Life.

Life is an interesting place, filled with hardships and adventures. Ups and downs, turmoils, lefts, rights, roundabouts and loop de loops.

Let’s take, for example, Monsieur Louis Bernard. A person, who has struggled with dwarfism his entire life, his height not even reaching a meter. But he has never considered his disability to have hindered him in any significant way. Yes, he’s had troubles will reaching top shelves, but that was about it. He has always been a well-respected member of society. Being one of the top most accountants in Paris, his services were always needed.

Sure, most of his clients when meeting him are usually taken aback. Not because of his stature, no. But his oddly youthful appearance. Even though he was in his late thirties, Monsier Louis Bernard “suffered” from something, the youth of today might call, perpetual babyface, having the appearance of a child, barely ten years of age. But soon enough, people would usually forget all about that, when the proficient accountant’s sharp it, fierce intelligence and oddly playful sense of humor would take the spot light.

Of course, not everything was perfect for Monsier Louis Bernard. Like any other person, he had his own woes to burden him – from home improvement to unhealthy habits and work exhaustion, his life was all but easy. And, due to his size, he had another problem. One that was a bit harder to manage on a wider scale.

Toilets were usually too large for the Monsieur. Yes, his home was adequately modeled to have a toilet bowl of the proper size and proportions. So was the one in his office. But each time he had to go out of his office, which was a lot, that meant that he had to come prepared. There was a high chance that the handicapped toilet would not be optimal for his particular disability. So, Monsieur Louis Bernard had taken up to wearing a diaper. It was demeaning at first, but with time he stopped paying it any mind.

Now, our story starts with Monsieur Louis Bernard exiting his office building and just about to head off to the pub for a few rounds with his mates. It was a Friday, after all.

He had locked the door to his office, ran down the stairs and was standing outside. Autumn was coming in soon, so it had gotten dark quite early and the cold winds sent chills through his body. He checked his pockets, just to satiate his nervousness, turned around and with a confident stride, he headed to the pub.

And he almost immediately stopped.

Now, he couldn’t be sure, but he could swear, that on top of the buzzing street lamp he could see the silhouette of someone standing. The contour then shifted, and now Monsieur Louis Bernard was sure there was someone up there. The accountant took a few steps back. And then the figure jumped, landing besides him. Monsieur Louis Bernard wanted to run, but he was fully aware that he wouldn’t get far.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

The Monsieur wanted to speak, but couldn’t.

“What’s the matter little boy? Cat got your tongue?”

The figure, stepped forward from the shadows, revealing himself to be a young man, dressed in black, with cat ears on his blonde head.

Great, not only was he about to get mugged, but he was going to get mugged by a teenager, who made fun of his dwarfism.

“It’s alright, little guy. No need to worry. Chat Noir is here!”

Although the Monsieur was still scared, the way the young man announced himself left him feeling a bit confused. There was this odd cavalier intonation, bordering on the heroic even.

“Don’t be shy, fella. I’m a super hero. It’s a bit dark outside to be all alone. Do you know where your parents are?”

And now it made a bit more sense. He was one of those superpowered folk that the accountant had seen on the news. And he genuinely believed that he was a child., the Monsieur’s conditions being the burdens that they were.

The accountant laughed nervously.

“Well…you see…I…don’t have any parents. I live on my own. I am actually thiry-“

“No parents?” Chat Noir interrupted him with a gasp. “Poor thing. You are an orphan.”

“Um…no, I-“

“Did you run away from the orphanage?”

“Listen to me”.

“Don’t worry. I can bring you back”.

Before the Monsieur could get a word in, Chat Noir had already grabbed him and sprinted off. Not only was this embarrassing and completely emasculating, but it was also dizzying, since he had never moved at such high speeds outside of a vehicle before.

With a few quick maneuvers, Chat Noir had managed to climb up another lamp post, scale a building and was presently running along the rooftops.

“Gee, I guess you are younger than you look” he said as he jumped from building to building. “I can feel you wearing a diaper still. It’s alright. Some boys need more time before they can use the potty properly.”

Somehow, these words managed to reach the accountant in his confused state. This must had been the worst day in his life.

And as they travelled above the streets of Paris, the moon slowly peaking out of the clouds, Monsieur Louis Bernard slowly got accustomed to the new mode of transportation. And all things considered, it was quite exhilarating.

But not after long, Chat Noir jumped off a building, sliding down clothe lines, bouncing off windows sills and managing to land right in front of the orphanage, which all knocked the accountant back in his previous state of mind.

“We are here!” Chat Noir boldly declared.

With a powerful thrust, he kicked the door open and he jumped forward in front of the receptionist, who stared in bewilderment.

“Good evening! I have returned someone to you”.

The receptionist, a young, red-haired girl, peaked under her glasses seeing Monsieur Louis Bernard placed on her desk. The poor man was barely sitting up straight.

“This is-“

Suddenly, an explosion echoed outside. The hero quick snapped back, knees bent ready to head out. But before that he turned his head towards the receptionist and with a sly smile said.

“Duty calls.”

And with that, the young man sprinted out of the building, disappearing in the night.

The receptionist turned towards the man on her desk.

“Are you alright, Monsieur Louis Bernard?”

“Dandy” he answered, holding his head.

“Will you be needing a taxi?”

“Yes, please. Thank you, Laura. And a glass of water if you may.”

“Coming right up” she said and she got up, walking to the water fountain.

“I’ll be sure to have documents ready by the end of the week” Monsieur Louis Bernard said and took a sip of his water.