Left Out Read Free Page B

me, Genevieve,” Landon said. “I’m gonna be fine here. This is a football town. When they see me play, no one’s gonna laugh. I promise.”
    â€œYou don’t—”
    Landon cut her off with his hand. “You have to ignore people like that, Genevieve.”
    Her eyes burned again and her nostrils flared. “Maybe you can ignore them, Landon. You didn’t hear what they said, but I did .”
    Landon’s mouth turned sour. He glared at his sister, removed his hat, and disconnected his electronic ears, the processors, themagnetic discs, and the wires that connected the two parts. The components dangled in his hand for a moment like small sea creatures, and he showed them to her before he stuffed them into his pockets and put the cap back on his head. Genevieve had humiliated them all. They’d just moved here and Genevieve was already getting in trouble. Whatever those boys had said, she should have ignored it, just like he did.
    Removing the external equipment for his implants was the most powerful statement Landon could make. He was cutting off his sister, cutting off the entire world. Now, none of it mattered, and as long as he refused to read their lips, no one could bother him.

5
    They walked home after lunch. Landon’s mom was at the kitchen table surrounded by boxes, writing on a notepad and looking busy. She smiled when Landon’s father set down her spinach salad. Landon didn’t have to hear to know what his sister said as she threw her hands in the air. He snuck a look.
    â€œLandon took off his ears!”
    Landon cruised peacefully past them all, headed for the living room and his favorite reading chair, which the movers had positioned near the big window looking out over the pool and lawn. It was a heavenly place dappled with sun shining through the trees, and he took it, iPad already out. The smell of polished wood and the hint of warm dust filled his nose. He knew he’d be spending some serious time in this spot.
    His mother usually gave him some space when he pulled the plug on his ears, so he jumped when someone tapped hisshoulder. It was her. She motioned for him to reconnect. He stared at her for a moment to make sure she really meant it. She did. Moving slowly, he removed the gear they called his “ears” from his pocket and hooked it all up.
    â€œWhat happened?” she asked.
    â€œGenevieve is a maniac,” he said.
    â€œShe’s very protective of you.”
    â€œShe knocked over everyone’s drinks and made a big stink.” Landon glared at his mom. “You and Dad teach us to walk away.”
    â€œIt’s harder to do that when it’s against someone you love,” his mother said. “It’s easier to walk away when someone is making fun of you than of someone you’re close to.”
    â€œWhy?” Landon tilted his head.
    â€œBecause . . .” She threw her hands up. “I don’t know, Landon, but it is. You just, you need to cut her some slack.” She paused for a minute. “Do you want to see your room?”
    â€œI like where they put my chair.”
    She swatted him playfully. “Who do you think had it put here?”
    She sat down on the arm and hugged Landon to her. He hugged her back, but separated when it got too tight. She looked tired and sad.
    â€œAre you okay, Mom?”
    â€œI’m fine, Landon.” She sighed. “I want you to be fine.”
    â€œI’m always fine, Mom. You know that.” He got up. “So, where’s my room?”
    She studied him for a moment before rising and leading him into the front hall and up a big wooden staircase. Down atthe end of a wide hall, they went right and into a long bedroom with its own bathroom. Part of the ceiling slanted at an angle and the whole room was paneled in wood. His desk and bookshelf stood empty on one side, and his bed lay on the other side beneath three rectangular windows. His