"Good idea. In fact, just what he needs. Not that I'm criticizing, of course, but I think he's become too, how should I put it, dependent on you. And God knows I have enough demands on my time."
*What's wrong with what you said? Let me count the ways. Since you don't hear even yourself any more.* "This one looks the best to me. One of the best reputations academically and I liked the principal when I called and asked to speak to her." Alexia Luthor handed a booklet to her husband, who glanced at the glossy cover and added it to one of the piles on his desk. *Plus he can enroll at the semester.* "I'll talk to him about it today, then. Once you've taken a look."
"Good idea." Sensing that she wasn't going to leave the subject yet, Lionel picked up the booklet again and leafed through it. His inspection was all but cursory. "I'm sure you've made the right decision."
"Lion, what about the fires?" She used the cajoling nickname for the first time in weeks.
"He's learning how to control it." *Cruelty to animals, fire-setting, well, at least Clark's never wet the bed. Or I'd be looking for a book on Parenting Sociopaths 101. But they wouldn't have an edition specifically for Parenting Sociopaths with Paranormal Powers. I don't think.* Her father had been a crime reporter and she remembered his telling her about the three classic childhood signs of a sociopathic personality. She'd never thought then that she'd be wondering how they applied to one of her children. "I'm proud of him. After all, the temptation to make everything go up in flames has to be huge for a kid his age." Lionel chuckled at his thoughts.
**********************************************************************************************
"Did you ask Dad?"
"He said it would be a good idea."
"Good." She hadn't known whether she dreaded seeing relief or unhappiness on his face more but this quiet near-indifference was worse than either. "When do I go?"
"They can get you in this February, at the beginning of the semester. Your tests were just fine."
"Okay."
"I'll miss you, Lex." She sat down on the bed next to her son and kissed his smooth head. For a few moments, the tension that never left him, even in sleep, eased and he clung to her, but at a sound outside, he returned to that strange immobility of face and posture.
**************************************************************************************************
Email exchanges
"Dear Mom,
School is going well. I'm shifting some of my classes, moving up in Math and Chemistry and down in History. I was doing okay, but I just missed some of the background for the track. I don't mind, Ancient History is interesting and the teacher is really good. Even if he looks like he was an eyewitness.
This place is a retirement home for animals! All the horses are retired racers and the dogs are retired greyhounds and police dogs. I'm allergic to the horses, though, which sucks.
I'm learning how to fence in gym class.
We're supposed to do a service project each semester but I don't know what I want to do. Maybe the river cleanup this time and the otter rehabilitation next time. They don't let you repeat. Otter rehabilitation sounds like we have to tell them to straighten up or they'll end up in jail but it's really taking care of ones that got hurt by boats or something.
I have to go now--dinner. Can't wait, yum yum. (Just kidding.)
Love,
Lex
"Dear Principal Buchanan,
I'm slightly concerned about my son, Lex. He writes regularly and seems to be enjoying school, but he doesn't mention any friends. I hope this is just the normal teenager wish to keep a wall between friends and family (after all, we parents are generally embarassing to the human species and our kids in particular!) but I want to make sure. Can you tell me how he's fitting in?
Thank you for your time,
Alexia Luthor
"Dear Mrs. Luthor,
Thank you for writing.
We've noticed some social tension in Lex's interactions with other students, as you'll find in the notes from his teachers. Ordinarily we don't send these out until the end of the first six weeks, so we ask you to remember that they reflect the awkwardness of settling in.
'Lex is unusually bright but standoffish. He much prefers the role of an onlooker to that of a participant in all activities except for solo projects. Some insecurity from his physical appearance?'
'Fourteen going on a cynical fifty!'
'Formed close bonds with seven out of the nine campus dogs, closing the gap with the other two and the campus cats. Skills don't translate to human species, snubs peer attempts at friendliness.'
'His peers accord him a cautious respect.'
Much of this, as I stated above, is likely the effect of settling in. Sometimes the brightest students--and your Lex is undoubtedly one of those--have the most difficult time in this. If he doesn't form bonds by March, we can provide counseling.
Thank you and please don't hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or concerns.
Helena Buchanan
Principal, Grange School
Dear Mrs. Luthor,
As you requested in our conversation, we've started counseling for Lex. However, he makes it clear that he fiercely resents it. He has an unusually strong need for privacy and considers the counselor's efforts to be an encroachment.
