Miles Away from Home

Watching Count Dracula, cruelly dismembered and packed into a box, still alive, Tony Stark very proudly threw up again.

Alvin's brutal treatment of the Vampires made Stark's back crawl a little. Though he agreed with it! If cows and sheep ever became smarter than humans and learned to wield guns, humanity would have no chance. The relationship between humans and Vampires wasn't really any different.

Stark poured himself a full glass of Whiskey. Watching Alvin, who seemed lost in thought, he said jokingly, "I never expected it to end just like that. I know S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark Industries have some research collaborations with them. I just didn't realize they had that much power." He held out his glass to Alvin, signaling for another.

Alvin smiled at Stark and said, "I didn't expect it either. But I absolutely don't want to have anything to do with them again. I think I'm better suited to being a restaurant chef and a school principal."

Stark laughed heartily. "Then your students must have it rough. I can imagine it. Ha ha!"

When Stark wasn't being annoying, he was a pretty good friend. At the very least, when he developed the Sun Lamp, he'd sent one over to Alvin right away. And just minutes earlier, they'd been on the same side.

Alvin smiled and nodded. "You're absolutely right. If an obituary appeared on the school gates tomorrow saying Principal Alvin was dead, those kids would definitely throw a party to celebrate."

Stark shuddered. "Man, I had no idea you were so unpopular!"

Alvin nodded, neither confirming nor denying it. "When they grow up, they'll look back and lament how ignorant they were when they were young. You're a genius, so you'll never understand how hard it is to get an education. Without someone pushing them from behind, prison is just about the only future these Hell's Kitchen kids can imagine."

Stark nodded thoughtfully. "You've got a point. Maybe I could help you out."

Alvin perked up. His gaze toward Stark grew warmer, and he said happily, "Community School needs generous people like you. I can offer you a School Trustee position."

Seeing Alvin's attitude change so dramatically, Stark asked with interest, "Community School has School Trustees? Who are the other trustees? How much do I need to donate?"

Alvin smiled sheepishly, looking like a sincere insurance salesman. "If you agree, you'll be Community School's second School Trustee. The first is Mr. Kingpin. He donates ten million dollars to the school every year. You could donate a little more than him, since you're a famous billionaire, couldn't you?"

Stark was an interesting man. He only had to think for a moment before saying, "Alvin, my friend, you can't expect an upper-class American like me to be lumped together with someone like Kingpin. Does your school need a principal? Give me an honorary principal position, and prepare an office for me. I can donate twenty million dollars to the school every year."

Why not? Absolutely! Twenty million a year—forget an honorary principal, you could be the actual principal, and I'd clear out the office for you on the spot. I'd even hand over Olivia, the secretary.

Alvin smiled and held out his hand. As he shook Stark's, he said sincerely, "Welcome aboard, Principal Stark. You can start thinking about what style you'd like for your office."

Stark pursed his lips and tilted his head as he thought it over. "Wow. I never imagined I'd become the principal of a school someday. Maybe I should ask Pepper to leave two days free on my monthly schedule so I can drop by the school."

Alvin raised his glass and clinked it against Stark's. "It's our honor. The students who graduate from this school will be proud of you! I'm serious, I'm not joking!"

Stark rarely enjoyed a conversation with someone this much. Alvin was always giving him a hard time, but people were like that; they wanted a friend they could chat and joke with, without holding back. Stark felt Alvin might be that friend.

At seven in the morning, Pepper came to pick up a still-hungover Stark. He had to leave for Afghanistan that day to test the Jericho Missiles he'd invented.

Stark didn't really need to go in person, but the media storm of the past few days and some unknown pressure from somewhere had made him decide to get away from it all. Besides, he was still chairman of Stark Industries, and helping the company was part of his job. Perfectly reasonable, wasn't it?

As they were leaving, Alvin reminded Pepper, "Afghanistan isn't exactly a nice place, and Stark isn't well prepared for this trip. If anything happens, remember to call me. I'm a Vampire hunter, remember?"

Pepper was nearly driven crazy by Stark's impulsiveness and hadn't really paid attention to what Alvin said. She just nodded and asked Alvin to help her get Stark into the car.

Finally with some free time, Alvin finished breakfast with Ginny, then took her along in his old pickup truck, ready to go to the school and do his duty as principal.

Thor ingratiated himself with Ginny and managed to climb into the truck too. He wanted to go hang out at the school. Watching a bunch of mischievous kids tremble in fear sounded fun.

The old pickup rolled along the road under a beautiful sky. Alvin drove with the window down, Country Music playing, one hand resting on the window. He taught Ginny "500 Miles Away from Home," one line at a time.

If you miss the train I'm on

If you miss the train I'm on

You will know that I am gone

You'll know that I'm gone

You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

You can hear the whistle blowing a hundred miles away

A hundred miles, a hundred miles

A hundred miles, a hundred miles

A hundred miles, a hundred miles

A hundred miles, a hundred miles

Ginny liked the song because her dad liked it.

Alvin took a phone call midway through, and it made him even happier. He put even more care into teaching Ginny the song. Little Ginny must be my lucky star. The better I treat her, the luckier I get.

The call had come from Chief George, who was exhausted, both physically and mentally, from dealing with the Vampire incident. He told Alvin that his daughter, Gwen Stacy, would be enrolling at Community School next week. There was still a month until the school's final exams; he should wait until the school break and send her over when the next term began.

But the Chief couldn't wait. He couldn't stand the thought of his daughter going to school somewhere Vampires might be lurking. And now, Alvin's Community School was a Vampire-free zone.

Alvin was in such a good mood that everything looked pleasing to him. Even the old electrician who'd just started at the school seemed friendly. "Hey, hello! I haven't seen you around before!"

The old man smiled warmly. "Good morning, Principal Alvin. I'm the new Electrical Engineer. My name is Ben Parker!"

I'm adding a chapter because of your enthusiasm. I really did my best. The curtain is rising; Marvel fans are going to be thrilled.