Page 24 of Wild Frost

I had a sneaking suspicion this wasn’t about Jasmine at all. Jack just wanted to make the kids smile. So did I. For some, that was a little harder than anticipated.

13

“You’re not Santa,” Jonah said. “You’re not fat enough to be Santa.”

Jack’s face wrinkled in protest. “I most certainly am Santa.”

Jonah was 11 and sharp as a tack. He was propped up in bed, looking pale and weak, his head slick from the chemo.

It had been going well up to this point, but Jonah was a tough customer.

The kid rolled his eyes. “That’s a fake beard.” Jonah gave me a look. “And who’s he supposed to be?”

“He’s an elf. He makes the toys.”

Jonah wasn’t buying it. He muttered to Jasmine. “Where’d you get these guys? The mall?”

Jasmine whispered to Jack, “I warned you he might be a little challenging.”

“We came in all the way from the North Pole,” Jack said.

Jonah scoffed. “Yeah, and I’m Superman.”

Jack squinted. “Well, it says right there on your chart, Jonah, Super Hero.”

The kid gave him a doubtful look.

“Well, you’re tremendously brave,” Jack said. “I hear this is your second time in here. They tell me you’re doing just fine. A man of steel. No, a man of titanium. Even better.”

“If I were made of titanium, I wouldn’t have any of these problems.”

“Think of it as an opportunity to prove how strong you really are. A man made of titanium can overcome any obstacle. You got this.”

Jonah wasn’t sold yet. His doubtful gaze persisted.

“What do you have there?” JD asked, pointing to a sketchbook at Jonah’s side.

With a modest shrug, Jonah said, “Just some doodles.”

“Can I take a look?”

“I guess. But they’re just sketches. They’re not very good.”

Jonah handed Jack the leather-bound book. As he flipped open the pages, his eyes widened with surprise.

I huddled over his shoulder.

“Not very good, huh?” JD said. “These are fantastic!”

Jonah gave another modest shrug.

The kid had sketched out characters that belonged in a finished comic book. Perfect proportions and anatomy, a command of fabrics and materials, a sense of motion and action. Impressive talent.

“Who’s this guy here?” JD asked, pointing to a heroic figure with bulging muscles, rippled abs, and a flowing cape. The hero had a jaw so sharp it could cut diamonds.

“That’s Captain Immortal.”

“What’s his super power?”