High School Blues and Jazz Tunes

It was the Year 1925, the Roaring Twenties were all the rage, with jazz music blaring on every street corner.

Alexander Sterling, at the ripe old age of 11, marched into high school with the confidence of a seasoned scholar. His attire wasn't the crisp pinstripes of a prodigy, but the everyday garb of a kid, albeit one carrying a backpack stuffed with textbooks.

"Hey, Sterling! What's the rush? Trying to graduate before lunchtime?" called out a lanky boy leaning against a locker.

Alexander stopped, turning to face the boy with a grin. "Just keeping pace with the times, Tommy. You should try it sometime."

Tommy chuckled. "I'd rather enjoy my childhood, thanks. But hey, if you're so eager, maybe you can help me with my math homework?"

"Generosity has its limits. But for a friend, I'll consider a discounted rate," Alexander quipped.

Laughter echoed down the hall as Alexander continued on his way.

In his first class, Alexander sat at the back, his eyes scanning the room, taking in his classmates. The teacher, Mrs. Higgins, a woman with a stern demeanor but a twinkle in her eye, began the lesson.

"Class, today we're discussing the implications of the Great War on modern society. Any thoughts?"

Before anyone else could respond, Alexander's hand shot up.

"Yes, Alexander?" Mrs. Higgins prompted.

Alexander stood up, his voice confident. "The war reshaped the global landscape, setting the stage for political and social upheaval. It's like a chess game where every move creates a new dynamic, impacting future strategies and alliances."

The class fell silent, impressed and a bit intimidated by his insight.

"Very astute, Alexander," Mrs. Higgins said, nodding in approval. "You have a keen understanding for someone so young."

Alexander's presence in high school had became the talk of the corridors. His blend of youthful innocence and intellectual maturity was both intriguing and baffling to his peers.

Lunchtime found Alexander in the library, pouring over books. A group of students approached him, curiosity etched on their faces.

"Hey, Sterling, what's with all the books? You planning to build a fortress?" joked one of the boys.

Alexander looked up, a smile playing on his lips. "Just expanding my horizons. Knowledge is power, after all."

One of the girls in the group, Sarah, leaned in closer. "But don't you miss being a kid? You know, playing games, having fun?"

Alexander's expression stilled, reflecting a moment of introspection. "I have a different kind of fun, Sarah. Besides, in this era, with everything changing so fast, I think it's better to be prepared."

As he spoke, memories of his childhood resurfaced. At the tender age of 5, his father, a doctor and veteran of the Great War, traded traditional bedtime stories for captivating tales of 'Freedom's Five.' "Union Jack, Phantom Eagle, Sir Steel..." Dad's voice trembled with reverence. 

These weren't your usual sleep-inducing lullabies. They were edge-of-your-seat adventures that scoffed at the notion of a good night's sleep. It was during these nocturnal storytelling sessions that Alexander realized his life had taken a detour, straight into the Marvel universe. Normalcy? Overrated, in his opinion—and seemingly the universe's as well.

From that moment, Alexander attempted every conceivable method to unearth some hidden, god-given cheat code to life. He stood before mirrors chanting arcane words, danced under the sun praying for rain, and even went as far as to read the dictionary in reverse, hoping for an epiphany. Often, he'd find himself standing with outstretched arms, eyes shut tight, muttering "System activate." The result? A headache and an uncanny ability to recite the dictionary backward.

His real 'superpower,' as it turned out, was something less webnovel and more encyclopedia: a photographic memory. Alexander remembered everything – the minutiae of daily life, the complexities of advanced science, even the most mundane and trivial facts. It was like having a supercharged library in his brain, minus any late return penalties. This extraordinary recall made him wonder if this could be linked to the reincarnation of his soul, or some other mystical phenomenon. After all, retaining every fragment and memory of your past life isn't exactly within the realm of normal.

Anyway, it was this prodigious brain of his that was Alexander's fast track to academic acceleration. He was that kid in class – the one who answered questions before they were fully asked and breezed through exams with a nonchalance that made it look effortless. He peppered his conversations with an eclectic mix of references, from the intricacies of quantum physics to the poetic verses of Shakespeare. By the time high school rolled around, Alexander had evolved from merely a 'child prodigy' to something akin to a 'walking encyclopedia'.

But don't get me wrong, I wasn't doing this for an ego boost or merely to outshine my peers... well, that was just a side quest. There was a calculated reason as to why I was so keen on establishing myself as the genius of the century. Not only did it allow me to skip a few years of tedious academic drudgery and give myself more time to get where I needed to be; it was a critical component of the master plan I had concocted.

What? You didn't think I'd land in the Marvel Universe, armed with memories of a past life, and settle for a role as just another face in the crowd, did you? Absolutely not! Having already checked the 'dying' box off my list once, I'm not too keen on a repeat performance. Sure, I hit the jackpot by retaining memories of my previous life, but I'm not one to gamble on fate striking the same chord twice. Leaving things to chance? Not in my playbook.

And it wasn't just about intellectual prowess, either. The fear of death – and let's not forget the monsters, mutants, villains, gods...(well, you get the point) that populate this universe – is a pretty effective driving force to improve. I was determined to get myself into the best physical condition I could, as it's equally crucial, before I need to begin taking action for my plan to succeed. Turns out, fear can be an excellent motivator.

That led me to joining a local gym and immersing myself in boxing and wrestling, combat sports that had unsurprisingly gained immense popularity post-war. Who could have guessed?