The next morning at school, there was a funeral for the Man of Steel broadcasted live around the world.
At Metropolis, thousands, no. Millions came to witness Superman's funeral.
Lex Luthor was there also, Lois wouldn't hear none of it; she slapped him and berating him that he's no different from many adversaries Superman faced, thinking he's here to gloat. However, his face being solemn proved that he came to miss Superman too.
Despite tensions between the two, the Avengers leader, the Genius-Billionaire-Playboy philanthropist, Tony Stark was invited to the funeral.
Then suddenly, the recognizable Dark Knight himself-the Batman, came to pay for his respects before going back to the dark shadows above...
In Times' Square, Spider-Man mourned as he watched this from afar.
Goku, guilt-ridden, preferred to watch the Funeral from King Kai's planet, oddly enough, he didn't see Superman there.
At the School Auditorium, the students witnessed the Funeral, Jimmy sheded more tears, eventually, catching Cindy's attention during a eulogy for the Man of Steel that was delivered by some of his friends.
"Though we gather here today, bound together in sorrow and loss, we share a precious gift. We are, all of us, privileged to live a life that has been touched by Superman. The Man of Steel possessed many extraordinary gifts, and he shared them with us freely.
"None of these gifts were more remarkable than his ability to discern what needed to be done, and his unfailing courage in doing it, whatever the personal cost. Let us all strive to accept his gift, and pass it along, as an ongoing tribute to Kal-El of Krypton, the immigrant from the stars, who taught us all how to be heroes."
"Superman was an example that inspired us to reach beyond ourselves, to soar towards a better tomorrow. He was a hero to Metropolis but more importantly, he was a friend, to Gohan, to the Z-Fighters, and me and the world. Of course, he didn't act alone. The Avengers, Z-Fighters and Justice League also put their lives on the line against this brutal, incomprehensible evil. In many ways, I'm sure they feel the same way as I do about the loss of their leader and comrade, most of all...and let us not forget the quick action...from Tony Stark, who allowed Superman the time he need to save us all."
Thanking the Mayor, Tony was given the podium, expressing remorse that Superman and he rarely got along back when he thought Superman was an arrogant boy-scout, but he would always miss their late-night chats.
"Today, Superman's funeral is viewed by hundreds and millions worldwide, not since President Kennedy had died. As our nation has collectively mourned...yet it is the people of the Metropolis who are feeling the loss most...we knew him best. Let us take a brief moment to celebrate his time with us..."
"...Last year for Halloween, I dress as Superman. Now I am going to do every year for the rest of my life..."
After the Funeral, Jimmy sat in the playground in the park in the school during recess, moping. The man he's looked up to for years is dead, gone, deceased, and he doesn't know what to do about it.
Since he saved his life in the Metropolis battle against Darkseid, Jimmy did whatever he could to use his inventions for the greater good. However, the inventions tend to have a flaw (usually caused by an obvious oversight) and his curiosity can take over him, which results in a catastrophe, which only he can solve. He's rarely ever thanked however as people usually know the problem was his fault in the first place and is highly considered a menace by almost everyone.
"Hey, Jimmy?" Arnold was heard, sitting next to him.
"Not now, Football Head." Jimmy sighed.
"Cindy asked me to talk to you, she's worried," Arnold said, insistingly.
"Tell her to mind her own beeswax." Jimmy snapped. "And believe me, that Beatdown I gave Wolfgang was justified, even though it's not how I wanted things. He pushed me."
"Still, why are you upset? You can't keep lying to your friends, and they're gonna find out."
"Don't remind me. I feel bad enough about nearly killing Wolfgang." Jimmy sighed. "Just leave me be."
"Tell me why you're upset," Arnold said.
"Fine," Jimmy said. "But promise me you won't tell the others!"
Arnold nodded as he lied, he knows that Cindy is worried about him (For Once), so he nods in agreement, knowing that someone has to tell Cindy about what Jimmy's going through, for better or worse.
"I'm upset because my hero, Superman, is dead." Jimmy sighed.
"I heard about the reports," Arnold sighed. "Did he mean a lot to you?"
"He saved my life once, and it got me thinking one day, what have I been doing with my inventing? Using it for my personal gains, and the best I got was a Dark Matter dimension, and..."
"Well, Goddard's there for you."
"That's not the point. My point is, I've been trying to put my inventions to good use, all because I want to make the world a better place, show people that I could help out with protecting the world, all because of his good deeds. He inspired me to do things, and what do I get to show for it? Disaster after disaster."
"That's why you invent machines?"
"Yeah, and when he died...the man who inspired me, I just don't know what I'm gonna do. I mean, someday, when we're gone in the future, not a lot of people will even know who Superman was." Jimmy sighs.
"Well, the best you can do is try to honor his memory, you know, keep his memory alive."
"How do I do that?"
"The only person that knows that is you.'
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"If you want to feel better, me and my friends are going to DairyLand tonight, wanna head there?"
"Nah, I got things to worry about.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Cindy watched the whole thing, and was speechless. Jimmy looked up to Superman?
As Jimmy walked home, he wondered what he thought about what he can do to keep Superman's memory alive for the world to remember him by. What can he do as a kid?
Then he looked inside a store, where 1 boy and 9 girls were dejectedly heading into a van, driven by their annoyed mother, who is upset at them at the moment, he sees there's a sale on Superman shirts.
