The Gifted

Chapter Four

The bells of School House chimed just as Karly, Charlie, and I got to our seats.  I could see Professor giving us "the hairy eyeball" out of the corner of my eye but ignored it.  I glanced at Karly who was trying to suppress a giggle and Charlie who looked all too smug to have made it on time.

It has been two weeks since we started our training for the Capability Test.  So far we have trained in music, critical thinking, and, of course, art.  I was a little surprised we were taking training so slowly, but I wasn't familiar with the process so I couldn't judge.

Professor gave a nod to Rodger and not a second later, Rodger sprang up from his seat in the front of the room.

"Good Morning, class," Rodger greeted as he always did.

"Good Morning, Rodger," we all replied.  It was a routine we did every morning since we started training.  Rodger would greet us, we would greet him, he would tell us about our training for the morning, and we would do what he said; then, once the Noon Meal rolled around, our training was done for the day.

"Alright, class.  Today we will be working more with critical thinking.  Critical thinking is a valuable skill not all possess, as are other skills, but this skill in particular is different in the way that is which you don't practice it regularly in any class.  You may be introduced to it in mathematics, but there is no class that focuses fully on critical thinking, thinking ahead, thinking skillfully," Rodger explained.

We all nodded in understanding.  Rodger continued, "So, we have done puzzles and riddles so far, starting easy and gradually getting more and more difficult.  Today I will introduce to you a game more widely known as Capture the King but formally named Chess.  You will learn to think ahead, as well as learn to transport your thinking into your opponent's mind and thinking process.  Everyone, please get into groups of two."

At the mention of "groups of two" Karly, Charlie, and I looked at each other with remorse; one of us wouldn't be in the group.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see who it was.  Valerie, probably the most shy girl in our class, stood in front of me and asked quietly, "Would you like to be partners for Capture the King?"

I glanced at Karly and Charlie, then turned back to Valerie.  "Sure, why not?"  Valerie's eyes lit up, and she smiled.  She turned to walk back to her desk.

I shifted back so I was looking at Charlie and Karly.  They were both snickering quietly.  "What?" I questioned them.

"Nothing," Charlie chuckled.

"Guys, seriously, what?"  I repeated.

"Oh, come on, James.  You aren't that dumb," Karly explained.  I looked at them blankly, starting to get annoyed.  Karly let out a sigh.  "It's so obvious she's 'interested' in you."

"Huh?" I asked, still not quite following.

"James.  Come on, are you that oblivious?" Charlie asked.

"Oblivious to what?" I asked, very irritated.

"That she likes you," Karly explained.  "I mean really likes you."

"Oh" was all I could say.

"Haven't you noticed a change around here since we started taking those pills?" Karly interrogated.

I sat and thought about it.  I guess something's been a little different.  We all have been rising and falling as far as our skills for training, but somehow I knew that's not what Karly meant.

"People have been acting strange, strange around each other.  People are starting to have feelings for one another.  And Valerie has feelings for you," Karly explained.