The Ables by Jeremy Scott Read Free Book Online

any of what I said?”
    I felt as though I was shrinking a bit. “No, ma’am. I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry, Mr. Sallinger.” She sounded sincere, like she meant it. “It’s the first day of school, so I understand if some of you are a little … distracted.” She sounded old, maybe a little cranky, and had a hint of a German accent. “But we weren’t just taking roll. There are only seven of you in here. We can generally take roll just by looking. Plus, the entire class was present when you came in tardy a few moments ago. Calling out everyone’s name to have them audibly respond would be a horrible waste of our precious time together. No … we want to know more about
you
.”
    “You mean, like, go around the room and tell your name and your favorite color?” I’d done that kind of get-to-know-you routine in other schools once or twice.
    “Yes.” I could tell she was smiling, which gave me some momentary relief. “I started us out by introducing myself. My name is Winifred Crouch, and I am your teacher. I have been graced with the ability to shape-shift, which means that I can disguise myself by altering my physical appearance. Then … I suggested we go around the room, starting with you. That’s all you missed, really.” Her comments had the sound of someone only slightly exasperated to have to repeat themselves.
    “We want to know not only about your interests and hobbies but also your powers … and your disability. You see, Mr. Sallinger, everyone in this room has a unique combination of ability and disability.” I wouldn’t say that she was speaking slowly, but she was definitely not in a hurry. “Some might say that this creates special challenges for you … hurdles for you to overcome. And that’s probably true. Others—myself included—would suggest that maybe it also offers you special opportunities that most students within these walls will never have.”
    She continued, “But we’ll never know exactly what the possibilities are until we get to know one another and get comfortable with one another. So, Phillip, why don’t you kick things off, as I had originally intended.”
    “Okay. Well, I’m not sure what to say. I mean, I’m blind, obviously. So I can’t see anything. And my power is telekinesis.” I said all this quite matter-of-factly and without any enthusiasm, which I guess is how I say most things.
    But there was an audible gasp among some of my fellow students. I could feel everyone’s attention was focused on me, as though I’d just said something outrageous.
    “Cool,” I heard someone breathe.
    My new teacher explained, “These kids aren’t used to having a telekinetic in the class, Mr. Sallinger. That’s one of the rarer powers. There are only a few in the entire school, I believe.”
    “Really?” I didn’t know that. I mean, Dad had mentioned it was fairly rare, but I hadn’t really thought about my power being something that other kids would think was cool. “I can barely use it,” I said apologetically. “Since I can’t see anything, it’s really hard to make use of it properly.” Almost as a throwaway comment, I added, “I guess that’s why I’m in here.”
    After a long pause, the teacher decided to move on, much to my relief. “Okay, class, why don’t we continue on? Thank you, Mr. Sallinger. Henry Gardner, let’s hear from you at this time.”
    I was curious to hear Henry’s story.
    “I’m in a wheelchair because I was born crippled,” he announced in that same straightforward manner he’d displayed in the hallway. His voice came from my left, one desk closer to the front of the room. “But I’m getting pretty good at getting around in this thing.” He pounded on the wheelchair with his fists as he said it. You could hear the beaming pride in his voice. “And I’m a mental, and my power is that I can read minds.”
    I was instantly surprised at the lack of oohs and aahs at this reveal. You’d have thought they met a