Jimmy brightens a bit as he enters the store.
In the store, Jimmy got out his allowance as he brought the shirt into the checking out area. The Superman shirt was navy blue with Superman's symbol on it, red and yellow.
"I'm going to miss him." An employee said.
"I know." Jimmy sighed as he left.
When he got home, Jimmy had his Superman Shirt on, his parents noticed their son feeling down for the hero.
"I know you miss him, Jim Jam..." Hugh sighed.
"We all do." Judy sighed. "But the hope is never gone. Not as long as we keep being hopeful for the best."
Jimmy nods as he heads upstairs.
Later that night, Cindy was in her room, pondering what to do, should she call the Neutron Household or not? It's none of her business! She attempted to watch Friday Night Lights Season 2 Episode 14: Leave No One Behind, but it didn't work out for her. She sighs as she picks up her phone, she dialed the Neutron phone number, but it took her straight to Voicemail, which she said, "Hey, Jimmy, it's me. I know you've been feeling down lately, just so you know, if you need anything, your friends and I am there for you."
Cindy sighs as she hangs up, she doesn't believe it, Jimmy looking up to Superman? No Way!
In his room, Jimmy looked at all the things he invented, wondering what he could do with all this.
"What can I do with these? I used the gloves to help with hard chores, and the Jetpack is something that my mom never allows with me for use." Jimmy pondered, suddenly, he saw his dog, Goddard, run in his room with a screen on his body, showing a rollercoaster at Dairy Land has stopped at the highest peak of the ride, worse yet, Arnold and his friends were on it.
"Leapin' leptons!" Jimmy yelped, someone has to do something, otherwise Arnold and his friends are in trouble. Jimmy looks to his gloves, anti-Gravity Shoes, and his Superman shirt.
Jimmy then took his Superman shirt and put it on, then proceeds to put on his jeans and an eyepiece mask. He puts his gloves on and his anti-gravity shoes. He then opened the window and flew to DairyLand.
Speaking of, Arnold and his friends were in the ride, anxious, with Eugene keeping a positive attitude.
"This really bites, we're done for! The firemen aren't gonna get here on time!" Stinky gulped.
"We're all gonna die..." Harold cried.
"Hey Arnold, look up in the sky," Gerald said, looking at the sky in a curious manner.
"It's a bird?" Sid the snitch asks.
"It's a plane." Helga scoffs.
"No, it's a kid?" Arnold said, confused.
Suddenly, the kid flying in the sky lifts the roller coaster, much to the surprise (Sid, Stinky and Harold scream in terror) of the kids on the ride as the kid floats down to the ground, safely landing on the ground. When the kids got out of the coaster, they saw Jimmy in his new outfit, and were in shock. The relatives who were helpless at first were in shock, but didn't care as the parents (Or grandparents) ran up to them and hugged them, relieved. After a moment of a happy reunion, two of the adults, Pookie and Phil, were surprised to see Jimmy like this.
"Uh...thank you," Phil said, awkwardly. "If it hadn't been for you, Shortman would've been a goner...Superman..."
Jimmy was unsure how he felt about that comment, but he actually helped someone, so he takes it as a compliment as he happily replies, "It's why I'm here."
Jimmy flew off into the skies as everyone cheered for him. Jimmy grinned as he liked the appreciation.
Later that day at the Candy Bar, Jimmy was having a snack with his friends as a news report about what happened today was shown.
"He was a kid wearing Superman's symbol, and he just flat out just saved us, it doesn't add up, but at the same time it's amazing!" Helga exclaimed on the TV.
"But I thought Superman was dead," Carl said.
"Well," Jimmy said, nervously. "Anyone can be a symbol of hope."
Suddenly, Cindy walked up to him, looking concerned.
"Cindy..." Jimmy said, curiously. "What are you doing here?"
"I've been waiting to talk to you...outside," Cindy said.
Outside of the Candy Bar, Jimmy and Cindy were about to talk.
"What is it?" Jimmy said.
"How was everything since the funeral?" Cindy asks.
"What?"
"Since Superman's funeral."
Jimmy's eyes widen in anger, did Arnold rat him out?
"Did Arnold tell you?" Jimmy snapped.
"No, I saw you cry at the assembly. You must've looked up to him really badly, like a 2nd father." Cindy said. "Even though this doesn't change anything between us, your friends are here for you if you need anything."
"I appreciate it," Jimmy said, grinning. "And he saved my life, so that's a good reason to look up to him."
"I don't blame you, I was considering trying to call you about what's going on, but you probably wanted to be alone," Cindy said.
"Yeah. It's been hard for everyone who looked up to this guy." Jimmy sighed.
"Speaking of, this new kid who saved Arnold and his friends must be the kid lookin' out for the little guys." Cindy joked as she went inside.
Jimmy thought about what he just did at Dairyland. It was impulsive thinking, but he did what Superman would do in a situation like that. Jimmy realized something as he remembered what Arnold told him.
"Well, the best you can do is try to honor his memory, you know, keep his memory alive."
Jimmy grinned as he felt relieved and happy, thinking, "Yeah, Superman may be gone...but I'm going to carry out his legacy to make sure no one forgets who he is, and what he stands for."
Jimmy found it, a way to honor Superman's memory.
A way to give people an ideal to strive towards.
A way to be a symbol of Hope.