Gifted

Ch. 5 He's Five

"Hey buddy!" Cole LeFlour said as he walked through the door into his home. He swept through his honey colored hair with a sigh of relief. Loosening his blue necktie; it had been a long day.

                 "Daddy!" Aiden exclaimed in joy, jumping up in front of his father, Cole lifting him into the air and letting his arms stretch out. Aiden felt like he was flying as his father lifted him up over the stairs, arms out to about twenty feet, and back down the stairs. Aiden was in superman position.

                 Cole loved the look in his son's eyes when they performed their evening routine. There was such wonder in his eyes, so much joy, and a basic trust that everything would be okay.

                 "Alright you two," Marisa smiled, "time to sit down."

                 "Yum," Cole said with a smirk as he walked to the table. Marisa had an old white apron on, peeling it off she simultaneously used her telekinetic ability to tug on Cole's tie, bring him in for a kiss.

                 "Eww!" Aiden protested. "Stop that!"

                 "Mommy and Daddy love each other right?" Cole asked.

                 "Yeah, and I know, I know, 'then there isn't a problem,"' Aiden quoted. He had heard the same thing repeated in response to his protests ad nausium.

                 "What'd you make mama?" Aiden inquired, sitting on his legs, in his chair.

                 "Chicken," Marisa responded simply, taking her seat at the small kitchenette table.

                 "Again?" Aiden pouted.

                 Your mother worked hard on this dinner! Say thank you! Cole thought, mentally scolding his son. For whatever reason, Cole's thoughts were like a radio broadcast to Aiden. To listen to anyone else's thoughts, he had to make a conscious effort, but Cole's thoughts were almost unavoidably heard whenever they were in close proximity to one another.

                 "Thank you mommy," Aiden recanted.

                 "You're welcome sweetie," Marisa responded dutifully, she was not fooled. "Unfortunately all that was available to Maine these past two weeks has been chicken, but I try to make it differently each time. I appreciate you eating it," Marisa explained, understanding Aiden's less than enthusiastic attitude towards the poultry.

                 The family ate dinner, discussing Cole's day at work and his role as inoperative senator. "Enough about me! We have more important things to talk about!"

                 "Daddy, really?" Aiden asked. Of course, since Cole had thought it, Aiden knew it.

                 "I already got the RSVPs from your classmate's parents," Marisa said, knowing what had just occurred. She shoved her bangs out of her hair, taking her plate and Aiden's to the sink, starting to clear the table.

                 Once the table was cleared, they started Aiden's evening routine. The resistant washing with a washcloth to get clean, and the pajamas, and the bedtime story about the life of Albert Einstein, a special request from Aiden. He had checked out the book from the library earlier in the week.

                 As Marisa walked downstairs she looked at her house, tomorrow it would be full of kids, running amuck inside and out. Cole waited at the bottom of the stairs, looking into his wife's eyes. He stretched his hand up to hers, tracing small circles on the top of her hand.

                 They walked around the living room and down a hallway full of pictures, mostly of Aiden, some of the whole family. Others were paintings that other citizens of Maine had done. Cole turned to walk backwards in front of Marisa, gently holding the back of her neck. She leaned in to kiss him. He stumbled, using his other hand to open the bedroom door.

                 "Ahh, now to what I really wanted for dinner," Cole said.

                 "This can be dessert," Marisa replied breaking away to smile.

                 They both clumsily made it to the bed. Cole stretched his leg out to shut the door, but Marisa beat him to it as the door seemingly shut itself.

                 "Perfect," they both said.

**

                 DING DONG. The doorbell rang. Earlier that day, men sent by Alfred Franklin came and put together a play set. None of these kids, or Cole and Marisa for that matter, had ever seen or owned a play set that was in their own backyard. The men seemed to have set it up from nothing, bring a bunch of wood panels, a power drill, a long plastic tube, and metal poles. These kinds of things were not normally available to anyone, but Cole had called into Franklin, saying that there better be exceptions for the kid who is "everything."

                 Even Marisa couldn't deny this as a great perk. When the men finished, the thing looked like it had been done with custom materials. It was spectacular, and nothing like the lame playgrounds at the park. Everyone was sure to have a good time.

                 Everyone from Newcastle with a child around Aiden's age arrived, and all were welcome. In addition, hamburger patties and buns, along with assorted condiments arrived.

                 "This really is quite the production Marisa," Katherine Hale said, watching her child Jon run off to play with Aiden up in the playground.

                 "Who wants burgers?" Cole shouted over the crowd. A plethora of "ME!" followed. Cole started to hand patties to people who walked up to him with open buns.

                 "Well we certainly couldn't have done it ourselves," Marisa responded to Katherine.

                 "It's just a shame every child can't have a party like this," Katherine said, "it makes you wonder if it makes them feel unimportant. I certainly wouldn't want Jon to feel like that..."

                 "Katherine! I don't like the way you're saying that! This party may have been to celebrate Aiden's birthday, but it is not as if we excluded anyone. We made sure to make everyone feel invited and welcome! It isn't our fault Alfred took an interest in Aiden. Trust me, we didn't ask for that kind of attention-" Marisa was cut off by the sound of marching. It sounded like, well it sounded like a military parade, but another one of those wasn't scheduled for a week. The gate was abruptly pulled open and a smaller group of soldiers marched into the back yard, throwing the children and parents into a panic.

                 Cole rushed for the men, "What's this all about?!"

                 "Just a regularly scheduled march, back away sir," the soldier stated, looking at the gathering. "Quite the party you have here. It's amazing you all have managed it... given your, situation," the soldier said, snidely commenting on the fact that something such as this should not be possible. He was in his Charlie's, a tan colored uniform. He had a short buzz cut and plain brown eyes.

                 The soldiers all walked all the way through the gate, staying in formation in the back yard, then digressing to take account of all the people present. This was not unusual, role was taken during every march. It was not a detailed census, just an account of names.

                 As quickly as the men had arrived, they left. In their wake, they left a party full of shocked people and an open gate. Marisa defiantly shut the gate just after the last soldier stepped out. After that, everyone stayed for an awkward birthday song and cake, but then they all left the premises as quickly as they could gather their children.

                 That night a letter came through by personal mail courier. "Nice to know you are both on board –A. Franklin."

                 "I am definitely not on board," Marisa said for clarification sake, looking over at Cole.