Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: FIZZLE (06/09/16)
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TITLE: The almost failed adventure of Hydro-man | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
06/13/16 -
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The arrogant fool actually robbed a bank without a disguise. Since a security camera photo was all the police had to go on, I took the rap for his robbery.
I had an alibi, as I was in action as Hydro-man at the time, but I couldn't use it without revealing my true identity. My wife, upset I accepted this unfairness, divorced me while I was on trial for Norman's crime, then married another agent in my office so our kids would "have a father." I had thought our marriage wouldn’t fizzle out, even with this trial. Thankfully, she brings the kids to visit occasionally. But it isn't the same as being out there to be at birthdays and other milestones in their lives.
I still had my costume, which I had smuggled in by street contacts who knew my identity. Thus I maintained the illusion that Hydro-man was still there to help the good citizens of Tulsa.
Today was almost my undoing, though.
My pity party came to an abrupt halt when I heard a news break about a hostage situation on Sixteenth. With no cellmates present, I quietly shut my cell door, slipped into costume, and left the prison as I had many times - through the toilet drain. Not the most enjoyable way to get to the scene of a crime, but one does what works.
There were five morons holding guns on innocents, so I used one of my old standbys, going up their noses till they couldn’t breathe and passed out. While helping the local boys finish with the clean up, I heard someone’s radio say they needed assistance at the prison because an inmate was missing from afternoon headcount.
I knew it had to be me, and that justice demanded I surrender. Sure, then I could demand a new trial and be released, but I would not get my life or wife back.
I could turn into a stream and slip back in, but where would I stash my costume? And if I left it outside, I'd rematerialize almost nude. How to explain that to the CO's. I imagined the conversation, "Yes, officers, I was running outside my housing area naked and hid at headcount, because I didn't want anyone to see me naked." That sounded like the pastor I'd heard last week talking about the fall of man. That excuse held no water with God, why should I think the suspicious officers would buy it any better?
What was I to do?
I soon came up with a plan, but I'd be almost naked when I returned to human form away from my cell. I knew my hopes for an early release would fizzle out with an attempted escape on my record.
I turned into a sprinkle of rain, moved over the exercise yard, and allowed myself to rain in an area with a lot of brush near the fence. There I materialized in costume, which I removed and hid in a cluster of brush where I could get it later. I stood there in boxers. Attracting the attention of the first officer I saw. It was Officer Johnston, an older officer who had seen everything one could see in the prison. A man in his boxers wasn’t going to shock her.
“Officer, you caught me trying to escape. I surrender.”
I came out into the open in my shorts, and she said, “Wow, am I glad I found you. Where’s your costume?”
My astonishment made her laugh. “Silly man, most of us officers know you is Hydro-man. We usually cover for you, but today the sarge was on our backs during headcount. Couldn't cover for you today. Let’s get you some clothes, and get you back in. Blame it on a mistake in counting, right?”
She held out a large thermos with the lid off. She already knew, so why not hide in her thermos? She took me to the laundry room to get a new set of clothes.
A happy ending for me. One less person to worry about keeping my secret from. And no escape charge on my record.
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Well done
Blessings~
Blessings~
I really enjoyed reading this story and thought it might take 1st.