10/17

Episode 9, Chapter 37

"So I think I figured it out," Clint told his brother Thursday night as they stuffed themselves on the bounty Clint had brought home once again. "You remember that old movie, The Matrix?" Clint said.

"Yeah, I guess," Josh replied. "What about it?" Josh was used to Clint's habit of using obscure old movie references to explain things, though he had never shared the obsession.

"Well, I think that's how my power works on people. I make things real for them."

"Dang, that's crazy," Josh had said, impressed. "But, you aren't in the same room as dad right now, so how do you know what he sees? You said you couldn't read minds."

"Honestly, I have no idea. No matter how hard I try, I still can't read minds or hear anything in my own head, but I'm guessing my power can. Like, go back to The Matrix," Clint told him when his brother's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Remember how those screens just streamed strings of code that didn't look like anything, but humans got really good at reading the images in the codes anyway?"

"I guess. I never really understood that part," Josh said shaking his head. Clint rolled his eyes.

"Well, it doesn't matter, but I think that's how it works. What I see consciously and what my brain is capable of understanding are two different things."

"Wait, like binary?" Josh asked. "We see ones and zeros but the computer can read it as commands?" He got a little exited then. "Or like programming, you input basic commands and your brain uses it to create a virtual reality?" Josh was all about computers, another reason to get him out of there. He could really do something with his life in Seattle.

"Yeah, like that. I think. Maybe," Clint said, with a snort. "I have no idea how it really works. It just does. With Dad, I tell his brain to ignore us and stay interested in his show, or that we're not here at all and between my power and his own imagination, he believes it."

"If you say so," Josh said with a skeptical grunt, turning his attention back to his food. Clint studied his brother trying to gage how relaxed the younger boy was. This next conversation was not going to go well, but it had to happen.

"So, I talked to Aunt Mindy this morning," he said, trying to sound calm and casual as he chewed his pizza. Josh saw straight through his act. His eyes narrowed on Clint and his lips thinned. He stuck his jaw out and pinned his big brother with a direct glare.

"No."

Clint rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Josh, it's-"

"No," he said again, just as hard and finite as the first.

"Even Aunt Mindy agrees it's-"

"I'm not leaving you here by yourself and I'm not going anywhere without you. If you try to make me, I'll call that case worker myself," Josh said in the harsh whisper yell the boys had learned to use to keep their dad out of their business. Clint glared at Josh. His threat was more bluff than bite, but Clint knew, if he tried to force Josh, the kid no doubt would do something stupid. He sighed again, knowing what he had to do. He just hoped Josh would forgive him. He stood up to his new full hight and set his jaw. His expression held no pity, mirth or emotion of any kind.

"That's it, Josh. I've had enough of your temper tantrums. I've tried to be nice about this but you don't get it do you. The fact is, I'm better off without you here."

Josh's face went blank at the harsh words. For a brief flash, Clint saw the scared little boy but it was quickly replaced by the tough teen. Most kids with their lives were forced to become at far to early an age.