Hearts and stars

What the world... needs now... is...

Yes, thought little Jimmy, listening to the song on the radio, that's what the world needs.

Last night, when he heard Mom and Dad shouting at each other, he only needed to creep downstairs and throw a handful of his brightly-colored paper hearts and stars into the air, showering down on his argumentative parents, and they stopped immediately.

"Jimmy, what are you doing up?" asked his Dad. "Did we wake you? You go back to bed now."

"Not until you promise to make up and be friends," he had said.

"Okay, honey," said Mom, we promise."

The following day found the family driving out to see Jimmy's grandparents. Knowing his newly found superpower, his ability to turn anger into love, Jimmy put on his bright red superhero cape and tucked himself into his seat in the back of the car.

When they stopped at the gas station, Mom had to go take a pee as Dad filled up the tank from the self-service, then went to pay. As Mom and Dad returned to the car, they heard a commotion across the street. Two men were punching hell out of each other until one fell then, jumping back up, drew out a switchblade.

"No!" gasped Mom, as she looked across at the fracas.

"What is it?" asked Dad, before realizing that what had startled his wife was the sight of a diminutive red-caped figure throwing paper confetti at the two fighters.

Across the street, both men looked up in astonishment at the small boy throwing colored paper at them.

"What the ..." said one.

"Stop it!" shouted Jimmy, throwing more confetti.

Both men burst into laughter.

"Okay, okay, we'll stop," said one. "Now you go back to your Mom and Dad before you get hurt."