groovygamers.com

Colin had been looking for a chance to talk to his mother.  Although she seemed fine when she came home from work, he could tell she was a little shook up.  She made a point of not mentioning what had happened at school, but he could just tell that's what was bothering her.

"Mom? "

Colin hands her a cup of tea he made for her.

"Have you got some time to talk? There are... many things I'd like to tell you."

Colin's mom sits down and smiles.  "Sure honey.  I can always make some time for you.  What's up?"

"Well... I don't even know where to start. My talents... developed. I've not been wearing contacts lately. I can see... Bobby called it the ghost light. I can see people's auras, and if they've got something wrong. I can see magic effects too. It's something I could only see rarely before, in reflections mostly, but since it... woke up, I have been in no need of my glasses."

Colin thinks it better to let her digest this before going on *how* his ghost sight woke up.

She leans forward and give him a hug, "That sounds great.  I'm glad this is working out for you.  The way Bobby made it sound I fear the worst."

Colin welcomes the hug. It only makes him feel like he owes her all the truth though.

"Unfortunately, there's more about it. Bad news and good news."

He takes a deep breath.

"Somehow, I attracted the attention of some girls at my school, who dabble in magic. We could call them witches. I accidentally interfered in one of their plans. I know what I'm going to say sounds absurd, but I'm telling the truth, and I need you to believe me.
They had summoned a spirit inside a friend of mine, and this spirit fed upon his life energy. I accidentally set it free. And I banished it back to wherever it came from.
This way they noticed me though, and they realized I have talents that could be useful to them. They... set a trap for me, made me pass out, and used me as a kind of oracle. That's when my sight woke up definitely. What they did... well it was awful. Those girls are *not* nice.
The good news in all of this are my friends. I've got some amazing, true friends, who helped me with that spirit, and with the witches too. They now know we know about them, and I don't think they'll try anything else. But even if they did, I could count on my friends to help me. They're not the only ones, but I'll get to it later."

"I'm sorry I haven't told you before, but I was quite uncomfortable about what they did to me and how they got to me in the first place. I didn't want you to worry either."

"Has Chris explained what kind of help I've been giving him?"

Colin can see his mother's face grow worried as he explained what had happened to him.  "I knew this was going to be dangerous.  I know it's something you want to do Colin, and I wont ask you to stop.  You're just like your father that way.  Just know that I worry about you.  It's a parents job to look after their children and make sure they're ready for the world and can take care of themselves.  These gifts are making it so you have to grow up so fast, just don't forget to enjoy it.  Okay?"

When Colin asks about what Chris has told her she shakes her head.  "No.  He and I made a deal that I'd trust his judgement that he wouldn't get you in over your head and he also assured me that you being you would tell me eventually anyway so I wouldn't worry."

"I didn't want to set myself as a target. It just happened, I don't think I could avoid it. Well maybe I could, but I didn't control it at the time, so it could have happened anyway. Those girls could have simply asked for my help, but they just decided to take it from me instead. They couldn't care less about me or the other people they used. I didn't want them as enemies, I even tried to talk to them. They chose instead to attack me and my friends. They tried to get me expelled from school. They sent people pumped up with that new drug, superman, after two friends of mine, who fortunately had ways to defend themselves. I'm sorry, what I mean is that I don't go looking for danger. Most often it looks like it's danger that comes looking for me. Bobby said that I am a weirdness magnet. Fortunately I also have people watching over me."


"That is fine, but I don't want it to be a secret. What I can do, what I am, I can put it to good use, and I'd like you to be... proud of me."

He goes get the newspaper where it talks about Katie.

"I have helped them find this girl. She was abducted and there were people very interested in her, for no good reasons. Well, my friends and I found her, and now she's safe. Sometimes, touching something, I can see a scene of its past, and this can be very useful to the police, and give them clues that could save them lots of work, or just give them a solid lead."

He gets some orange juice out of the fridge, and takes a sip of it.

"Today... well, it was just another of my weird days. I was in class when Randy anderson argued with Mr. Jordan, went out, and came back with a ray gun. I tried to talk to him, but he just shot Mr. Jordan. I have told you I have someone looking over me. Usually I hang out with my friends, and several of them have powers too. but in that class I was alone. So I asked for help. I don't know what Bobby has told you about me. The way I understand it, helping people I do something for the spirits, and sometimes I can ask the spirits for help. They usually send me just the help I need. Well, they pulled the fire alarm, and sprinklers went off in my room, jamming Randy's gun, so he couldn't shoot everyone else. The lights exploded and the room filled with smoke, so he couldn't see us either. Then someone came to help us out."

He takes another long sip. This part is quite difficult.

"It was daddy, mom. I saw him. He was just like I remember him. He came to help me."

Colin's voice breaks.

"He smiled at me, then he was gone. It really was him."

He takes some deep breaths to keep his emotions from exploding.

"That's why I told you you shouldn't worry too much about me."

Colin's mother's emotions get the better of her for a moment, and she goes to him and hugs him again.  "It doesn't matter who's watching over you colin.  I'm always going to worry.  It's a mother's lot in life."

"I know. I wouldn't want it otherwise. That's why I told you not to worry too much."
He smiles playfully at her and hugs her again.
"I wanted you to know about dad, but I also want you to be happy with Chris. Have you two... made any plans?"

"There is one last thing I should tell you. I'm... seeing a girl."

"When you say seeing a girl, does that mean something more then hanging out and kissing?

Colin's face wrinkles up so much it becomes even redder than it usually is.

"Mom!"

He stands openmouthed for a few moments trying to find an answer.

"Yes! I mean no! Oh, I asked a question first!"

"Chris and I have made no plans.  Neither one of us is ready to commit to anything more then we have.  We're happy right now, and that's what's important.  So, this girl.  I assume it's Sarah?"

Reassurance of the fact mom's happy with Chris makes Colin smile for a moment, but immediately after she mentions Sarah.

"How do you...? Well, yes, it's Sarah."

Colin takes a seat. He needs it.

"It's not what you think. We just hang out, and yes, we also kissed, but nothing... further than that."

"It's... I think I'm in love with her, and that means more to me than just hanging out and kissing, as you say."

"Well, I kind of figured.  With everything that's been happening, just make sure to be careful and try not to get in over your head.  Okay?"

"Uh... I don't know. I'm not sure what you mean with that." Colin says looking at her imploringly.

She smiles.  "Just be careful and try not to grow up too fast."

"I'll try. Do grown-ups feel awkward and yanked in every direction most of the time too, or it's a teenager thing?"

"That's usually a teenage thing.  It gets better as you get older.  Sometimes."  She smiles.  "I have the feeling you'll be fine."