Pride and Prejudice
Disclaimer: The characters of Clark Kent belongs to Marvel Comics and the WB. No copyright infringements are intended. This story is written for entertainment purposes only. No money is being made from this story.
Summary: A 16 year old Clark Kent meets his grandfather for the first time. This story is based VERY VERY loosely on the Smallville episode Redux. I wanted to spice up the drama a little. I figured if this drama were not on TV, Grandpa Clark and Jonathan Kent would have had a much more serious debate! Read on to see what I mean!
Martha Kent looked at her father in exasperation. She had asked her father for money because Jonathan was not able to make ends meet. She just wanted her father to mail her a check but instead Grandfather Clark took this opportunity to visit his daughter and he did not like what he saw.
“You know..Dad..it’s just a loan until Jonathan and I get back on our feet..we’re just running behind on some of our bills” Martha looked at her Dad to plead for understanding.
Grandfather Clark’s face softened for a moment as he tried to explain to his daughter the reason for his visit “Martha, I don’t want you to suffer. I know that Jonathan is not able to pay his bills..and I just don’t want you, Martha to go hungry just because your loser husband can’t support my daughter.I will make you out a cashier check and send it to you tomorrow..”
Jonathan’s face clouds with anger as he prepares to punch his arrogant father in law in the face. “We don’t need your money. I can support my wife and family.I have supported my family for 20 years. We don’t need you here. Why don’t you just go home the way you came! Out here in Smallville, we take care of our own..Martha and I do not need the help of outsiders..I have my pride you know and I will not have you stomping all over it..”Jonathan holds Martha possessively in his arms as he continues his tirade, his great body shaking with anger “If you don’t leave my farm and take your stinking money with you..I’ll” Jonathan approaches the old man in a threatening manner, his large calloused hands clenched into fists.
Martha tries to reason with her angry husband. She takes Jonathan by the arms and massages his massive shoulders as he tries to calm her husband down. “Honey please be reasonable..Daddy only came here to help us out..“Do you want to lose this farm? For goodness sake .Jonathan..stop being so proud..you can’t let your pride destroy this farm..please Jonathan..listen to Daddy.. Daddy’s money will tide us over until our crops come in...stop being so stubborn.”
Jonathan gives his wife a thunderous glare as he stammers“Me being stubborn..it’s YOUR dad who’s the stubborn old mule..He’s the one who’s being condescending..rude..I will NOT take his money..from that old fart..”
Now it was Grandpa’s Clark’s turn to be angry as he reacted to Jonathan’s insult“I am not an OLD fart....Martha..you are the one who’s wasting your life married to a hayseed farmer living in THAT (and he points to the Kent farmhouse) shack. I gave you everything..an ivy league education…a renowned law school education..a chance for a better life. .you graduated top of your class in law school..Martha..you could have been a first rate corporate lawyer..but no..you chose to live with that that…farmer! For goodness sake he can’t even cover his own bills what kind of man is that?”
“Daddy please..can’t you see how hard it is for Jonathan to take your money..please don’t make this harder on us..if we weren’t so desperate to save the farm..I wouldn’t have asked for your help…this isn’t easy on us..”
“Oh you mean this isn’t easy on Jonathan and his pride…don’t make me the villain here Jonathan…you are the one who is too proud to take my money..you are the one who is willing to let us pride destroy his farm..Martha..why don’t you come home with me..forget about this prideful farmer..come home with us..I know someone who needs a good lawyer..I can get you a good high paying job..get you away from..
“No Daddy..I love Jonathan..I will do anything to save the farm and that’s the reason I asked you over here..Dad, I am happy here with Jonathan..and we have a son Clark..we are a family…I can’t leave my family!”
“Family? Clark? Family? He’s adopted for god’s sake. If Jonathan were any kind of man, he would have given you a REAL son..a son of your own flesh and blood..you would never have needed to adopt..I would have had a grandson by now..but no..you married that impotent..infertile fool..who’s driving you to the poorhouse…”
“Dad, I love Clark as if he were my own..we’ve raised him since he were a babe..if you had only come and see Clark..he was such a cute baby..”
“Listen, Martha I have nothing personal against Clark..I’m sure he’s a lovely boy but he’s not my flesh and blood…We don’t even know who’s Clark’s parents..for all we know Clark could be the son of criminals…We don’t know Clark’s blood origins..how can we be sure that Clark is even…mentally stable..Martha if you had listened to me in the first place and married Brad..you would have a household of kids by now and you would not be asking me for money like some beggar in the street..I don’t want to have anything to do with Jonathan’s failures as a husband..All of this is Jonathan’s fault..how could you choose to live with him..I am so disappointed in you, Martha..you had so much potential..but no..you throw twenty years of your life down the toilet..living with such commoners like Jonathan..I’m leaving.I can’t do anything more here...I will mail you the cashier check..”
