Superman Wears Bram Underoos

In order to understand this, and the story behind it, you need to know a few things first. Around the age of 3 or 4, many little American boys become enthralled by superheroes. They tend to find one more attractive than the other, and some boys like to dress up and pretend to be their favorite super hero. There are even underwear sets called, “underoos” so they can be super under their clothes. I know of lots and lots of little boys who have been coaxed into good behavior with the words, “Superman/Spider Man/Batman eats vegetables, cleans his room, brushes his teeth, never hits his sister.” And just about as many who were proud to point out their superhero underoos. Bram never went through this phase, but then, you know, he isn’t an average boy.

I hadn’t really thought of super hero culture as an American thing or as being such a big part of who we are or how we think until last night. Bram has been playing Runescape with his friends from school; it is an online multiplayer game, and it is all the rage here for the kids his age. The point of the game is to advance in various skill levels (just about everything from cooking to killing zombies, including prayer level!) and to amass such things as gold, runes, weapons and armour. He’s been playing for a couple of months, has been reading books and maps and online articles about the game, and networking with his pals to improve his status in the game. Bram has always been good about sharing and wanting to help others, and it has been nice to see that a few of his classmates share that impulse. One of them offered to help Bram, and being the trusting boy he is, Bram gave this boy access to his game account. Things went along fine, with this boy helping Bram, and Bram in turn, helping a lower level player in the same way. But Friday, something happened.

Two other boys managed to get into Bram’s account, and completely decimated it. They took all the gains and as an added insult, wiped out his friends list. They did this on Friday, while Bram was home sick from school. It was a little heartbreaking for all of us. I felt so very sorry for him; he was clearly stunned and disappointed, and nothing hurts more than seeing my child hurt. I know what it is like to be betrayed by someone whom you think is your friend, and for there to be no reason for it. I know it is a lesson that he was bound to learn eventually; this need for being careful with trust. He has to know and to remember that a leopard won’t lose his spots, that a boy who will betray his friends will be a man who will do the same. Bram was quite brave though. He didn’t get very angry or plot some revenge, or even cry. Thomas and I hugged him and told him that we were proud of the mature way he was handling it, and to count the experience as “tuition”-- what you pay to learn. Yep, my boy handled this loss of innocence pretty well. Even Superman would be impressed. I bet he’s out there right now looking for some Bram underoos.