner Bale. Answering questions about Rage was the last thing he wanted to do right now.

“Why not form an alliance with Rage?” Larry continued.

“As I’ve said previously,” Bale began “The Philadelphia Police do not form alliances with individuals who take the law into their own hands. We do not have any connections with the sudden appearance of Rage or any knowledge of his whereabouts.”

“You say that you do not form alliances with individuals who take the law into their own hands Commissioner,” added journalist, Tony Harris. “Yet statistics state that over the past few weeks’ crime has slowly declined because of Rage.”

“Just because Philadelphia has some…vigilante now jumping from building to building does not mean that it will be safe. This Rage character has done nothing but bring about more crime in the city.”

“So are you saying that you believe that in someway both Crow and Rage are connected?” Tony continued.

“I am not saying that at all…” Commissioner Bale took a moment to squint at the journalist’s name, “Tony. I am merely stating that two wrongs do not make a right. Having someone taking the law into their own hands and manipulating it as they see fit will only encourage others to do the same.”

“Well if it will stop people from killing each other, I’m glad Rage is here.” Cried a citizen.

“You shouldn’t be sir because the kind of inspiration that I am talking about will only influence the wrong kinds of people. You think Philadelphia has it bad now with criminals running around and killing innocent individuals, just wait until they start imitating Rage. All of you are cheering now, but Philadelphia will only get worst when at last you will wish you have had listened to me.”

“So you believe that the appearance of Rage will influence some…supervillians to try and rival him?” commented Lary, holding back a small laugh.

“I only believe that things will become even harder.”

“It seems that the citizens of Philadelphia have two huge options then Commissioner,” added Tony, “seek the help that Rage is given or watch as things fall apart even more and become harder.”

The commissioner said nothing and started to back away from the podium when no more questions were flying at him.

“Before you go Commissioner, do you and your officers have a plan to stop Crow, he has already killed 10 people within the last 2 weeks and it seems that he slips right through your fingers.”

“My men and I are trying our best to apprehend Crow; you must remember that 2 of those men were police officers…”

Silver Bailey turned off his television.