18 April

 10 weird and wonderful things which happened on 18 April:

1. In 1955, the scientist Albert Einstein died at the age of 75. Sadly, nobody knows what his last words were, since he spoke them in German and the nurse attending him didn't understand what he said.
2. At 10 pm on this date in 1775, American patriot Paul Revere made his famous ride from Charleston to Lexington to warn the people of Massachusetts that the British were coming, at the start of the American Revolution.
3. In 1986, the rocket Titan 34D, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, exploded when it was only a few hundred feet into its flight. The explosion destroyed the rocket along with a $500 million satellite payload. Poisonous fumes were released, causing concern for the safety of people in the area.
4. The second Boston Marathon took place on this date in 1898. The winner was one Ronald McDonald. Presumably this one wasn't dressed as a Clown.
5. The first Bob-a-Job week began on this date in 1949, when Scouts would offer to do chores for a “bob” (a shilling, or 5p in today's money).
6. In 1988, in the House of Commons, Ron Brown, Labour MP for Leith, had a bit of a terrible twos moment during a debate. In a fit of childish rage, he grabbed the 16th-century symbol of the Speaker’s authority, the Mace, threw it onto the floor and damaged it.
7. In 1906, at 5:13 am San Francisco was struck by an enormous Earthquake. It lasted 47 seconds and measured 7.9 to 8.3 on Richter Scale. Most of the damage came not from the shock but from the fire that followed. Flames swept the city for four days. More than 1,000 people were killed and about 25,000 buildings destroyed. Enrico Caruso was in the city to sing in Carmen with the Metropolitan Opera. He survived the destruction, but swore never to return.
8. In 1979, police opened up one of their cells and discovered Andreas Mihavecz, who'd been locked up on April 1 and forgotten about. He'd had no food and water for 18 days, but was still alive – the longest recorded case of survival without food or water. All this for being a passenger in a crashed car.
9. A World record speeding fine was handed out in Helsinki on this date in 2002 - £65,000 – given to Nokia executive Anssi Vanjoki based on his £3m income. He was doing 46.5mph in 30mph zone. The fine was reduced to £3,400 on appeal.
10. In 1995 A new doll, named Feral Cheryl, was launched as a rival to Barbie. She had tattoos, pierced nipples, body hair and dreadlocks. She would have been yours for £2.50.

The Power of Love

Willow believes in crystal healing, cosmic  ordering  and the significance of chance  encounters. She believes there's a spiritual  explanation for everything. Except she struggles to find a reason why she can turn herself into  mist and create a wave of energy which can slam a would-be mugger into a wall. Or why the love of  her life left her for a mysterious woman in sunglasses, who then disappeared without trace.  

A chance encounter with Firebolt, leader of the Freedom League superhero team, in a Glastonbury coffee shop, does turn out to be significant. He offers her a new start and the chance to use her powers for good.

Servant is a Christian who has joined the Freedom League in order to use his teleporting power to serve God. He and Willow clash from the start, yet they are drawn inexorably to one another.

When Willow leaves the team abruptly for reasons unknown, Servant knows he must put her out of his mind and find a nice Christian girl to settle down with. He is about to propose to devout and straight-laced Ruth, when Willow returns and turns his entire world upside down.

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