Oasis

                An abandoned construction site sat on the far west side of town. A newer, more modern shopping center was in the works a decade ago, but when the hired construction company went under, the project halted and was never picked up again. We drove to the site for a private place to play with our gifts; away from the town’s eye.

                We climbed the stairs of the three-story concrete building frame. We stopped on the second floor just in case any helicopters flew over and spotted us. Cinder blocks, some broken and others not; were scattered across the ground.  I dragged a few over and set them up like targets about fifteen feet from where I stood. Instead of practicing our gifts individually we’d watch one another. Since I won the game of “rock, paper, scissors” in the car, my turn was first; Ellie was pretty upset about that.

                “Okay, show me what you got cowboy,” Ellie said.

                I didn’t know how to send energy to my fists, when it happened the first time my blood was boiling over with anger. I just needed to think of something that makes me angry. I thought of the first time Henry started up my Xbox without asking. I remember that day vividly, I can even remember the feeling of hot steam shooting from my ears. The thought worked; my hands started tingling. I looked down and they were glowing pale blue. I concentrated on the cinder block to the far left, that was my target. I raised my arm, aiming my fist at the target. I thought of a cannon firing, and my arm shot backwards. The block broke apart into chunks. Ellie celebrated like an obnoxious mom at her kid’s first soccer game.

                “If you thought that was cool, check this out,” I said. I walked to a block, charged my fist again, and punched the cinder block. It exploded into powder; Ellie nearly blew up in excitement.

                I destroyed the remaining cinder blocks. After that I set up a few more and shot at those too. Ellie huffed and puffed with impatience. “You’ve had enough time already; I’m dying to see what I can do.”