The Superhero in All of Us

 by Charlotte Bennardo

Kindness is the one superhero talent that we all have; the choice is whether we exercise it. Most of us have, but have we used it enough? Like any talent, it needs to be exercised or it gets forgotten, pushed aside for things like ambition, daily concerns, personal wants and needs. But kindness doesn't need to be a grand gesture, a complicated endeavor. 

When my sons were about two and three, and my mom was visiting, we had a small fire in the house. A large bag of peanuts fell over and hit the toaster oven, turning it on. On top of the toaster oven was a huge bowl of Halloween candy. When the toaster oven heated, it set the candy on fire. Thankfully local fire and police quickly arrived on the scene and the damage was minimal. But there was some smoke damage (and the house smelled like smoke and peanuts), and professional cleaners were needed.

As you can imagine, I was thoroughly rattled. Hubs was on a business trip so I had to handle this on my own. Exhausted, I took Mom and the kids to Wendy's for dinner. After I ordered, I realized I'd forgotten my purse-with my wallet and money-at home. On the verge of tears, I told the manager, "I'm sorry, I don't have my wallet." The kids stood there, looking expectant for their dinner. 

Maybe he saw the panic in my eyes. Maybe he smelled the smoke. Maybe he saw the kids' waiting.

He wrote off our meals. 

Was it an expensive gesture? No, but it was priceless to me. I wish I had written to Wendy's corporate to tell them what such a kindness meant. I needed some compassion on that day, as well as my kids. 

I'd always donated to charities, but from then on, even if I only gave $25 or so, I donated to more causes. My donation, added to others, could make a difference. I volunteered more at my church, making meals for the homeless, taking the youth group to pick up garbage along the street, having an angel tree for the animal shelter, etc. Small things. By themselves, not much. But like the Wendy's meal, small acts can be BIG.

Because I'd been so affected, some of my characters are kind (although I do have a villain or a mean one in there; humanity isn't perfect and it makes a better, more realistic story). In my Evolution Revolution series, a young boy teaches and cares for a squirrel, who then goes on to teach, and rescue, his animal friends.

Everyone can do something, even a character in a book.

Charlotte writes MG, YA, NA, and adult novels in sci fi, fantasy, contemporary, paranormal and romance genres. Her latest YA fantasy novel, The Excalibur Vow, just released and her sweet holiday romance, Christmas Bells, Hanukkah Lights, will be released by The Wild Rose Press, hopefully in time for the holidays. She is the author of the award-winning middle grade Evolution Revolution trilogy, Simple Machines, Simple Plans, and Simple Lessons. She co-authored the YA novels Blonde OPS, Sirenz, and Sirenz Back in Fashion. She is working on several children's and adult novels, and other short stories. She lives in NJ with her family and floofy cat Mink, and a squirrel who insists on digging up her geraniums.