Chapter 17- Lessons
Amanda sat down on the floor for the first class she had with her dad. He had said it was all about controlling her powers, but Amanda wasn't sure how to control her powers as he mutation was different than Uncle Hank's or Aunt Raven's or even her father's. "You okay?" David asked from his place beside her. So far, Amanda hadn't interacted with her brother much and David acted standoffish around her. Her mother had said he was not sure how to help her like everyone here wanted to.
"I guess. What is this class like, David?" Amanda asked softly.
"Dad just talks about our powers. He compares it to a ballpoint pen. He says that we can use it to draw a picture or we can poke someone's eyes out. It's up to us how we use our powers," David said.
"Oh. Sounds like something I heard one Shabbat at the synagogue. A woman used a microwave to thaw out her cat. The cat was dry, but the cat died because she used the microwave wrong. The microwave wasn't bad. It was just the woman who used it," Amanda said. (A/N: I actually read this in my Teen Study Bible and I thought it would fit for this.)
"That is a good way to put it too, Amanda. And that is my lesson for today. All of you have powers. It is up to all of you how you use it, for good or evil. Amanda, you are new to the class. Tell us in your own words what your story meant," Charles said as he came up to where they all sat and fixed his eyes on hers.
"It means that in and of itself the microwave wasn't bad. It was the woman who used it as she used it wrongly to dry out her cat. It's sort of like my father promised to teach me how to drive when I reach fifteen, but right now I am not old enough and I could have an accident. The car is a tool that I am not ready for until next year," Amanda said.
Charles smiled, a look of love for her in his blue eyes. "Exactly. While all of you are here as my students, it is my job to teach you how to use your powers right. Those of you whose mutations are inward have the strongest temptation to show off your powers. It is with those you have to practice restraint," Charles said.
"In what way. Professor?" A boy with shaggy, dark hair asked.
"I can read your mind, but it is an invasion of your privacy if I started to look into it without asking your permission," Charles explained.
"And it also hurts when you go into our minds," a boy with red hair and freckles said.
"Only because we are not used to having him in our heads," David said, rolling his eyes.
The next hour passed with more of the same kind of lesson and all too soon it was over. Amanda was making her way to get up when her father called her. "Amanda?" Charles asked.
"Yes, Professor?" Amanda asked, remembering in front of the students and during school hours he wasn't her father.
"I wish to talk with you before your next class," Charles said as everyone streamed out and she went and sat on the leather sofa.
"Okay. What is it?" Amanda asked, folding her hands at her knees.
"I was talking to your uncle Hank. He said that he gave you a math problem which you solved and didn't write it out to show how you came up with your answer," Charles said, wheeling his chair to her and resting his hand on her hands.
"There's a simple explanation for that, Dad. I have eidetic memory, as you know, and I can solve math problems in my head without having to write it. I just look at it," Amanda said.
"All right then. I'll accept your answer, but I need you to show me. Go to the blackboard over there and I'll give you a math problem to solve," Charles said, squeezing her fingers.
"Okay," Amanda stood up and went to the blackboard and picking up the chalk, waited for her father's math problem.
"All right. 300+400+900," Charles said.
"That's rather easy. 1,600," Amanda said, without batting an eye. (A/N: I am no math student. I had to use my cell phone calculator to figure this out just now.)
Charles picked up a pen and piece of paper and wrote out the problem and answer. He looked up at his daughter. "You are correct, love. Has the eidetic memory always been like this?" Charles asked.
"More or less. It's one part of my mutation no one really pays attention to. Math teachers though do get upset that I don't write out the problem to show how I came to my answer," Amanda said, putting the chalk down.
"All right. The only thing I can say now is to carry on like you have been. Solve the problems in your head, but if you have to use math where you need to write it out, do it. I will accept that it's your memory that allows this," Charles said, pulling her onto his lap and stroking her head, resting against his shoulder gently.
"Is that what you are gonna tell Uncle Hank?" Amanda asked, the gentle fingers making her feel sleepy.
"Yes. Now you had better get to your next class, love," Charles said, kissing her through her hair. Amanda got up, picked up her books and left, heading to her next class.