The Telepath's Daughter

School Daze

Bobby held the door to his classroom open and waited for Melinda to enter. Instead of doing so, she tilted her head and gave him a quizzical look.

All the same ages in one class? Even in her brief experience, Melinda knew this wasn't the norm.

Not all the time. But we start the day together. This is just the kids like us. You know...kids with gifts.

Melinda raised her nose and gave a suspicious sniff. So they think we're weird and separate us out from the 'normal' kids?

Bobby's brow furrowed with concern. No. It's just so we can all kind of touch base and share anything new we've learned or any cool stuff we've done since the day before. Why would you think that?

Where I come from, I don't fit in. I just started school before we came here and everyone's worried about me. And they called my mom and dad in and...everything... Melinda lowered her eyes and shrugged. ...you know...

No. I don't know. And that really pisses me off, Mellie. There's nothing wrong with you. You're more like me than anyone else I've ever met.

It was the first time anyone remotely near her age had stood up for her. Melinda knew her parents would always have her back, but having someone like Bobby speak out in her defense opened up whole new worlds. It meant that it wasn't The-Reids-Against-The-World. It meant there were allies to be had outside the family unit besides Daddy's colleagues; ones who really understood what it was like to have a brain that set you apart from others. In that split second, possibilities unfolded in Melinda's mind that made the world a wider, friendlier place. She beamed a great smile at Bobby, but before she could respond...

Bobby, I think you might find a more elegant way of expressing yourself than "pisses me off." The new "voice" caught Melinda by surprise. She'd been wholly immersed in the thoughts and experience of making a new friend. She finally stepped through the door Bobby was holding for her and took in the rest of the classroom and its inhabitants.

Twelve pairs of avidly curious eyes met hers. The one that took her focus was the one that had "spoken." A woman with a short, blonde bob and a kind face smiled a welcome. Bobby, you brought us a visitor.

Yes, Miss Blandings. Bobby stepped closer to his guest. This is Melinda. Her mom and dad are here visiting. They're all like us, too.

Well, it's nice to meet you, Melinda. And, Bobby, please watch your language, okay?

Yes, Ma'am.

Melinda tracked from face to face to face. There were a range of ages. The oldest was a girl with a gossamer smile whose telepathic voice was a soft whisper. She nodded at Melinda and pulsed a quick introduction toward her. Mellie learned the girl was sixteen and was named Florence...a name the girl didn't particularly like, judging by the slightly sour resignation that accompanied the information.

The youngest was a boy whose thoughts rippled like bright silver coins, clinking and jingling with good humor. Melinda got the impression he was thrilled to have someone nearly his own age among the gifted. I'm Artie and I'm four, his words sparkled at her.

The other introductions were quick, as things tend to be when accomplished telepathically. For a moment, Melinda was at a loss. It was overwhelming to have other ESP-ers this close, this many, this focused, this immediate. Her empathic side welled with emotion. She might have been able to control it, except at that very instant, a wholly new, but oh-so-familiar mental voice filled her mind with a jubilant greeting.

Mellie! It's me! I'm here! I'm here! I'm here!

Melinda recognized the voice. She was finally, really a sister. Her eyes filled and then overflowed. The spines of every child in the room stiffened in alarm at Melinda's distress. A flurry of concern darted from mind to mind to mind to...

Melinda? What's wrong? Miss Blandings rose from her seat behind her desk and leaned toward Melinda. Bobby, do you know what it is?

Bobby put a comforting arm around Melinda's shoulders. Instinct prompted him to do something he'd never done before. Dropping to one knee, he rested his forehead against Melinda's. His eyes closed and for a moment he felt as though he was being pulled down into a vortex, a maelstrom of colors and feelings and life itself. It felt alien, but oddly attractive. This is Melinda, he thought to himself. This is who she really is when she's most purely herself.

In a split second, too brief a time for anyone to realize the connection that had been established between the two children, Bobby surfaced. He felt as though his brain was gasping for air as it emerged from Melinda's psyche. Miss Blandings was now standing beside him, leaning over the two children.

Bobby? Remember our first rule here: When something is troubling you, reach out.

Bobby nodded, using the small gesture to cover his own surprise at how easily he'd entered Melinda's mind; at how completely he'd been able to grasp her past and her reality. He wondered if her numbness and inability to use her telepathy when they were in the woods had had a lingering effect and was only now burning off, the last vestiges of fogginess pulling away to reveal something startlingly sharp and clear. And, judging by the anxious expression on his teacher's face and the ripples of worry in her accompanying thoughts, that vivid landscape that was Melinda hadn't been accessible to everyone.

Bobby?

Sorry, Miss Blandings. She's okay. It's just...Bobby cast about, trying to sort through all the things he'd learned in an instant about this strange, new girl. She'd told him about being singled out in her school, but it wasn't until he'd been sucked into her mind that it had become a visceral experience. He wasn't sure if it was something private that Melinda had favored him with, or if it was alright to make it public knowledge. ...It's just that her school's on the outside, you know? And it's so different. And...you know...everything...all at once...everything...He'd opted to err on the side of caution. If Melinda wanted to tell everyone about her life on the outside, that was up to her.

Besides, it made Bobby feel special to think there was a connection Mellie only shared with him. And this wasn't like sharing the knowledge of the graylings.

This was something beautiful.

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Physics...sort of, Melinda thought. For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Sort of.

When Bobby had been enveloped in Melinda's psyche, a reciprocal force had surrounded her. She'd known in an instant what Bobby's life was like here in this sanctuary. She felt the peak moments of his short life. Anger at small slights. Sorrow at the loss of a pet. Indignation and impatience and curiosity and love and fear and joy as his experiences opened before her in a flash of knowledge. But underlying everything, like the canvas on which all else was painted, there was the blissful feeling of freedom to be whatever heredity and happenstance would make of him. There was no hiding one's talents. No fear of discovery. No taint. Only talent.

And then, hard upon the heels of truly hearing her brother, Kevin, for the first time as he announced his arrival, Melinda heard her mother's call. She felt Mommy's exhaustion and worry and knew there'd be discussions when she returned to their rooms at the Bed 'N' Breakfast. But for now...just for now...everything was marvelously, amazingly, unforeseeably...

...perfect.

Melinda wondered if her mother knew places like this school existed. She couldn't. If she did, she would have sent me here in the first place when I wanted to go to school so much.

I can't wait to tell her...