I'd like to discuss this situation with you and with his father, particularly as I consider that persevering with counseling is far more likely to hurt rather than help matters.
Please let me know when is a convenient time for you.
Thank you,
Helena Buchanan
Dear Mom,
Well, sure, I can tell you about the other kids here, but you used to tell me that if I can't say anything nice, I shouldn't say anything at all. Your choice!
Ooops, I guess I just said something. Oh, I could just cut my fingers off!
I've not figured it out exactly but the proportions are something like: Just plain stupid, around 58.6 percent. Snob, 21.07 percent. Trying too hard to get connected to a Luthor, 93.18 percent. Everybody falls into at least one of those.
But classes are pretty good. And freshman year we get to do independent studies.
Retired greyhounds are the coolest dogs. We're not supposed to let any of them in our rooms but the dorm proctor and I reached an arrangement.
I really like history class. The teacher, Mr. Del Amato, talks all about patterns in history and how things repeat when the circumstances are right. He and I got into a great fight, well, not fight, but great debate about whether there's such a thing as inevitability. I don't think there is; everybody has a choice at some point, don't they? And then there's chance and random things. He gave me a great story by Ray Bradbury, about a butterfly and dinosaur hunts. You like Bradbury, don't you? I bet you know the one I'm talking about, I forgot the title and I'm too lazy to go get the book!
Love,
Lex
***************************************************************************************
*And not a word about the counseling. It's not that he's really lying to me. But...* Alexia turned the computer off and went into the library. Clark was sprawled across the sofa, stomach down, feet hanging over the edge.
"Giant." She bent over and tousled his dark hair. "You're taller than your dad now. His legs don't reach that far."
He looked up and grinned. "Can't wait for the next family picture."
"Do you have to remind me? Those poor photographers!" When it came to anything related to the family image, Lionel could make Leona Helmsley and Martha Stewart look insouciant.
"Well, it's important. Dad explained how it overflows into the business image and the political image, too. Those lobbyists aren't trying to convince a politician to do something that would get in LuthorCorp's way, but to interfere with a family man," Clark elucidated with all the earnestness of a ten-year-old helping to clarify the world to a beloved but naturally slow-witted and behind-the-times parent.
*What's wrong with what you said? Let me count the ways. Since you don't hear even yourself any more.* "This one looks the best to me. One of the best reputations academically and I liked the principal when I called and asked to speak to her." Alexia Luthor handed a booklet to her husband, who glanced at the glossy cover and added it to one of the piles on his desk. *Plus he can enroll at the semester.* "I'll talk to him about it today, then. Once you've taken a look."
"Good idea." Sensing that she wasn't going to leave the subject yet, Lionel picked up the booklet again and leafed through it. His inspection was all but cursory. "I'm sure you've made the right decision."
"Lion, what about the fires?" She used the cajoling nickname for the first time in weeks.
"He's learning how to control it." *Cruelty to animals, fire-setting, well, at least Clark's never wet the bed. Or I'd be looking for a book on Parenting Sociopaths 101. But they wouldn't have an edition specifically for Parenting Sociopaths with Paranormal Powers. I don't think.* Her father had been a crime reporter and she remembered his telling her about the three classic childhood signs of a sociopathic personality. She'd never thought then that she'd be wondering how they applied to one of her children. "I'm proud of him. After all, the temptation to make everything go up in flames has to be huge for a kid his age." Lionel chuckled at his thoughts.
**********************************************************************************************
"Did you ask Dad?"
"He said it would be a good idea."
"Good." She hadn't known whether she dreaded seeing relief or unhappiness on his face more but this quiet near-indifference was worse than either. "When do I go?"
"They can get you in this February, at the beginning of the semester. Your tests were just fine."
"Okay."
"I'll miss you, Lex." She sat down on the bed next to her son and kissed his smooth head. For a few moments, the tension that never left him, even in sleep, eased and he clung to her, but at a sound outside, he returned to that strange immobility of face and posture.
**************************************************************************************************
Email exchanges
"Dear Mom,
School is going well. I'm shifting some of my classes, moving up in Math and Chemistry and down in History. I was doing okay, but I just missed some of the background for the track. I don't mind, Ancient History is interesting and the teacher is really good. Even if he looks like he was an eyewitness.
