place have always been so thin, it’s surprising you can’t
see right through them. The box of comic books is in a
separate pile with your coin collection and other things
you might try to sell online. The closet is nearly empty,
and you feel almoSt as empty inside. Maybe you hoped
to find some inspiration in this old room, something to
shake you from the hollowness you've felt lately. You scan
the empty closet and see an envelope tucked into the
fartheSt corner. You know exactly what’s in the fragile,
yellowing envelope although you haven’t thought about
it in twenty-four years.

You loved to read superhero comics _ the thought of
having a superpower was thrilling in a makeshift tent
under the blue plaid bedcovers by the light ofa flashlight,
you would read long after Mom had turned off the lights.
The act of keeping a secret from your parents was exhil-
arating. When you found an ad for x-ray glasses on the
back page of a comic, you daydreamed about spying
on your parents through the kitchen wall or checking
out the principal’s polka dot underwear during a boring
assembly. You saved every coin you could scrounge from
the sidewalk or under the couch cushions until you had
five dollars and twenty three cents juSt enough to buy
an envelope, Stamp and pay three dollars for the glasses.
Your father had always tried to inSlill the value ofa dollar
in you and was annoyed when you showed him the care-
fully clipped order form. He ranted about what a waSte
of money it was while your mother tried to calm him
down with murmurs of , “He’s juSt a boy, Mark, what
harm could it do?” You were sure the x-ray specs were
the inveSiment opportunity ofa lifetime and brought the
envelope to school, intending to mail it that afternoon.
Your beSt friend, James, told you that his cousin had
ordered a pair and they had both tried them — they didn’t
work don’t waSte your money. And finally, when you
made it all the way to the poSt office to buy a Stamp and
mail off the little envelope, the grouchy lady behind the
counter sneered, “You know you won’t be able to get
your money back for these. Don’t come here asking how
to get a refund, once you send away for these silly things.
Your money’s gone for good, kid”. As you crept out the
door you overheard her mumbling, “that’s five kids this
month . .. what a waste!”

When the glasses arrived six weeks later, it sunk in.
What a chump you were to spend your money on such a
foolish gimmick. You thought you could really have x-ray
vision, you scolded yourself. You hadn’t even bothered to
open the envelope, juSt threw it to the back of your closet,

hoping to forget about the whole affair forever, but the one
thing that Stuck with you was a vow you made to never
be so foolish again, never to believe in super powers and
never, ever to spend your money without due diligence.

Now faced once again with that envelope, you snatch
it up and throw it onto the dresser. Maybe a vintage pair
of x-ray glasses could fetch a decent price on ebay with
the re$l of this nonsense. As you fold up the bedding and
empty the laSt of the dresser drawers, you can’t help but
wonder about those glasses. “I never even tried them
on,” you mutter aloud. “I wonder what they look like.”

You turn to pick up the envelope and flip it over in
your hands. The paper has yellowed and smells of old
books; the glue holding it closed is brittle and easily
separates under your fingertip. You take a deep breath
and look around at the navy walls of your old bedroom.
Opening the envelope slowly, you peer inside. Carefully
removing the cardboard glasses from their sheath, you
purse your lips together as you examine them — they’re in
better shape than you thought alier so long. You chuckle
to yourself because they look exactly how you imagined
they would when you sent away for them. Thick card-
board frames decorated with wide black and white Stripes
radiating in a sunburst pattern, the glass seem to be made
of some sort of glittery, holographic cellophane. Putting
the glasses up to your face to get a better look, you notice
something Strange. Through the glasses, everything has
a wispy aura of iridescent colour around it, but there’s
something more. You look around to make sure that no
one is looking, you try them on, and face the mirror to
get a look at yourself.

“How ridiculous,” you say as you Strain to get a clear
focus on your face. “Jeez,” you gasp. You never noticed
how visible your veins are becoming. Maybe it’s time
to Start using one of those girly anti-aging skin creams
Sharon’s always trying to push on you. “It’s specifically
made for men!” she claims. But as you focus harder, you
see that there’s more going on than just the toll of aging
thirty-five years on your skin. Startled, you throw the
glasses to the bed and quickly get back to packing the laSi
articles of bedding into a box labelled LINENS.

After dinner, you pack your car and Stand in the
middle of your empty bedroom for the laSt time.
Scanning the room, you come to the naked bed and spot
the cardboard glasses. You grab them and shove them
in your shirt pocket before anyone sees and walk back
out to your car. After a kiss goodbye for your mom and
a firm handshake from your dad, you're off. On the way