The Genius They Cast Aside

The lights were on, laughter

ew it was just his family, celebra

s felt like an intrusion, a temporary

was ten, Kevin eight. From day one, i

anted baggage fro

minder of something G

d the fr

atter

at the dining table. Steaks

smile faltering. "Oh

he kitchen counter. A single

hotdog for

her, the pre-planned me

is. Small, unsatisfying portions wh

s strength" because of hi

could thrive on a

n, always hungry. But his hun

his voice flat. He w

"Here, I saved you some green bean

green beans. She' d ser

d green beans," Ethan said,

ooked fl

k. "So, have you come

lly gentle, a tone she usually reserved for Kevin. "Eth

emained

ed to do the right thing. Kevin deserves this chance. You o

y' d done to h

st on the table, ma

that community college spot or not? Show so

ur brother, then you can forget about any college. You' ll get a job at the mill

Ethan and slapped him

rs to Ethan' s eyes,

It was part of the back

It' s my fault. I shouldn' t even try for college. I' m

, Kevin, no, sweetie, don' t s

y, son. You' re going to college. Ethan wil

e... maybe I should just leave. Then Ethan

to stand up, lookin

ed. "No, Kevin! Don'

See what you' re doing to your

ther. Their faces were contorted with

' t just people who didn' t care about him. They a

ood, but they fe

d and Sarah walked in, followe

' s deceased biological father. He was one of the f

d, smiling. "Heard some sh

ulations! Heard you got into Stanf

om wen

f plans. Ethan decided it' s best for him to stay local and support the fa

htly, a horribl

. He couldn' t rev

ght. Ethan' s finally lea

d, avoiding

rned, glancing from Ethan' s sto

n... he threatened me earlier... about Sarah... he said..." H

athetic, o

nda, and Gary

Are yo

did Et

oy is a

Kevin, who was no

oor. "We need to get him to the

"You know he' s fragile! What is wrong wit

ne Kevin out to her father's truck, with

n his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, then

ilent house, the remnants of

so profound it w

There was an old, rusty barre

pace in the converted garage. He pul

ters, photos of them smiling, s

the box to

tch and dro

licking at the smiling faces, th

ed up into t

was back. She must have dropped

ke and rushed i

cried, her face pale as s

er, his face calm

ing out som

n by his coldness, by th

r, her face etched w

his room, staring

nxiety is through the roof. He says... he says he needs Sarah. He says sh

For Kevin' s sake. He' s... he' s talking about not

said n

oorway behind Brenda. H

s in a really bad way. I... I told him I' d go on a few dates

ally love me, Ethan, you' ll understand. You' ll

ove. By dating

g inside him finall