Sessley 21

People are animals of habit. They are like ants celebrating mediocrity. Every now and then someone comes along who is able to see in from the outside. A minority by our self we disguise ourselves as normal people. At first people feared us. We corrupted their system of uniformity. Now they treat us like carnival freak, entertaining them by exhausting our gifts. It you refuse to show off for them they grind you down. They smother you until you have joined the long line of ants going down into the big dark hole. But why have the genius of the world choose to hide their abilities. And where are they. Well…….

You come into my story as I board a plane heading anywhere but where I am. The sky is clear and blue. The seats are maroon and burgundy. I sit in my seat and listen to the instructions coming from the black speakers. Finally, we take off and I feel as if the world is being lifted off my back. I look out my window and breathe in sharply. Those colors. The soft pink swirling in with the peach and the blue reminded me of an old possession I had. I reach back and touch the tie in my hair. They were the colors of my first blanket.

I look up at the magenta ceiling of my bedroom. My mother comes in and picks me up and I giggle. She is surprised. It is un-normal for a baby to be giggling at this age. My parents recognized my genius immediately. First they tested it out in their home. When I was reading at age three they presented me to the world. I admit it was fun. People paid my parents to let them test me and study at their colleges. All before the age of eight. I was a child prodigy. I enjoyed the fame.

I was ten when I learned that a gift can be a curse as well. Up until this point I had been the smartest person I knew. It was in a small project run by some scientist and professors that I met some one who could match my skill. This in my mind was amazing. However smart I was I was still a child and could be fooled easily. I was living in a world that the adults around me created. They were my only source of information and knowing this they manipulated me. This kid taught me to use my genius for my self. He opened up a whole new world for me.

I remember coming into the room and seeing him already sitting down reading a huge book. He looked up and I caught his eyes. His grey eyes were full of wisdom I could feel it pulsing through my heart. Years passed in that moment. His gaze was interrupted as someone pushed some papers in his face and another stack of books were slammed down to replace the one he had just finished. I could see his reluctance as he read a sheet of paper while professors and scientist practically screamed at him like the paparazzi. He looked up again at me and I felt dozens of hands pushing me into the next room.

I was hooked up to all kinds of machines as book after book was shoved in my face. They demanded I solve thousands of math and science problems. Finally I complained of being hungry. Not hearing my plea dozens of hands ushered me into another room.

He was coming in another door from across the room. Again our eyes met. They sat him across the room facing me. I couldn't help looking up at him as the professor droned on and on. We caught eyes a couple times. Then I found my self staring at him. He looked up and we both smiled. A loud yell of reprimanding startled us both back to our work.

We were left by ourselves to eat. He ate alone, ignoring me.

"Hi……….What's your name……..Hey"

"I don't have a name……..My parent never named me" I was confused.

"Why not. Why didn't you give your self a name?" It was perplexing why this kid gave me no attention. Why was he ignoring me? I was being friendly enough. Suddenly he grabbed me pulling me down to face him.

"Beware of the government."

"The government?"

"Men in black suits I see it all the time they will take you from your parents"

"a whaaaah" he pulled us down to the ground.

"They will eventually take you. When ever you get a chance research the name Joey Bismillah. Then you will understand." He snapped his head at the sound of approaching feet.

"Trust me okay"

Grabbing me by the shoulders he pulled me into a kiss just as the door opened. Scientist and professors stared awed. I pulled away embarrassed.

The rest of the month was the same test and shoving. My every move and comment was written down. I studied this nameless boy's face and pondered his warning. He always looked serious he did his work with dryness not the excitement I had at solving a new problem. Late in the night hours after they sent me to sleep I could hear them still running test on him. The month ended and he was dragged into a black car and disappeared out of my life.