Read Online Six by M.M. Vaughan - Free Book Online

was going to be like this?” signed Emma.
    Parker shook his head. “I had no idea. He didn’t say a thing,” he signed back.
    â€œI wonder what his house . . .”
    Emma’s question was answered before she had a chance to finish asking it. Michael’s house—though it wasn’t a house like any Parker had ever seen—was a wide curved structure of glass and wood that rose from the ground like a snake emerging from its underground lair, and wound three quarters of the way around a lake. The movement of the rain running down the glass panels coupled with the reflection of the rippling waters of the lake made the entire structure appear as if it were moving, alive under the elements. Parker and Emma, transfixed in open-mouthed amazement, watched as Brendan drove slowly around the lake before coming to a stop under a glass canopy that curved out over the driveway. There, standing by a set of open glass doors, was Michael, waving enthusiastically.
    â€œHi!” said Michael, opening the passenger door before Brendan had even turned the engine off.
    â€œWow,” said Parker, climbing out of the car. “You didn’t tell me you lived in a mansion.”
    â€œOh, it’s not really a mansion. But thanks,” said Michael dismissively. He smiled at Emma as she climbed out behind Parker and pressed down on her wrist, a frown on her face.
    It’s a bit much, she said via Effie.
    Parker narrowed his eyes at his sister.
    â€œEmma says she loves it,” he said to Michael.
    Michael looked at them both in turn. “But she didn’t sign anything.”
    It was only then that Parker realized his error. He hesitated. “I can kind of tell what she’s thinking.”
    â€œHow?”
    Parker was beginning to realize that Michael was not somebody to let anything get past him. “I just can. It’s a deaf thing—we’re close.”
    â€œOh, like twins?”
    Parker nodded and Michael shrugged.
    â€œNeat. Come on, let’s go inside.”
    Parker waited for Michael to walk ahead of him. He turned to Emma and gave his brow a theatrical wipe with the back of his hand.
    Close call, he said on Effie. Turn it off?
    Emma nodded and pressed down on her wrist to hang up their call.
    *  *  *  *  *  *
    The inside of Michael’s house was as spectacular as—if not more so than—the outside. Parker was sure that Michael must have known how impressive his house was to his visitors and yet, as they made their way along the building, he played it down to such an extent that Parker started to wonder whether he was too modest to make a fuss or so accustomed to this lifestyle that he saw nothing out of the ordinary about it. He didn’t know Michael well enough yet to know which one it was.
    Parker looked up at the hexagonal panes of glass that formed the dome of the living room, hypnotized by the movement of the raindrops racing down all around them. “Why can’t I hear anything?”
    â€œI think they’re double-paned or something.”
    â€œHow do they clean them?” signed Emma. Parker translated.
    â€œWindow cleaners,” said Michael. “Obviously.”
    â€œDoesn’t it get hot?”
    â€œNot really,” said Michael. He pressed a switch on the wall, and every one of the glass panes turned from clear to opaque, enclosing the three of them in a dull gray dome.
    â€œUnbelievable,” said Parker slowly.
    â€œNot really. It’s not that big a deal—it’s actually pretty simple technology. Anyway, come on. Let’s go up to my room,” said Michael. He switched the panes back to clear and walked off before Parker or Emma had a chance to ask another question.
    *  *  *  *  *  *
    Parker shouldn’t really have been surprised by Michael’s bedroom, and yet he was. For one thing, it was by far the biggest bedroom that