“Okay this year we decided to change the name of one of our categories,” Zac announced. “We’ve changed ‘Most Insane Hair Do’ to ‘Most Insane Hair’ just because we think it sounds cooler. To present the award this is an unauthority on the subject… Tru Prince!”
Tru Prince came out to a mass of applause and cheers. The rap artist threw his hands up in the air and then ran them over his shaved head.
“Yo!”
The cheers went louder. Tru Prince grinned and soon gestured for them to be quiet.
“The nominees for Most Insane Hair are…”
As he listed each name, a camera would focus on the owner, and if one were watching the screen or at home, they would also see other photos taken of their hair (which was useful if it kept changing throughout the year). Xavier grinned broadly as his name was mentioned and pumped his arm in the air.
“And the winner is…” Tru Prince opened the envelope. “Xavier Hanson.”
“Whoo hoo!” Xavier yelled, jumping out of his seat.
Perhaps the most obvious thing about Xavier tonight was that he was the only one who had turned up to the formal event dressed up as Superman, if you’ll excuse the hair, which dyed especially for tonight: red, blue and yellow, with black streaks.
He threw his arms up in the air, turned to wave at the section of the audience where the fans were seated, then turned and ran up to the stage, with his arms out in front of him as if he was flying. He had been doing that all night.
“This is the second year in a row Xavier has won this award,” said the voiceover.
“Thank you, thank you,” Xavier said, accepting the award from Tru Prince. “Wow, this is so cool. Two years in a row. You love me, you really love me!”
Ecstatic cheers filled the room.
“Y’know, tonight I was asked, if superheroes are so smart, why do they wear their underwear on the outside?”
There was laughter. Electra rested her head in her hand and giggled, her eyes meeting with Xavier’s cousins.
“Well, I’ll tell you why,” Xavier said decisively. “Superheroes are constantly going into dangerous situations. And when you’re in a dangerous situation, there is always an element of fear. So I tell why superheroes wear their underwear on the outside? It makes it easier to change them!”
Xavier grinned as he got the reaction he was after.
“Thanks to everyone who voted for me. You guys rock!” were his parting words as he ‘flew’ off the stage.
Back in Tulsa, Isaac and Babsie looked at each other.
“He’s your son,” Babsie said.
“He’s yours too.”
“How do you know? You never saw him come out.”
“You told me.”
“Oh yeah… is it too late to take it back?”
“Yeah, much too late.”
“Oh, dang,” Babsie joked.
Isaac grinned at her.