Chapter 2

Jacob Summers arrived at the airport and waited to be picked up. He didn't bother looking for his aunt and uncle, he simply found some seats, sat down and waited. His parents had pinned a tag to his shirt with his name, and told him that he should just wait for his aunt and uncle when he arrived.

Why did I... have to leave home? I hate... busy places... I can't think... too many people, Jacob thought.

It was actually one of a myriad of thoughts going though his brain, and it was the one lucid one. For his entire life he had always numerous thoughts racing through his mind that made it almost impossible fo him to focus on any single task. It was an incessant buzz that only grew worse when he was near people. Worse yet, it seemed to him, at least when he was alone and could at least somewhat think clearly, it was getting worse.

"Jake? Is that you? Look how big you're getting!" exclaimed his aunt Nancy, as she embraced him in big bear-hug that left him gasping for breath afterwards.

Jake had grown considerably since the Hoyles had last seen. At the age of 14, he was already 6 feet tall, having grown six inches in the last few months, although still quite slim at 150 pounds. His shiny brown hair now reached down to his shoulders, not as any specific style, but simply because he didn't pay attention to it, and his parents had been too busy to notice that it needed a trimming.

"Huh? Yes. What?" Jacob said with a dazed expression on his face.

"Uh, well, we better get going before traffic gets too bad," said Nancy in a futile attempt to break the awkward moment.

Just great, he really must be retarded. I was hoping he wasn't as bad I remembered, but it looks as if my memory proves correct once again, Sarah thought.

The group proceeded to make their way to the parking lot, with Sarah growing visibly agitated.

You're like a little kid, I even have to hold your hand and lead you around around. Maybe I can shove you in a closet or something. It's not like you'd know the difference, you would probably just stand in there all day with that stupid expression on your face, thought Sarah as she glowered at Jake.

The thought of shoving Jake in a closet managed to lighten Sarah's moood somewhat as the group headed towards home.

I'm quite the genius. Ok, maybe the closet idea was stupid, but it was the seed for this idea, and there's no reason this shouldn't work, thought Sarah.

"Ok, Jake, I'm gonna leave you here. I'll come get you for dinner. Go find Blacky, the cat. You know meow, meow?"