MCU: Spider-Man: Rise of Saint

Franklin pressed his face against the airplane window as New York City appeared below. The buildings looked like toys from up here, nothing like Jerome's stories about towers touching the clouds. His Yankees cap, the same one Jerome gave him four years ago, sat snug on his head.

"Sit back, baby," Lisa said, tugging gently at his sleeve. "We're about to land."

Franklin ignored her, too busy counting the buildings he could see. His stomach did a flip as the plane tilted down toward JFK Airport.

"You think Uncle Jerome's house is big?" Franklin asked.

"We'll see soon enough," Marcus answered from the aisle seat. He'd been quiet most of the flight, probably thinking about work. He'd only taken a week off for this trip, and Franklin heard him arguing with his boss about even that.

The taxi ride from the airport felt longer than the flight. Franklin bounced in his seat, pointing at everything - yellow cabs, street vendors, people rushing everywhere. The driver laughed at his excitement.

"First time in New York, kid?"

"Yeah! My uncle lives here. He's got a big house and everything."

The taxi turned onto Jerome's street in Queens. Franklin's mouth dropped open. The houses here were different from South Central - older, closer together, with little front yards and steep steps leading to their doors.

Jerome and Gloria waited on their stoop. Franklin didn't wait for the taxi to fully stop before yanking at his seatbelt.

"Hold up," Marcus said, but Franklin was already out the door.

"Uncle Jerome!"

Jerome caught him in a bear hug. "Look who got even bigger! Gloria, you seeing this? Boy's gonna be taller than me soon."

"In about twenty years, maybe," Gloria laughed, giving Franklin a hug of her own.

Their house was two floors with a basement, a classic Forest Hills home with wooden floors that creaked and warm red brick outside. It looked just like the other houses on the block - narrow but cozy, with a small yard out front and concrete steps leading to a covered porch. Inside, everything smelled new. Franklin ran from room to room while the adults handled the luggage.

"This whole basement is for watching TV?" Franklin yelled up the stairs, discovering Jerome's entertainment setup.

"Sure is. Got all the game systems too. But first, you gotta see your room upstairs."

Franklin spun around. "I get my own room?"

"Course you do. Can't have my favorite nephew sleeping on the couch."

The guest room was bigger than Franklin's room back home. It had a desk, a TV, and best of all - a view of the street from the window.

"This is awesome!" Franklin jumped onto the bed. "Can we live here forever?"

The adults laughed, but Franklin noticed his parents exchange one of their looks.

After unpacking, Jerome took them all out to dinner. They walked because "that's what New Yorkers do," Jerome said. Franklin tried to copy how his uncle moved through the crowds - confident, like he owned the sidewalk.

The pizza place was small and loud, with signed photos covering the walls and red checkered tablecloths. Franklin watched the guy behind the counter toss dough in the air.

"Better than LA pizza, right?" Jerome asked after their food came.

Franklin nodded, his mouth too full to speak. The cheese stretched forever when he pulled a slice away.

"Tomorrow I'll show you the real New York," Jerome said. "Take you to Times Square, maybe catch a game at Yankee Stadium."

"For real?"

"For real. But you gotta wear that cap I gave you."

Franklin touched his Yankees cap. "I never take it off."

Later that night, Franklin couldn't sleep. The city sounds were different here - more sirens, more voices, more everything. He went to his window and looked out at the street below.

A group of teenagers walked by, laughing about something. A car alarm went off somewhere. Music played from an open window across the street. It was like the whole city was awake, waiting for him to come explore it.

The floor creaked behind him. Jerome stood in the doorway.

"Can't sleep?"

Franklin shook his head.

"City's got that effect on people first time around." Jerome came to stand by the window. "You know, I felt the same way when I moved here. Like I couldn't rest because I might miss something."

"Do you miss LA?"

Jerome thought about it. "Sometimes. Miss the family most. That's why it means a lot having you all visit."

"Dad says you make good money here."

"Better than I did back home. But that's not why I stayed." Jerome pointed out the window. "See that building with the green sign? Lady who owns it came from nothing, built her business from scratch. Next door? Guy's kids are going to college, first ones in their family. That's what I love about New York - everyone's trying to make something of themselves."

Franklin didn't fully understand, but he nodded anyway.

"Listen," Jerome said, his voice getting serious. "I know things ain't perfect back home. Your dad working two jobs, your mom stressed about bills. But they're doing their best for you. Remember that."

"I know."

"Good man." Jerome ruffled Franklin's hair. "Now get some sleep. Got a big day tomorrow."

Franklin climbed back into bed, but he didn't fall asleep right away. He kept thinking about what Jerome said, about people making something of themselves. He wondered if that's what his parents were thinking about too.

In the morning, the city waited for him, full of promises. Franklin put on his Yankees cap and got ready to explore it all with his uncle. He didn't know it then, but this visit would change how his family saw New York. Would make them start thinking maybe Jerome had the right idea after all.

"Ready to hit the city?" Jerome called up the stairs.

Franklin ran down, taking the steps two at a time. "Ready!"

They stepped out into the morning sun, the streets already bustling. Franklin grabbed his uncle's hand as they walked, not wanting to get lost in the crowd.

In South Central, he knew every corner, every face. Here, everything was new, waiting to be discovered. And Uncle Jerome was going to show him all of it.