sixwordstories | (no subject)

You'd be surprised by how many adults wish they were still kids.

That's because they forget how it sucks not to be in control of anything.

Perhaps, but between you and me, being in control of things isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Why, because you have to pay bills?

[Jean smiles.] That's one reason, at least. I understand wanting to be in control of your own life, but don't be too eager to grow up. Once childhood is over, it's over, and there's no going back.

Yeah, I know. I just wish I could do more things.

Do you mind if I ask what? You might not be able to drive or, I don't know, see an R-rated film, but maybe your parents would consider allowing you to take on a bit more responsibility?

I already know how to drive, but I'm not allowed to and Mom lets me watch what I want. But I want to help them with some things and I can't. They just keep trying to baby me, and I'm not a baby. I'm more than capable of helping.

But you are their baby and you very likely always will be, regardless of how old you are. It's natural for parents to want to keep their children safe and out of harm's way.

But I want to keep them safe. Can I be a kid and protect my parents too?

Assuming you had the adequate training and your parents approved of it? Of course. I was only sixteen when the X-Men were formed, and my friend Bobby was fifteen. Kitty was only thirteen when she joined the team. It's not ideal, but it does happen.

I don't have the training and they don't approve but they're running out of time, and they don't realize it yet.

[Well, that's concerning.] They're running out of time? What do you mean?

What I said. Something is coming for them and they're too busy thinking they know to realize they're wrong.

And I'm guessing you've mentioned this, but they're not really listening.

Yes. It's probably because I'm evil but I don't want any of them hurt! They should know that by now.

Evil? Why would you say that? You certainly don't seem evil to me.

It's a long story but bad things happen around me.

But you said that you don't want anyone to get hurt, correct? I don't believe that anyone who is capable of caring for someone that way is truly evil. Bad things happen and sometimes people do bad things they can't help, but that does not make them bad people. It certainly doesn't make them evil.

Yeah. But sometimes I want to hurt people and I don't care, and I do bad things but I can help it most of the time.

And you don't think that feeling is normal? That others do not feel the same way as you do, whether or not they have the ability to do those bad things? There have been many times in my life where I have struggled between right and wrong and I have done things in my life that there are simply no words to explain -- bad things, very bad things -- but I choose to be good.

Maybe I am overly optimistic because yours is a circumstance I do not quite understand, but you still have a chance to choose good if you want to be. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise or try to take that choice away from you.

I make a lot of choices without thinking and they end up hurting people. And sometimes the accidents I have aren't accidents and I want someone to get hurt, badly.

What if my Mom and Dad get hurt and it's my fault?

You're a little young to ask this question and perhaps it's something it would be better to ask your mother, but have you thought about going somewhere or studying with someone who can help you can learn to better control your abilities? Is that something you would want?

Mom got a guy to give me some training and that's helping some, but school still kicks me out when I have accidents. I want to get better at controlling it I guess I just have to work harder.

You're very right. It's going to be a lot of hard work, but it will start getting easier with time. I've been learning to control my abilities since I was about your age and I've still got a long way to go.