Part 16.1 Canaries, UFOs and Tumors.

My tenth birthday was very special. I had spent a year and a half in the hospital and it had been six months since my gamma knife surgery. I had been given remission status and my hair had finally grown back. Pemiscot Hall was a decorated wonderland of streamers and balloons. A string quartet played children's songs and all of my friends were there. I don't recall in all of my days a moment when my family was happier. There were more presents there than anyone deserved and for the first time in two years I allowed myself to act like a child again. It was so beautiful. Nonna insisted I play a song for the group and I gladly performed Haydn's Cello Concerto #1 in C major. While the children didn't seem to impressed and were much more interested in playing with their party favors I noticed the enchantment in the adults faces, especially Nonna's. As the party began to wind down my mother announced that their was one more present to open. Everyone gathered aroung a strange dome shaped object covered with a purple satin cloth. My eyes grew wide as she removed the cloth and I set my eyes on a lovely little bird. Tweet, an American Singing Canary. Almost magically it began to sing. I spent the next week just staring and talking to her. I fed and watered her and cleaned her cage, just like I'd promised mother.

Three weeks later after a family brunch my parents ran to my room after hearing my screams. Tweet lay motionless in her cage, the door still closed. I was in the corner holding my head crying. "I didn't mean to do it! Mommy I swear! I didn't touch her but I hurt her. Daddy make her better. I didn't meant to do it!"

"What Mandy what are you talking about?"

"I did something to her."

My mother approached me arms out. And something from inside me, purely primal in fear of punishment, spread out of my body and encased me in a green force field that repelled my mother across the room. My father went across the room and picked her up.

"What just happened Jack?" she asked.

"I don't know." he said and I could see the gears turning in his mind "Mandy what did you just do?"

"Daddy, I'm scared. I didn't mean to hurt Mommy......Tweet. Mommy I'm sorry" I sobbed.

"Honey I need you to calm down, ok?" his voice spoke so calmly. He approached me and the force field disappeared. He grabbed me and picked me up. I hugged and wet his neck with tears. "Squirrel, did you know you could do this?"

"No." I told him. I was lying. For days after my gamma surgery I had the feeling I could "do" things. Manipulate space.....move things. I felt it innately. In my brain, where to tumor once was. I started off moving crayons, placing my bubbles around things and bouncing them like rubber balls. It was my secret. I tried sharing it with Tweet but something went wrong. I was a killer now and I was scared. I cried hysterically and Daddy handed me into my mothers arms.

"Mommy's going to take care of you, I'm going to see if I can help Tweet." he grabbed the cage.

"Jack Tweet's ....."

"I know Maggie, I'm taking this to Jonathan. Maybe he can tell what just happened. He's the only one we can trust. He knows about these things." As he left the room he turned to me and looked at me with such a serious face I can still see it today. "Squirrel, you cannot tell anyone about what just happened. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"You can never tell anyone. Nonna. Especially your Nonna. Do you understand. Promise me." his voice got loud for a rare occasion. "Promise me Squirrel!"

"Promise Daddy." I buried my face in my mother's neck in shame.

He was going to see Dr. Jonathan St. John-Smythe, his best friend and the science representative to the cities hero community.

I sat in the examination room waiting not really sure what made me think of that event in my past. My eyes began to well with tears when a friendly voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Amanda?"

I looked up and saw a friendly smiling face. I smiled and wiped away a small tear. "Yes, Amanda Cambridge." I held my hand out to shake hers.

She moved energetically toward me and instead of taking my hand, she hugged me.

"It's so nice to meet you! I feel like I know you already!" She stepped back and flashed a big grin then jumped in to hug me again. I looked into her eyes and saw something familiar. She was an empath. You can tell by the eyes; they seem to look into you softly and in a reassuring way. She had those eyes. Medistar has those eyes. She asked me to sit down and then we just talked.

(To be continued)