Rich Rolls was a shy, sensitive kid. He always felt very uncomfortable out in public. So much so that he would go out of his way to avoid people he knew whenever he was at the mall or the movies. He wished there was a way he could hide his identity when he wasn’t in the mood to deal with people. But that wasn’t an option……or was it?

When the bell rings at 3 o’clock, Rich just wants to get home as soon as possible. A lot of his fellow students want to hang out, go out for pizza or join after-school clubs. That wasn’t Rich’s scene.

“Rich! Where are you going? We’re all headed to Truman’s house to play vide games!” Winn shouted out.

“I, uh…..alright.”

There was no way Rich could get out of this situation. He sighed and reluctantly joined his classmates.

‘We’re going to order some Chinese food” Winn said. “What dishes do you want Rich? Rich? Where did he go?”

Rich had snuck out the back door and frantically began to run home. He had no idea why suddenly left, he just knew that he was feeling extremely uncomfortable. Rich was running so fast that he tripped and fell over a rock. When he got to his feet he started to feel strange. Did he bang his head on the ground or was it something more?

* frantically: in a desperate way

A little dizzy and unsteady on his feet, he was able to make it home. He felt weird all night with a pounding headache. The alarm clock buzzed at 7 a.m as Rich rolled out of bed dreading another school day. But then something incredible happened. When he looked in the mirror, he was greeted by the face of a stranger. Only it wasn’t a stranger. It was Rich. Somehow he developed the ability to change his face. All he had to do was choose a look and his face would automatically change. He quickly went back to his old look as the school bus was waiting outside.

That morning Rich deliberately walked past two friends he’s known since kindergarten.

“Good day fellows” he chuckled as he passed his confused buddies. 

“Who was that?” one of the friends asked.

“No idea” the other friend shrugged.

A few moments later Rich was able to return to his normal face. Being able to alter his facial features became Rich’s superpower. He no longer had to deal with uncomfortable situations or have awkward social interactions.

*deliberately: carefully, intentionally 

Over the course of the next couple of weeks Rich was able to keep avoiding people. It was almost as if he had become a different person. And in a way he had. Rich’s confidence began to grow. He no longer felt anxious when he was around other people. Whenever he said anything silly or embarrassing he always had the option of changing his appearance. 

Rich was starting to get tired of looking like other boys. It was time for him to become an adult. Well, to at least look like one. He decided to borrow the looks of a man he had seen in the local paper. While strolling downtown Rich ran into Officer Truman, an old family friend.

“Greetings Officer Truman” Rich said with the cracking voice of a 12 year old. “Have a good one.”

“Who was that?” the officer wondered aloud. “And why does he seem so familiar?”