The day I became Mini-Might

I'm not proud of this, but I do don a costume on occasion.

When Roger called me that day and said he had something for me, sounding downright giddy, I was intrigued. We're not gift givers, Roger and I. Birthdays and holidays come and go and while there will be drinks raised and downed, there are few gifts exchanged. I was at a loss, especially when he said it would bring it to my apartment. What couldn't wait until that night when we met for dinner?

When the buzzer rang, I was actually a bit nervous, a tad excited. Who didn't like receiving presents? Opening the door to reveal Roger standing there, a big goofy grin on his face and a large package in his arms. My confusion momentarily flared when I saw the garment box and then realization dawned. I knew what would be in there before I even lifted the lid.

A freaking costume. My own superhero suit, or rather sidekick suit. I had only been joking when I called myself his sidekick. Up until that moment I thought that Roger knew that. I thought it was an inside joke, I was Mini-Might to his Leviathan. I guess I'll have to make myself clear. I'd have to lay it down. I'm not going to be a part of this anymore.

Looking up at Roger's face, I couldn't do it. I couldn't let him down. Damn him. Damn the innocence in his eyes, the cautious optimism that I would like this poorly sewn pile of latex. Damn his delusion in the first place.

I pulled it out of the box and held it out in front of me. Grey and yellow, with just a touch of orange. He knew I wouldn't wear all garish citrus like his costume. Shorts instead of the expected flare skirt, long sleeves, and oh good lord even knee high boots. Actually those were kinda hot. Stitched on the left chest in orange was a double M, slightly overlapping. MM for Mini-Might. Tucked in the bottom of the box, wrapped separately from the rest of the costume was my own eye mask. Yellow, to match his.

"What, no cape?"

He smiled, "It's already made, but I wasn't sure if it'd be too much."

"Of course it is. It wouldn't be right for the sidekick to have a cape when the hero doesn't. Wouldn't want to show you up."

"Go try it on."

Crap. I took the box back into my bedroom. Closing my door, I made a silent pray to the universe. Let it be too small, too big, too anything, just let in not fit so I don't have to actually wear it. At this point I just want a bottle of wine, a book, and warm fuzzy slippers, strike that, someone massaging my feet would be nice. I need a pedicure too. Wait, I'm bargaining with the universe. Better stay with the slippers.

With my back to the mirror, I slip out of my wrap-around dress and wriggle the gray costume, which I know see has some shimmer to it, up over my hips. I'll need help with the zipper to get it all the way up my back, but when I turn around to face the mirror I can already tell that it will fit like a glove. "How did you know my size?" I call as I'm walking back into the living room. As I turned the corner, Roger's eyes boggled a bit and his jaw dropped. He recovered just as fast and didn't say anything, but I knew.

"The state dinner. When you made me go dress shopping with you." That's one nice thing about having a best friend in politics. I get to go to all the fancy stuff when he's otherwise dateless.

I turned to have Roger zip up the back. "It was only fair. You made me go with you to the dinner and I knew I would be abandoned, left talking to Barry, the mind-numbing moron while you schmoozed the governor. Well?" Stepping away, I gestured down to myself.

"It's not complete yet."

"Fine." I sat down to slip on the boots, ran back into the bed room for the eye mask. Admittedly I was beginning to have fun. Nothing like looking hot in a costume to change your attitude. "Drum roll please!" Waiting until I heard Roger start to mimic percussion with his tongue, I did my best superhero/sidekick bound into the living room.

"You look fantastic! Now lets go. I heard there's drug dealers downtown. Let's go scare the pants off of them."

Uh oh.