Captain Character™

During his explanation, Matt reaches out and holds the books for Zachary since they seem heavy. That is when he and the boys all notice that his left pointer finger is glowing bright green. With the power flowing from him, Matt knows that this might happen, but is startled to see it happen so dramatically. The three boys are shocked and amazed seeing this, and they stare intently at his finger. But still they do not move. They cannot move. It seems like the whole world includes only the four of them. There seems to be a barrier around them, and no one else sees them. Somehow they all know this.

As he finishes explaining about respect, Matt hands the books back to Geoffrey and tells the other boys “Zachary and Gavin you need to go home now and don’t bully anyone else.” He says, “you need to grow up into men of character, and that has to begin now, while you are young.” He explains, “Being a person of character is the key to success in life.”

Without any suggestion by Matt, Zachary and Gavin both apologize to Geoffrey “sorry man, we shouldn’t have done that.” Matt looks at Geoffrey and nods indicating that he should accept the apology, “Thanks, I appreciate that.” Matt reminds them to go home, and adds, “Remember to look at the members of your family with respect.” Matt’s finger is still glowing, and boys hesitate to leave. Matt can tell they want to know what just happened. They slowly and timidly leave, but Zachary turns around to look back. He really hesitates leaving. He still feels the power, and wonders how Matt got there so suddenly and mysteriously - and who he is. He feels like he has changed as a person. None of the boys know Matt’s name or how he got there, because they did not see him coming. Zachary and Gavin walk down the street, but Zachary often looks back. Gavin understands that this was not a good thing to do, and knows he is different too. He now even feels that he likes Geoffrey.

Matt spends a little time talking with Geoffrey. From behind the mystifying green-mirrored sunglasses, he tells him what to do if someone attempts to bully him again. He explains bullies are the ones with the problem, not the one being bullied. “Someone may turn to bullying to make himself feel better.” He says, “The bully often feels inferior, and uses this tactic to lift himself up. It is not really about the person being bullied at all.” He tells Geoffrey what to do if this ever happens to him again. Matt explains, “don’t get into a dialogue, but quietly exit the area and tell a parent or teacher about it. Geoffrey, you should realize that there is nothing wrong with you because this happened.” He reminds him that this is not about something he did wrong, but about the wrong feelings of the person doing the bullying. He tells Geoffrey that he could tell that Zachary and Gavin really did not mean it, and that they will not bully anyone again. They have been changed by this event.

Geoffrey feels Matt’s power and sees something radiating from behind those green sunglasses. He asks, “What is your name?” Matt had not planned on answering a question like that, and it catches him off guard. Thinking fast he says “Captain Character.” He wonders where that name came from because it was so spontaneous. But knows it is tied to the lesson he gave to the boys on character. He tells Geoffrey “you will know me next time by my glowing finger, even if I am dressed differently.”

Matt and Geoffrey part company, and after they do Geoffrey realizes he does not know which way Captain Character just left. It is like he just disappeared - vanished in a mist. He is mesmerized by the thought of Captain Character. He walks home with his books, thinking about the glowing finger that had been on the books, and Captain Character’s message. He wonders “what I should tell mom and dad? I wonder if they would even believe it?” He knows he will go to sleep thinking and dreaming about “Captain Character.”