I'm there? But, I was lying on the mat, twisted...? Wasn't I?
I got off the mat, brushed myself off, and wondered how I was over there. I... I think it was because I imagined it!
Think of the vault again, Sara. They obviously don't see you, anyway,' I thought.
I imagined, once again, myself performing the vault correctly, as I walked myself to the mat and stood up in correct formation. I looked over my shoulder to see the illusion of myself running fast and hard to the mat. But this time, the vault was performed correctly, and as the illusion hit its feet to the ground. I think I felt the imagined me go back inside, as the entire PE class went up to congratulate me on a better than perfect performance. I noticed that as I stepped of the mat they looked at me again. So that illusion wasn't permanent.
But a job well done? What did I even do?
For the rest of PE I thought of performing a back handspring on the beam (my next test) but decided to not overdo it. Keep it simple. You have no idea what whacko is watching you and is able to see both the illusion and the real deal.
Kudo, however, stopped me after class with the most evil look in her eyes. I'd say ti was scarier than coming face to face with some of the mutants they've been featuring on the news alerts. At least I knew those guys weren't going to randomly attack citizens of the miniscule Bay Head, New Jersey.
That, Sara, was the most amazing progress that I've ever seen. And you, being an ocul- err, ummm (she thinks it's embarrassing to talk about my condition)
You can say it- it's okay, I said simply. I was definitely used ot it.
Well, your progress was incredible. And... tryouts for the gymnastics team are in two weeks. Can you show me something else on the beam? Can you do a cartwheel on it, at least? We're short on beam specialists.
Er, okay.
I decided that if I was going to create more illusions, I ought to give it a name. I thought of her again. Ille, help me out here,' I mumbled, just under a whisper.
And sure enough, performed a cartwheel on the beam, as well as two back walkovers and a triple back handspring. And even stuck a perfect dismount!
Of course, in this case, meant Ille, the illusion, not as in me.
Ille. Gymnastics Team. Me.
What the heck is going on?
It had been almost a week and I had only needed to use Ille one more time; when I had to be at my cooking classes and my best friend's soccer tournament at the same time. I was beginning to figure out how to use Ille, and how also to make myself not invisible when I made her appear. On Tuesday, I was home alone and bored, so I thought of Ille and just spoke to her. Since she was almost like a puppet (being just an image) she didn't respond. But then again, I didn't want her to. I just needed someone to listen.
And yet, I was still confused. While I could manipulate her movements and speech with my thoughts, a second question occurred in my mind. Why me? And was this a mutant ability?
Today I walked home with Jen and Dave, as usual, who were still bubbling over the rumor about me doing a triple back handspring on the balance beam. I wondered- how many people did Kudo tell? I must have had thirty autograph books in my face that next day...
Thirty two, Dave corrected.
I asked, then realized I ahd said that last thought out loud. Oh yeah, I added, quietly.
We turned the corner and my two friends went to the right, their houses that way. I, however, had another four and a half blocks of walking to the left.
Hello, miss. Miss... Chankey, I believe? a tall, thin man with white hair asked me. I didn't think I saw him before, but with the light in my eyes it was hard to tell. I fished my perscription sunglasses out of my backpack and quickly switched them out to get a better view of my converser. White hair, blazing eyes- he looked like the guy from Devil May Cry.
I nearly asked him.
Where's Ille?
ille? Are you looking for Illinois Street? It's that way, I asked, sweat beginning to show up on my face.
No, miss. Ille. El-lay. You know who she is. You know her very well. And I'm here to offer you...a...
proposition...
