[Intro — Fast Theatrical Rap] So now you know the intro, Let’s get right into the plot, Because this boy did just the opposite Of what a fearful human ought. He realized the hack, The loophole in the game: That everyone’s immortal Till their final hour came. You see, the boy was fond of comics, And heroes beyond the pale, And he decided then and there— That THIS would be his tale. [Beat Drops] [Verse 1] Bob went to school, He ate his lunch, Went to church, He said his prayers, Thanked God for all his time on Earth, Then went about his cares. He helped out his classmates. He helped out his mom. He rescued a stray cat The neighbors christened Tom. And every act of kindness Grew bolder than the last, Because Bob knew the future— And knew his time would pass. But soon he had the notion That his thinking was too small: What good is knowing when you die If you never risk a fall? [Verse 2 — Accelerating] Then a friend stepped toward the street With a car too close to brake. Bob saw the speeding metal And the life that it could take. He jumped between them both Before I knew what I had seen— Tires screamed! The bumper buckled! Bob rolled off the machine. “NOT A SCRATCH!” He laughed, Then calmly wandered on his way, Then smirked and looked directly at me While I watched in dismay. “Things are going well,” I thought, “But what happens when he snaps? What happens when a mortal Finds the holes between the traps?” Does he cheat? Does he steal? Does he hurt a few civilians? [Beat] He never did. And that’s the trick. He never became the villain. [Verse 3 — Music Opens Up] Because Bob understood exactly The life that he was given: Knowing when you’re going to die Is knowing when to start living. So he roared into his twenties With the swagger of a man Who had found the hidden loophole In the universal plan. He joined the police. He ran an NPO. He ran toward the danger While the rest were yelling, “GO!” Pulled people out of fires, Dragged the drowning back to shore, And every time I thought, “That’s plenty,” Bob went back and did some more. No reward. No grand parade. No monument or fame. He had time enough to spend, So he put it in the game. Year after year, Good deed after deed, Giving what he had to give To anyone in need. Until one morning Bob awoke And laughed to see the date: The day he’d known since he was ten— His long-appointed fate. [Music Drops — Deliberate] Now the moment was approaching, And approaching rather fast: Twenty-four thousand, one hundred sixty Miles per hour, by my math. [Verse 4 — Swagger Builds] Bob had one more thing to do Before he breathed his last. He went down to the store... And bought a pair of shades. [Death, Spoken] I looked at Bob. I looked at the shades. I looked at the book. ...Okay. [Beat Returns] Then he drove into a field Where nobody would get hurt, Parked the car, Adjusted cuffs, And planted both feet in the dirt. He looked up into the heavens. Then looked down to check his watch. Had to get the timing right Before he was timely squashed. [Beat Builds] He checked the sky. He checked his watch. He checked the sky once more, And smiled like he’d rehearsed this For a thousand nights before. [Final Build] Then a streak of burning heaven Split the darkness of the day, And Bob looked at his coming end— Then calmly turned away. The meteor came screaming! The sky erupted white! And Bob put on his sunglasses And timed the moment right. Because the end of a hero Can only end one way: You turn your back upon the blast... And slowly walk away. [Massive Build] The fire roared behind him! The earth began to quake! And Bob knew to the second Just how much the world could take. Never ran. Never flinched. Never turned around to see. He just walked into eternity Like the hero he chose to be. [EXPLOSION] [Silence] [Death, Spoken] ... What just happened?
