Read Online The Ability (Ability, The) by M.M. Vaughan - Free Book Online Page B

around his mouth, but he didn’t bother to wipe it.
    “He’s so poor, beggars give him money,” said one of the boys. The gang all laughed except for Arch, who took a moment to work it out and then let out a loud guffaw, spitting out what remained of the food in his mouth back onto his plate. He picked up the chewed-up bit of pizza and stuffed it back into his mouth.
    “Why ain’t you laughin’, Twist? Don’t you think that’s funny?” asked Kevin, the table falling into silence.
    Chris took another mouthful and chewed silently.
    “Too busy eating, I guess,” shrugged Kevin, and for a moment Chris thought Kevin might leave it at that, but it seemed he was only just starting.
    “Only meal he’ll get all day,” continued Kevin, to quiet giggles from the others.
    “Yeah, his mum is probably too busy begging tonight to get him dinner.”
    Chris stiffened only slightly, but it was enough for Kevin to notice.
    “Oh, don’t like us talking about your mum? Why, does your mum live in a cardboard box or something?” he said, a wide smirk across his face.
    Chris put his fork down and turned to face Kevin.
    “Say another word about my mum and—”
    “And what?” asked Kevin.
    “And you’ll be sorry.”
    “Oooooh,” said all the other boys in unison.
    “ ‘Sorry’?” said Kevin, standing up. Chris stood up too and faced him square on.
    “ You are going to make me sorry? If I remember right, you were the one on the toilets’ floor last week. You were the one who went down after only a few punches. Sorry? Don’t make me laugh,” said Kevin, leaning forward so that his face was less than an inch from Chris’s.
    Chris stood motionless, his eyes fixed on Kevin’s.
    “I just got one more thing to say,” whispered Kevin. “Your mum is a thief and a beggar, and your dad wanted to die ’cause he hated you so much.”
    “Aaaargh!” exploded Chris. He pulled back his right arm with a clenched fist and drew forward to punch Kevin, but before he had a chance to make contact, Kevin suddenly staggered backward.
    Chris watched Kevin’s eyes widen in shock as his body was lifted up into the air. He didn’t so much as fall back but fly back, as if he were a ball of paper that Chris had thrown across the room. The boys around him, and the rest of the students and staff, watched as Kevin flew up in an arc toward the line of students waiting for their lunch. He crashed faceup onto the food counter, sending trays, food,glass, and students flying about him. There was a silence as everybody tried to process what had just happened.
    “Help me . . . ,” came a voice from the counter. Everybody looked over at Kevin, firmly lodged in a deep tray of custard, a soggy piece of lettuce on his head, and started laughing. Chris looked around him and saw the rest of Kevin’s group staring at him, their mouths hanging open in shock and their eyes full of fear. Chris turned to them to explain that he hadn’t even touched Kevin, but before he had a chance to say anything, they all turned and ran from him, leaving Chris staring down at his hands and wondering what on earth had just happened.
    •  •  •
    Chris sat quietly in the seat next to Mrs. Tanner and watched Mr. Tuckdown pace the room back and forth. He had been in his office for an hour now and had listened to Mr. Tuckdown’s outrage turn to delight as he realized that this might mean a lengthy suspension.
    “One month at least, don’t you think, Mrs. Tanner?”
    “One month at the very least, Mr. Tuckdown,” said Mrs. Tanner. “Maybe two months? After all, let’s not forget the trauma and suffering he caused to poor Kevin.”
    “Yes, indeed, maybe two months. After all, this might cost us the rugby trophy, if Kevin’s too upset to play in next week’s tournament.”
    Chris rolled his eyes but said nothing.
    In the last hour, between Mrs. Tanner and Mr. Tuckdown they had managed to justify increasing his suspension from one week upward, and Chris was