Page 18 of Pink Kryptonite, by Jeanster

CHAPTER 18: MXYZPTLK RETURNS

Mxyzptlk smiled as he popped into Metropolis after having been gone for ninety days.

"Now to go look up the person I love to annoy the most," he said.

A streak of blue and red zoomed past in the sky above.

"Look! Up in the sky!" shouted a man getting his shoes shined.

"It's a bird!" shouted a woman walking her dog.

"It's a plane!" shouted a hot dog vendor pushing his cart.

"Well, it's not Superman," said Mxyzptlk as he used his magic to catch up with the flying figure above.

The pretty blonde girl in the red cape and blue short-skirted outfit glanced at the magical imp.

"Mxyzptlk! What do you want?" she asked in an annoyed tone.

"Superman. Where is he?"

"I don't know. He left on some personal errand three months ago and hasn't been back. Pretty irresponsible of him, if you ask me," said Supergirl.

"So he left the second string to fill in for him? Did he say where he went?"

"No. And even if he did, what makes you think I'd tell you?"

"No matter. I'll track him down. I'm not stupid, I'll have you know."

"I never said you were. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a city to patrol," said Supergirl as she flew away. Plus I'll be late for an appointment if I don't hurry, she thought to herself.

Mxyzptlk frowned. He hadn't counted on Superman not being there.

"Now I'll have to play detective," said the magical imp as his clothes instantly changed into a brown plaid deerstalker cap and matching suit.

Mxyzptlk blew bubbles out of the pipe in his mouth.

"Where are you, Superman?" he asked himself. He wondered if Supergirl maybe really did know where the Man of Steel was and was just keeping quiet about it. He decided to observe her discreetly to learn what he could.

He found Supergirl taking a break in a popular pancake house. The customers were eagerly flocking around to ask for her autograph and to fawn over her. And lo and behold, guess who was sitting at the same table as Supergirl?

"I really appreciate you agreeing to this interview, Supergirl," said Jimmy Olsen. "Mr. White will be impressed. Here it is my first week as a cub reporter and I'm interviewing the famous Supergirl!"

Supergirl smiled. She was flattered by all the attention.

"It's no trouble, Jimmy. Now, as I was saying, if it weren't for my horse, I'd have never spent that year in -- " but before she could finish her sentence there were shouts and screams and gunfire heard outside.

"Sorry, Jimmy. I'll have to cut this interview short." And Supergirl sped out of the pancake house.

Jimmy sighed. He had no idea when or if Supergirl would be able to finish the interview what with having to deal with the emergencies and crime-fighting while Superman was away.

Jimmy did not notice the man sitting at the next table who looked very confused and frustrated and who muttered something about wishing he'd never overheard her and does it hurt when one's brain suffers from an aneurysm.

Then it dawned on Mxyzptlk that maybe Superman might have traveled back in time to be with Johnny.

"I'll bet that's what he did!" said Mxyzptlk. He instantly changed his clothes from detective gear to that of a cowboy in the days of the Wild West. Then the magical imp transported himself away from present-day Metropolis to the late nineteenth century.

Next Chapter

Home