STARSCAPE BOOKS(72)

I glanced over at Torchie. He seemed to be perfectly happy squeezing a cloth bag under his arm and filling the air with the sound of dying cattle.

“So you like to play video games?” she asked.

“Love them,” he said.

“Me, too. I usually don’t play with guys, because they can’t stand losing to a girl. But you’ve been so nice.” She flashed him that smile that made all of us melt. “I think it’s so cute the way you keep bumping into things. Most guys try to act so tough and macho, it makes me want to scream. Hey, wanna play some games tonight?”

“Sure,” Martin said. “I just have to say goodbye to my friend.”

I realized he was right—it was time to say goodbye. It was tough to leave, but I was pretty sure I’d see each of them soon enough.

“It’s been awesome,” Cheater said as I headed out the door. “All of us together. You know, six is a magic number. It’s equal to the sum of its divisors. Not counting itself, of course.”

Torchie played something on the bagpipe that might have been a marching song, or the sound of baby pterodactyls being tortured.

Lucky, who was still pretty out of it, said, “Thank you.”

“Any time.”

“Stay out of banks,” Flinch said. “I’m not doing this again. No way.”

Martin walked me out. “You ready to get back to the real world?” he asked as I waved down a cab.

“It’s not like I have a lot of other choices.”

“The offer to run away is still good,” he said. “We could go anywhere we wanted.”

“Maybe next summer. What about you?” I asked. “You going home?”

Martin fed my words back to me. “It’s not like I have a lot of choices. Besides, next to Bowdler, my dad is an angel. Though I might get in a day or two of game-playing before I head out.”

“Good idea. Congratulations.”

“Hey, what can I say. I’ve got style, charm, and a telekinetic friend who keeps bouncing me off the floor.”

“I’m always happy to help. Want me to throw you up the stairs?”

“Nah. Let’s not overdo it.”

A cab pulled to the curb and I got in.

Martin stared at me for a moment. He opened his mouth. Then he closed it. Then he sighed and said, “Words fail me.”

“Me, too.”

The cabbie was only a little better driver than Martin, but I figured after coming this far, I could survive one more wild ride. I leaned back and looked out the side window. Far off in the sky, I could see a jet coming in for a landing. I almost felt I could reach out and ease it to the ground.

Down the road, I knew I’d have to deal with my powers, and figure out my role in the world—how to use my hidden talents, and also my true talents. But not tonight. Not this week or this month. Thanks to my friends, I had time. Tonight, I just wanted to be someone’s son.


FROM THE FRONT PAGE OF A

WASHINGTON, D.C., NEWSPAPER



The naked man found clinging to a street lamp near the Lincoln Memorial early Monday morning has been identified as Douglas Bowdler, a former Army major currently residing in Havertown, Pennsylvania. According to police reports, when Bowdler was first discovered he appeared to be delusional, and repeatedly screamed, “Get the gorilla away from me.” There is no evidence he had been anywhere near the National Zoo that day. There is an unconfirmed report that he had in his possession a briefcase containing classified documents as well as other documents that point to a variety of illegal activities, including the abduction and imprisonment of a minor. He was also in possession of a handgun which has been tied to the recent killing of another resident of Pennsylvania. Both the justice department and the military are apparently launching investigations. The boy has been reunited with his parents.





after …


CHEATER SUNK INTO the couch and turned on the TV, cranking the volume to drown out the bagpipe music coming from the bedroom. He’d already called his brother and told him he was staying with Uncle Ray until their parents got back.

“The Cincinnati Kid,” he said out loud, recognizing the movie. He reeled off the date it was filmed and the cast members. Anyone who knew anything about movies knew that this was one of the greatest poker films ever made.

Cheater looked at the screen for a moment, sighed, then changed the channel. Somehow, poker just didn’t seem to be as much fun as it used to. But he’d find something else to challenge his mind and test his talents. Life was full of possibilities.

FLINCH GOT TO the hotel a half hour ahead of his cousin.

“Whoeee, I had a crazy weekend,” Devon said. He plopped down on one of the beds.