“Wait Dad..stay Clark should be home soon..don’t you want to meet him? Get to know him?”Martha hated the pleading tone in her voice.
“Martha, let him go. It’s just as well that Clark has no contact with your Dad. He’d only hurt Clark with his prejudices. Clark is a part of this family. He’s my son and I love him. I will not have your father saying all those hurtful things to Clark. Clark did not ask to be adopted. He’s a good boy and I won’t let your father ruin Clark’s happiness..I don’t want Clark to feel the pain of rejection..God knows he already has enough to handle with controlling his powers and all..he already feels “different” and “freakish” as it is without your father meddling and adding to my son’s…”
“Jonathan Kent..you will take all that back..”
Clark Kent walks towards home from school with Pete. Clark stops suddenly and Pete only smashes into him from behind. “Hey give a guy a little warning before you stop”
Clark has cocked his head as if listening to a faraway sound. “Shh Pete..I can hear my folks arguing…”as Clark overhears “Clark? Family? He’s adopted. He’s not family. He’s not my flesh and blood…he’s not my grandson..I’m sure Clark’s a lovely boy but I want nothing to do with Jonathan and his failure to perform as a husband..I’m leaving..I will mail you the cashier check..” Tears rush down Clark’s face.
Peter gives Clark a worried stare “What’s wrong Clark?”
“It’s my granddad. He’s leaving. I wanted so much to meet him..to get to know him..you know he’s family and all that..I..” Clark starts running at superspeed leaving Pete behind.
“Clark..wait up..”
Clark runs superspeed and arrives at the farmstead just as his grandfather is getting in his car to leave.
“Wait..granddad..I…”
Jonathan stops his son. “No son, let him go. He’s leaving for good. We don’t need him here. I don’t need him. Martha I sure don’t need his damn cashier’s check. I can take care of my own farm. I don’t need that old goat’s money.”
Jonathan walks into the fields to start doing farm chores.
Clark turns to his mother with tears in his eyes and he begins “Is it true what grandpa said about me not being his grandson because I’m adopted? He doesn’t want to get to know me does he? DOES HE Is that the reason why Granddad never visited here all these years Is that why he doesn’t love me..because I’m adopted?”
“Oh Clark, I’m so sorry..I wish you hadn’t heard that..”
Clark hangs his head down in shame “I’m just this adopted freak..nobody loves..nobody wants..not Grandpa..he doesn’t want to know me. After 16 years when I found out he was coming to the homestead and I was going to meet him for the first time, I was so excited. But now..it’s..I…
“Listen son” Jonathan continues “Forget about what that old goat said. Just because you are not our flesh and blood does not make you any lesser in my eyes as our son. Just remember that Martha and I love you very very much. Martha, don’t bring that asshole to my farm again. I don’t want him hurting Clark.” With that remark, Jonathan walks away.
Martha sniffs at Jonathan’s retreating back. Martha gives his son a hug “You are not a freak Clark. My father just has a very old fashioned idea about kids. I know that deep in his heart somewhere he loves you..”
“No, he doesn’t.” Clark turns away from his mother’s loving arms and runs into the barn where Pete is already waiting for him.
CHAPTER 2
Pete arrived in the barn and put down his backpack knowing that when Clark is finished with talking with his folks, he’ll come into the barn and the two of them will do their homework together. Pete opens his backpack and begins laying out his books. He tries to decide which school subjects to tackle first when Clark comes rushing in..puts down his backpack and without a backwards glance runs to the barn loft. Pete catches a fleeting glance of a tearstreaked Clark running past rustling all his homework papers about. Pete decides to investigate.
Clark has settled in the loft surrounded by straw. Clark pulls his knees to his chest and puts his hands around his knees as he puts his face into his knees to sob. Pete comes to comfort Clark by softly patting him on the back. Pete holds Clark like one would soothe a small child and rocks Clark gently while softly whispering “Everything will be alright. Pete is here. Pete will take care of everything.”
