Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

Author:Rachel McClellan [McClellan, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: 2012-02-08T06:00:00+00:00

I WAS STUDYING MATH IN THE KITCHEN WHILE JAKE WATCHED TV in the living room, when the phone rang. Jake reached to the end table and answered it. By the tone of his voice, it sounded like he was talking to someone from work. His answers were short and formal.

I returned to solving a complex calculus problem, but then I heard Jake say, “Sure, she’s right here. One sec.”

I looked up, confused.

Jake covered the telephone’s receiver and whispered, “It’s your aunt. She wants to talk to you.”

I suddenly remembered the note I’d written to remind myself to call her. So much for that. Jake handed me the phone.

“Hi, Aunt Sophie. How are you?”

There was a slight pause. “I’m good, Llona. How—”

“It’s Lona.”

“Huh?” she asked.

“I go by Lona.” I could tell by the silent seconds ticking by that she didn’t aprove of the mispronounciation, but I didn’t care.

Finally, Sophie said, “Okay, Lona. How are you?”

I mostly told the truth. “Great. This has been one of my best years. I really like it here.”

“That’s nice.”

“How’s Lucent Academy?” I asked.

“We’ve added more classes that I think you’d really like. Maybe you could join us when you graduate?”

I groaned internally. Not this conversation again. Sophie had been trying to get me to go to her clannish school since I was a freshman. The idea of being in a school with others like me sounded about as fun as walking on hot coals. “Probably not. I want to go to college out here somewhere.”

“Oh really? And what do you want to major in?”

“I haven’t gotten that far, but I was thinking maybe education; a P.E. teacher or something.”

Another pause. “I’m not sure that would be appropriate, Llona.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because you would be teaching kids to be competitive.”

“So?”

“You’re teaching kids to be better than others. We are all equal, Llona. Light does not divide.”

“You think we’re all equal? When is the last time you lived in the real world, Sophie? The only way we are all equal is we are all human. Other than that we are very different. Some of us are lazy, others hard working. Some of us are good at sports, while others of us are really smart. Some are loud, some quiet, some fast, some slow. We are very different, and I want to help kids discover their unique abilities.” I took a breath.

“That’s very noble of you, but that’s not your job.”

“Then what is my job?”

I heard a deep sigh on the other end of the phone. “I didn’t call to argue, Llona.”

“Then why did you call?”

“I want to come see you for Thanksgiving. Jake said I had to ask you.”

It was my turn to pause. This is not what I had expected. Sophie had only come to visit me once since my mother’s death and that had been when my father died.

“Why?”

“I think we have a lot to talk about. I’m sure you’ve experienced some strange things since you’ve moved into your teenage years. I want to help you better understand what’s going on.

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