OK, I'm back with real feedback, not that short little blurb I left you with.
I love that you started with Henderson.
It might be a hoax, but somehow he knew it wasn't. There was something very familiar about the soft voice with the Midwestern accent. For an instant, he wasn't able to identify the emotion that surged through him. It was sheer joy, followed an instant later by anger at the unnecessary worry that he had been enduring for over a week. "Where the devil have you been?"
And then he passes the favor on, which is such a nice touch.
"Hello, Perry," Henderson said, "I have some news ..."
And then the getting ready for bed - very nice. Martha cracked me up. It was spot-on.
"Well, a mother can hope," Martha said, sending Lois into another fit of giggles.
And Rachel is back! Very nicely done, and I could just hear that conversation between her and Clark. And I LOVED this little bit...
"Yeah. If you need me, call my cell phone," Rachel said. "And if any more of those vultures show up looking for the Kents, send them out by way of Potter's Slough, would you?"
Greg snorted. "Actually, I was thinking of Whittaker's Bog," he said. "That should keep them busy for a few hours. Especially if they take the long way around the lake and past the power station."
"Sounds even better," Rachel said, recalling the maze of rutted, dirt and gravel roads that the unfortunate members of the media would have to traverse. "Do that. Might let Dan, at the towing company, know if you do, so the truck can be out of service when they call. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
I grew up on a farm in a very small town, and I could easily see the folks I grew up with doing exactly that kind of prank to protect their own. Although (v. minor note) we'd have just said "Dan at the service station" because Dan would have owned the only gas station/garage in town (ok, the guy's name was Crow. Honest!).
Clark raised an eyebrow. "I'm still from Smallville. I never forget that."
Exactly. I've never forgotten either. I'm glad you put those words in Clark's mouth, because I do think Smallville is fundamental to who Clark is. Lois may have shaped Supes, but Smallville/Martha/Jonathon shaped Clark.
"I am. Give it time." She slipped her hand into his. "You keep telling me to have patience and stay out of the investigation in Metropolis, and I'm telling you the same thing about your powers. It's not easy for either of us but it's important. Superman will be back -- and so will Mad Dog Lane. Eventually."
Yeah!
We can hardly wait! "The Mrs." is going to get her come-uppance!
Really nice start to the story, Nan.
mmouse