Free The Kryptonite Kid: A Novel by Joseph Torchia Page B

know exactly what it was because I never heard them whisper THAT low before. But it must of been pretty bad because my mom said HOW DISGUSTING!
    And Veronica said I’M TELLING YOU, FRANCES, THAT LENORE BACCHIO IS A DEMON!
    And that’s why I don’t like Veronica very much because she whispers like that about EVERYBODY. And so does my mom. And so the next time they whisper about Mrs. Bacchio I’ll let you know what she wasn’t supposed to be doing with whoever she was doing it with. If I figure it out.
    So long, Superman.
      
Your pals,
JERRY and ROBERT
      
      

  
    Well, Superman,
      
    Whatever Mrs. Bacchio did she must still be doing it because my mom and Veronica nextdoor have been whispering about it for three days. And I don’t know what it is but I know she was doing it with a man and it wasn’t Mr. Bacchio. That’s because my mom whisperd DOES HER HUSBAND KNOW ABOUT IT?
    And Veronica whisperd NO, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
    And I said I DON’T.
    And my mom looked up. And so did Veronica. And  they thought I was watching Mickey Mouse Club only I wasn’t. I was listening to them. And so I said WHO IS SHE DOING IT WITH?
    And boy did my mom get mad! She yelled at me and told me how I wasn’t supposed to listen to groan ups talk. Especially when they’re whispering. And how I better get outside before she gives me a beating. So I went up to Robert’s house and we talked about it for a long time and we tried to figure out who it was she’s doing it with. Whatever it is she’s doing. And Robert said it must be somebody REALLY bad for them to whisper so much. And so I said maybe it’s you, Superman, because why else would my mom get so mad? So if it is you, then why don’t you write us a letter and tell us? And if it’s not you, then don’t worry about writing.
    Except you probly wouldn’t write even if it was you. So maybe you better write even if it’s not you.
    Thank you, Superpal.
      
JERRY CHARIOT 
and
ROBERT SIPANNO
      
      
     
    DEAR SUPERMAN,
      
    Well, we know who she’s doing it with and it’s not you. It’s Mr. Durrelli. He’s the one who brings the comicbooks after school every Monday when me and Robert wait. And so now you don’t have to write us that letter and tell us who it is. But you could tell us what it is. If you want. We haven’t figured that out yet. But we figured out where it is. It’s in the back of Mrs. Bacchio’s News Stand where she  keeps all the old comicbooks and stuff. That’s what Robert’s mom said when she was talking to Olivia Mariotti on the phone. Except Robert calls her Ant Olivia. And Robert’s mom said that my mom said that Veronica nextdoor said that she was doing it right there in the back of the store and CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
    And then Olivia said something and Robert’s mom said WHY IT’S JUST TERRIBLE! HOW MANY KIDS DOES HE HAVE?
    And Olivia said something else and Robert’s mom said SIX! And then she said, THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU, OLIVIA, YOU JUST CAN’T TRUST A MAN!
    And so if she don’t trust a man then she probly don’t trust a boy either. So we better not ask her what Mrs. Bacchio was doing. But we thought maybe you could tell us since you have Super branes and also X-ray Vision. All you have to do is fly over Bacchio’s News Stand and look through the roof and watch them doing it. Whatever they’re doing. And then you could fly up to the Duck Rock and tell me and Robert about it. We sure would appreciate it, Man of Steel.
      
YOUR FRIEND JERRY and ROBERT again
      
    PS: I like Mrs. Bacchio a LOT better than Veronica next-door or Olivia Mariotti or even my mom or Robert’s mom. Or Buster or Sister Mary Justin or Jimmy Sinceri. Or my sister the Sister who is becoming a nunn who we’re going to see next Sunday. Or ANYBODY. And so I don’t care what they say, Superman, because I know she couldn’t do nothing bad. Because I just KNOW it. So goodby.
      

      
    Dear SUPERMAN,
    You