FEEDBACK: Please, long as it's good and constructive. KrazyKora@aol.com or WinterViolet24@aol.com

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Paige, Mrs. Guthrie, the New Mutants, or anything else. They all belong to Marvel and are used merely for entertainment.

NOTES: Paige wanted to become an X-Man because of the letters Sam sent her about his adventures with the New Mutants. I thought that would be fun to take a look at.

Fan Mail

By:

Violet

"PAIGE, CHILD, WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME DO YA THINK YER DOING?!" Mrs. Guthrie cried in horror.

Young Paige Guthrie stood atop the six-foot tall bureau in the Guthrie living room, arms outspread, wide smile on her face, "Don't worry, Momma. When ah fall my powers'll kick in and ah'll fly 'cross the room like-"

"My hand is gonna fly into your behind if ya don't get down from there this instant, young lady!"

"But Momma..."

"No buts, ya get down here right NOW!" Mrs. Guthrie ordered.

Paige let out a huff and carefully began to climb down from the bureau. Once her feet touched the ground her mother caught her arm in a vice like grip, her face etched with anger and worry.

"What were ya doing up there? Trying ta give me a heart attack?"

"No, don't be silly, Ma. Ah was just trying ta see what powers ah have."

"Paige, child, you're gonna be the death of me," Mrs. Guthrie moaned, pressing a hand to her forehead, "Now get your skinny self in the kitchen, you and I are gonna have a talk."

Mrs. Guthrie released Paige's arm and the young blonde let out a puff of air in irritation. She charged into the kitchen and took a seat at the table, crossing her arms and lifting her nose into the air as her mother took a seat across from her. Mrs. Guthrie sighed calmly, "Now Paige, don't give me attitude. You're old enough now to behave and hold yourself up in a more proper fashion."

"But Ma-"

Mrs. Guthrie cut her off quick, "Don't you sass me none, missy. I'm in no mood. Ya always talk 'bout wanting to be treated like an adult so act like one. Relax and have an adult conversation with me. Now, once again, why were ya up there?"

"Ah wanted ta hurry up and find out what mutant power ah have. Ah figured Sam can fly so maybe..."

"Paige, sweetheart, we've been over this time and again, ya don't know if you'll grow up to be special like Sam and even if ya do, you're not the right age. It's my understanding that mutation starts at age thirteen and you, child, are a long way off from that."

"Ah know but-"

"First ya was trying ta set things on fire by staring at them, then ya was trying to bend steel in yer bare hands and now yer tryin' ta jump off bureaus. Next thing ah know y'all be coming to me with a headache from trying to make yerself have telepathy."

Paige bit her lip, "Well actually ah did ask ya for an aspirin last week 'cause.."

Mrs. Guthrie shook her head, "Honey, ya need ta calm down. If yer a mutant, fine. You'll find out when the time's right, till then ya shouldn't rush things. Let God's plan roll out when he wants it to."

"But Momma ah wanna be just like Sam," Paige started excitedly, her eyes glowing, "Ya should just read his letters! He met Team America and went ta Nova Roma and fought Gladiators an' he just goes on all these 'mazing adventures! Ah wanna do that too. Ah wanna have powers and save the world!"

"Is that what you think he does?" Mrs. Guthrie asked.

Paige was confused by her mother's tone and slowly nodded her head. Mrs. Guthrie sighed again and rose from the table. She poured Paige and herself a glass of lemonade and returned to her seat. They both drank in silence until finally Mrs. Guthrie felt ready to talk.

"Paige, what you're brother does...it isn't fun and games. I've read his letters. Do ya have any idea of how much it scares me ta death? How much it frightens me ta think about my baby out there alone, fighting 'gainst things like that? It terrifies me. You're so young, child, ya only see and think of his writings as glamorous. Me, I'm his mother, an' I read the truth 'tween the lines. Child, you're brother is just as scared as I am."

Paige swallowed and looked down, feeling very foolish all of the sudden as Mrs. Guthrie continued, "Ah wanted him ta go ta Xavier's ta learn about his powers. Not ta be the next Spiderman or Hulk or any of them other spandex people. Ya think he's a superhero but he is really just what he's always been, your brother an' my son."

A silence settled between them again only to be broken by Paige's quiet, brave voice, "Momma, ah know that. But ya should know, even if ya didn't want it, Sam IS a hero. Maybe he didn't want it either but he is and he's a great one. An' he has learned a lot 'bout his powers from what ah've read. Ah'm sorry both you and him are scared, and honestly, ah am a bit too. But, ah mean, can't ah have powers an' learn about them an-an' help people?"

Mrs. Guthrie gave her a wavering smile, a bit of a tear in her eye, "Ah Paige, darling, sometimes ya talk so grown up. Where do ya get that from?"

Paige gave her mother her own teary smile as Mrs. Guthrie continued, "I suppose you are right but...I all ready have one child out there facing danger. I'm not sure I can handle two."

Paige rose from her seat and gave her mother a hug, "Okay, Momma. How 'bout this. Ah'll try not ta rush my powers, if ah have any. An' you try not to worry so much. 'Cause I think Sammy can take care of himself. An' if the time comes that ah do get powers an ah do go out there ta learn 'em and fight evil an' what not, ah'll promise ta write you an take good care of myself too, sound good?"

Mrs. Guthrie smiled and hugged her daughter back, "Deal."

They hugged for several more moments before Mrs. Guthrie added, "And no more trying ta jump off things?"

"Yeah," Paige giggled, "No more trying ta jump off things."