Tanner's Story: The Before

The Takeoff

The airport was about a 30 minutes walking distance away. It was early June so the weather was really nice and sunny. Thomas kept dancing like a crazy person, I already knew dad would have to carry him home. I was walking next to my two best friends, Nathan and Mary. We had been friends preschool. We trying to eavesdrop on Marcus and his friends, Kaitlyn, Lucas, and Matthew. They were making fun of a few kids who had to do summer school. I suggested listening because I didn't know if I could handle talking. My head was throbbing and I had this odd feeling someone was watching me. I looked around but the only people I saw was our group, until I saw her. I wish at that moment I ran, that way I might have stopped the horrible events that were about to come.

"Tan you good?" Nathan asked.

"Ya just got a throbbing headache," I responded.

My friends looked at each other and shrugged. Feeling satisfied they started talking about summer activities. I grinned and joined in.

"Are you guys excited for the amusement park next week," Mary said, "cause I'm pumped!"

Even though us three were only seven, we were considered to be spiritually 15. And one of those reasons is that we are absolutely fearless when it comes roller coasters, that and some other activities.

"How could we not be Mar," I said with fake exasperation.

Nathan started laughing and said, "this is going to be epic." We all laughed thinking that day would come without knowing it wouldn't.

"What are you kids talking about," my mom asked.

"Just about the best weekend ever," Mary(Mar) responded.

My mom smiled and said, "well that's good, I just wanted to say we are almost there."

We all said ok and she went to walk with dad and Thomas. Though I noticed with each step the tingle I felt at breakfast kept getting stronger and stronger, as if it was begging to be released.

10 minutes later

"We're here," mom cried.

We all looked around. It was a large clearing with a prime view of where the takeoff was taking place. Thomas laughed and started rolling around in the dirt. Mom ran after him and started to brush all the dirt off. Laughing at my younger brothers foolishness we lay our towels down. Marcus and his friends asked if we wanted to play tag, the others said yes, but I didn't know if I could stand up faked weariness.

Lucas said something that I didn't catch, I think it was weak but I've never been sure.

"You guys go play, I'm going to see if I can my little brother up and moving.

As they went to play Marcus sat down next to me with a concerned look on his face.

"You ok little brother, you don't look all that good."

"Ya I'm fine I just feel like someone is drilling into my head, I'll get over it in a little while.

He frowned, "do you want me go get mom and dad."

"No I'll be fine sooner or later, they'll just overreact."

"Ok, but if it gets worse we're telling them, deal."

I sigh, "deal."

Marcus went to go play tag while I stayed there trying to ignore the pain. What I didn't tell Marcus is that just in the time we were talking my headache got a lot worse. Then mom called everyone saying it was about to start. Right after she finished though, my headache suddenly evaporated. I shook my head to make sure it was really gone before looking around to see if my sudden relief was out there. In a way I was right.

As my family and friends started counting down the to mass take off the tingling within me grew bigger and bigger until it started to hurt to keep it in. Finally they reached zero and in a organized pattern 50 planes shot into the air. Everyone cheered but me. I wish I had been a bit stronger, I wish I could have just held out until the planes were well and away, but that's not how life works.

Finally the tingling grew so strong I had to let it go, and when I did several planes started to wobble. I could not comprehend what was happening until the first plane crashed. Everyone around me was screaming and I knew it was me. Since I've always known that I glowed, it wasn't hard to figure out that I was the cause. I had tried to stop it but as I had no idea what I was doing I only succeeded in making sure no more planes crashed, though the others still shook a bit. Then my headache returned and the tingling that caused my power disappeared and was replaced. Next thing I knew my parents were trying to stop us from looking at the burning wreaks of at least three jets with innocent people inside.