The Wheel

23. Miguel

As a matter of fact, I have lots of patterns of a strange behavior, but my biggest quirk was plain to see. Well then, should I talk about it? Luckily, it's not that terrifying.

"What do you understand by 'a quirk', Mr. Keep?" Ayama asked.

"It's a deviation from the norm," I replied.

"And what is the norm?"

"If someone is walking around and everybody starts insulting him or her it's not normal."

"It's not normal for you," she objected, "but it's normal for that person."

"Anyway most of people, including me, are positive that it's not normal."

"It used to be right to think that the Earth was flat and the Sun was revolving around it. However mass murdering for a higher purpose was also 'absolutely normal' back then. There are interesting cases when a person is one hundred percent aware of his or her 'abnormal' quirks, but decides not to get rid of them: think about genial Hannibal Lecter who was expert in psychology and other fields of science, but it didn't stop him from devouring people, being completely aware of what he was doing. Well, he more or less found a way to live with his strangeness, although using a rather specific method.

So, Miguel, tell us about your not so big, but a very strange problem and you may be free.

"Can I start?"

"You can."

My chair turned around, facing the guys: it was the same as with David. I breathe in and breathe out through my mouth.

"Well, my biggest quirk and my biggest strangeness is that I see the world a little differently. I like to look at it from the point of view of a ten-year-old or even a five-year-old kid. Yes, I love goofing around, making some noise, having fun."

"Oh, yes," Ayama agreed and demonstrated my photos, "you, Mr. Keep, love to use plenty of emojis in your posts on social networks; and while chatting you almost all the time use stickers and 'GIFs'. Halloween for you is like your second birthday, because you take choosing a costume with all seriousness: Batman, Superman, zombie – this all is way too easy for you, so you disguise yourself as a spaghetti monster or a baked kraken. Yeah, you spend a lot of time, working on those costumes. And you also love games!"

"Well, yeah, I have a gaming console, we always play on it online games with the guys. What's wrong with that?"

"What else do you play?"

I felt awkward. Damn, it's harder than it seemed. Okay, Miguel, it's okay. Don't cry, please, don't cry! Look at Emma, she always supports everyone. One. Two. Three.

"Yes, I have toys for little kids," I said in a trembling voice. "I go to shops for kids and every now and then I buy myself...gifts and I like it. That's it."

Now I finally should be set free. I told them everything they needed.

"So, can I be free?" I asked.

It was still silent. I started to shake my hands. What's wrong?

"I told you everything about my quirk," I said, vexed. "I like to behave like a five-year-old and I love toys. Okay, I love baby food a little, but that's it."

Silence. Complete silence.

"Maybe you have to laugh?" I asked the guys. "Ayama needs your insulting laughter. Why are you quiet? It's all happening so that we would feel dishonored, like David. Come on, laugh!"

Nobody made a sound. What else does she need? Oh, I guess I start to understand.

"Mr. Keep, tell us how you got this quirk?" Ayama demanded.