Spider-Man surprise
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — Sometimes all it takes is a special visit to bring out the superhero in all of us.
Park Williams, a River City Middle School seventh-grader with Down syndrome who has Spider-Man on everything from his shirts to sheets, was surprised to find his hero lurking when he came to teacher Trina Tinder's classroom on Friday.
Williams hugged Spider-Man, patted him on the back and escorted the character around to meet his classmates.
Then with Spider-Man and Tinder by his side, Williams, 13, turned into a super hero himself, reading remarkably well despite recent challenges in front a host of supporters, including his mother, Kristi Alexander.
"This is the first time he's read to anybody besides me," said Tinder, beaming with joy. "This is a tough time of year for all kids because everybody is burnt out. We all need a hero. I want him to realize his potential. I thought that if he saw his superhero, maybe this would help."
It certainly did, making Alexander even more appreciative of Tinder's educational efforts.
"He's been struggling," she said of her son. "He'd been shutting down the past four or five months. It's not that he can't do it. He just needed a little motivation."
Alexander, a Post Falls Police animal-control officer, was joined by other members of the department who are Park's friends for the happy surprise.
"Park has learned to give handshakes, but he'd much rather give hugs," Alexander said, referring to his affectionate side.
Tinder described Park as a "pistol" who has a passion for life and loves to draw Spider-Man, of course.
After Park demonstrated his reading skills, he reminded his superhero, by grabbing his hand, not to forget he has the power to shoot webs.
"Ms. Tinder made me promise that I can't shoot webs in school because it makes a mess," Spider-Man told Park.
Spider-Man witnessed the progress of each of the students, posed for photo ops, answered questions ranging from his vision to health and offered some words of advice.
"Be smarter than the bad guy," he said. "You can be the next superhero."
When one of the students confessed to cheating on spelling, Spider-Man said to study and do homework and they would have to power not to.
Tinder was overwhelmed how Spider-Man's stop helped give her students a lift.
"The more I've gotten to know this Spider-Man, he truly is a hero," she said, adding that he also had a video made about doing homework and will Skype with the students in the future to check on their progress.
But, in true superhero form, Spider-Man deflected the spotlight.
"This teacher is truly amazing for finding the common thread to help. She's the true hero," he said before he leapt out of sight, clinging from surface to surface.