“Yeah,” I said simply. “We’re all at a loss to explain what this actually is, right? A super-rare form of autism is as plausible an explanatio... as any. It’s never been studied before so there’s no way to chart its course ahead of time, no way to predict the outcome and no way to prevent it taking a wrong turn if it decides my time is up. Whatever it is could cause strokes, seizures and any one of a million other neurological defects. We won’t know until it’s too late, so there’s no point in. I had no idea what had happened at home since I hadleft for school, but the atmosphere between Dad andMonica when I came back for the summer was, for thefirst time in my awareness, uncomfortable. After thefirst few days, Dad seemed to always have to work late,and Monica and I just sort of had to look after eachother in his extended absences. I didn’t mind. I continued to worship the heavenly bodymy father had somehow hooked into marriage during myjunior year in high school.* I remember. "I think I can do it and still make my appointment on time. Just as long as we don't get started talking," Emma thought as she put the car in gear.Emma had met Terri and her husband, Paul, at a neighborhood cookout some three years ago. And while their husbands were casual neighborhood acquaintances, Emma had quickly became friends with the outgoing and vivacious brunette. She appreciated Terri's humor, and the way she always seemed to laugh at herself. Emma thought Terri had been hilariously. ” “Okay, and what does that mean?” “You will see when you meet her, and please, I beg you, do not judge her.” This made me wonder what was going on. Did she have a disability or something? I had met kids with severe illness and victims of war atrocities, so I wasn’t easily shocked. My Dad offered me more coffee, which I accepted and then he left to go upstairs. I took the mug with me and walked out onto the terrace where I lit a cigarette and sat down under one of the palm trees. I sat on the.