This place is a retirement home for animals! All the horses are retired racers and the dogs are retired greyhounds and police dogs. I'm allergic to the horses, though, which sucks.
I'm learning how to fence in gym class.
We're supposed to do a service project each semester but I don't know what I want to do. Maybe the river cleanup this time and the otter rehabilitation next time. They don't let you repeat. Otter rehabilitation sounds like we have to tell them to straighten up or they'll end up in jail but it's really taking care of ones that got hurt by boats or something.
I have to go now--dinner. Can't wait, yum yum. (Just kidding.)
Love,
Lex
"Dear Principal Buchanan,
I'm slightly concerned about my son, Lex. He writes regularly and seems to be enjoying school, but he doesn't mention any friends. I hope this is just the normal teenager wish to keep a wall between friends and family (after all, we parents are generally embarassing to the human species and our kids in particular!) but I want to make sure. Can you tell me how he's fitting in?
Thank you for your time,
Alexia Luthor
"Dear Mrs. Luthor,
Thank you for writing.
We've noticed some social tension in Lex's interactions with other students, as you'll find in the notes from his teachers. Ordinarily we don't send these out until the end of the first six weeks, so we ask you to remember that they reflect the awkwardness of settling in.
'Lex is unusually bright but standoffish. He much prefers the role of an onlooker to that of a participant in all activities except for solo projects. Some insecurity from his physical appearance?'
'Fourteen going on a cynical fifty!'
'Formed close bonds with seven out of the nine campus dogs, closing the gap with the other two and the campus cats. Skills don't translate to human species, snubs peer attempts at friendliness.'
'His peers accord him a cautious respect.'
Much of this, as I stated above, is likely the effect of settling in. Sometimes the brightest students--and your Lex is undoubtedly one of those--have the most difficult time in this. If he doesn't form bonds by March, we can provide counseling.
Thank you and please don't hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or concerns.
Helena Buchanan
Principal, Grange School
Dear Mrs. Luthor,
As you requested in our conversation, we've started counseling for Lex. However, he makes it clear that he fiercely resents it. He has an unusually strong need for privacy and considers the counselor's efforts to be an encroachment.
I'd like to discuss this situation with you and with his father, particularly as I consider that persevering with counseling is far more likely to hurt rather than help matters.
Please let me know when is a convenient time for you.
Thank you,
Helena Buchanan
Dear Mom,
Well, sure, I can tell you about the other kids here, but you used to tell me that if I can't say anything nice, I shouldn't say anything at all. Your choice!
Ooops, I guess I just said something. Oh, I could just cut my fingers off!
I've not figured it out exactly but the proportions are something like: Just plain stupid, around 58.6 percent. Snob, 21.07 percent. Trying too hard to get connected to a Luthor, 93.18 percent. Everybody falls into at least one of those.
But classes are pretty good. And freshman year we get to do independent studies.
Retired greyhounds are the coolest dogs. We're not supposed to let any of them in our rooms but the dorm proctor and I reached an arrangement.
I really like history class. The teacher, Mr. Del Amato, talks all about patterns in history and how things repeat when the circumstances are right. He and I got into a great fight, well, not fight, but great debate about whether there's such a thing as inevitability. I don't think there is; everybody has a choice at some point, don't they? And then there's chance and random things. He gave me a great story by Ray Bradbury, about a butterfly and dinosaur hunts. You like Bradbury, don't you? I bet you know the one I'm talking about, I forgot the title and I'm too lazy to go get the book!
Love,
Lex
***************************************************************************************
*And not a word about the counseling. It's not that he's really lying to me. But...* Alexia turned the computer off and went into the library. Clark was sprawled across the sofa, stomach down, feet hanging over the edge.
"Giant." She bent over and tousled his dark hair. "You're taller than your dad now. His legs don't reach that far."
He looked up and grinned. "Can't wait for the next family picture."
"Do you have to remind me? Those poor photographers!" When it came to anything related to the family image, Lionel could make Leona Helmsley and Martha Stewart look insouciant.
"Well, it's important. Dad explained how it overflows into the business image and the political image, too. Those lobbyists aren't trying to convince a politician to do something that would get in LuthorCorp's way, but to interfere with a family man," Clark elucidated with all the earnestness of a ten-year-old helping to clarify the world to a beloved but naturally slow-witted and behind-the-times parent.