If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

Sean’s favourite thing in the world is comics.

When Sean was a kid he daydreamed a lot about comics because he wanted to be a superhero.

He would use his super strength to fight bad men and save pretty girls, who would often fall madly in love with him.

Sometimes in his daydreams something really bad would happen at his school, and Sean would be forced to reveal his super powers to the other kids.

A lot of the other kids wanted to be superheroes too, but Sean was the only one still thinking about it but when they started high school.

One by one they fell to new temptations, and those left behind eventually just followed suit to keep up.

But Sean didn’t.

While they all spent their weekends sneaking wet kisses and posturing with cigarettes, Sean cleaned a butcher’s shop and saved his money for comics.

He stayed out of everyone’s way, did his schoolwork and read his comics until he found himself finished with school.

Sean works in a bank.

Inside his briefcase is a ham and cheese sandwich and an apple, and he clutches a newspaper with a comic book stuffed inside.

His legs of his suit pants sit too high when he sits down, and his hair is getting just long enough to need a comb.

It’s always squishy on the train but, like every day, Sean doesn’t notice because he’s daydreaming.

He’s detecting something strange about the man queuing at his teller, something that no one else has the insight to notice.

The man’s right hand is fidgeting underneath the sleeve of his leather jacket, and there are tiny beads of sweat forming in his palms.

His beady eyes are scanning the room, and his lips are pursed beneath a thin beard as he approaches the counter.

Sean is already in motion as the man lunges for his throat and, anticipating the man would lead from his right, manages to grab his attacker’s arm and drag him over the counter in one fluid motion.

His dastardly plan almost foiled, the man grabs for something in his pocket as he lands heavy on the floor but Sean slams pins his assailant’s arm with his shoe.

Sean stands over the criminal, ready to disable him at the slightest trace of movement, and he prepares to deliver a chilling warning message that will crush his attacker into submission.

His message is delayed for a second, however, and he’s pulled back to the train by someone jostling into the seat beside him.

It’s a girl, a pretty girl who smiles and says hi to him.

Sean stuffs his comic book and newspaper back into his briefcase, and for the first time in his life forgets about superheroes.

Text by Mr Jason John Leigh