Finally Clark settles down and tells Pete what happened. “My grandfather came to visit. And as you know, my folks have been having financial problems so my mom asked granddad to help out. Granddad came out to the farm to give Mom some money to tie us over. Oh Pete..all I ever wanted was to have a relationship with my granddad just like all the other kids…all my life..I just”-
“I know Clark..all your life you just wanted to be like everybody else..you see how close my grandpa and I are and you want to know what that’s like..I understand Clark really I do..”
“It’s just that with my granddad it’s different..He doesn’t even want to get to know me because I’m adopted..I heard every word..I sometimes I hate having superhearing..they had stopped arguing by the time I got there…Granddad thinks that if Mom had not married Dad, she could have had natural children and wouldn’t have had to adopt me..Pete..it hurts..Granddad will never love me..just because I’m different..And when he finds out I might be an alien..he already hates me just because I’m adopted..why can’t he just get to know me..and then love me..you know..Pete..I..”
Pete speaks in such a serious authoritative tone that Clark gives Pete his full attention “Listen Clark…there’s nothing wrong with you. You are not at fault here. The problem is all your grandpa’s. He’s just being a bigot. He’s prejudiced against you. Your grandpa doesn’t even know you and he’s making judgements against you based on your blood..look Clark I know what bigots are like. I remember when my folks and I went to Metropolis. The store clerks would look up and down at my father and give him dirty looks just because he’s a big black man. People are afraid of my father in an elevator because they think my father will attack them. Store clerks are afraid I’ll steal their merchandise just because I’m black. They don’t even know me. They don’t know that I would never steal..they prejudge me because of my skin color..
Clark interrupts at this point “I didn’t know awful people did that to you Pete..I know you nor your pa would never steal..that’s wrong to judge people based on appearance..and that’s hurtful too..I understand Pete..that’s really really hurtful”
“Yeah, your grandpa not loving you just because you’re adopted and he never bothering to get to know you..the real you..the Clark with a warm giving heart who loves to help and rescue people that’s the Clark I know..Clark..your granddad’s a bigot and there’s nothing you can do about people like that..just for the record..I don’t care if you turn out to be an alien..or you come from Mars or something..I will always be your best friend..and the people who really know you..know your heart..will always love you.”
“Pete, you have no idea how much what you just said means to me..I feel much better now..I still feel..”
“Forget about him Clark. Bigots like him are not worth your time of day. Your grandparents are the ones losing out on knowing a great guy like you..that’s how you have to think about this..don’t let the bigots of the world win..you are NOT a freak..you are NOT a lesser human being just because you’re adopted…just remember Clark..you are loved..”
Martha and Jonathan both step in at this point in the conversation “Yes, Clark. You are loved. We love you very much. We just wished we could have protected you better..we tried to keep your grandparents away from you so you would not have to get hurt..we never ever wanted you to feel hurt..we wish..Clark..that we could shelter you from every pain that this life has to offer..we’re just really sorry that we failed this time, son” Jonathan reaches over and gives Clark a big bear hug. “Like I said son, forget about the old goat. Besides most of his hatred is centered on me. I’m the one he hates..I’m the one he blames for all of Martha’s problems..I’m the idiot that he looks at..not you..no Clark..definitely NOT you.”
Martha hugs her husband “Oh Jonathan, you are not a failure. We will find a way to pay back my father. I promise you that. First of all we are family and we stick together. We don’t let hatred and pain tear us apart..” Martha looks at Clark “Promise me..you will let all of this go..your Dad and I love you..Pete loves you..and I love you.” Martha stops briefly to take a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe away the moisture in her eyes as she blubbers “Just allergies…come on..why don’t we all sit down for supper..Pete you are more than welcome..”
“I would love to Mrs Kent..can I call my Mom to tell her I’ll be having supper here?” Pete asks.
“Sure, Pete. The phone is in the kitchen. Help yourself” Pete gives Mrs. Kent a hug “Okay and Thanks..Clark is very lucky to have a Mom like you.” Pete runs into the kitchen to make a phone call.
Quietly Clark thinks to himself “I will visit Grandpa someday and change his mind. I will show grandpa that he can love me as if we were flesh and blood..Pete’s wrong..just maybe I can change Granpa’s mind.
After dinner, Clark sits down to write his five paper essay entitled “Where do I see myself in 5 years” Clark writes:
“Five years from now, I will go to Metropolis University and major in journalism. I like the seek the truth and help people. Then I will go to Grandpa’s and Grandma’s house and make them love me. I know once they get to know me they’ll let go of their prejudice. Then I will get a job writing for the Daily Planet as a investigative reporter and make the world a better place so that no one like Pete or me ever has to face prejudice again.”
THE END