Free The Field by Tracy Richardson Page B

what’s in the food they serve in the cafeteria. “So, will we get to see your dad at the coal gasification plant on tomorrow’s field trip?” I ask without thinking. I regret it almost immediately when I see the laughter leave Will’s face and his expression close down.
    â€œI wouldn’t know. I haven’t talked to him,” he replies tersely. It’s clear he doesn’t want to talk about it, so nobody says anything else. I’m surprised Will hasn’t said anything to me about what’s going on with his dad, because, obviously, there is something going on.
    A FTER DINNER, I drive over to Renee’s house. We’re having a ‘homework date,’ and although I would’ve preferred to meet at a more neutral location, like the library—read,
without parents
—she invited me over to her house, so here I am. I park on the street and walk across the lawn to the front door. Her family is living in one of the houses near campus that the university keeps for visiting professors. It’s in the older part of town, not far from where I live, where every house is a different style. Not like the cookie-cutter housing developments. Renee’s house is a Tudorstyle bungalow with timbered walls and white-washed stucco. I hesitate a minute on the front stoop, basically so I can muster my courage … then I take a deep breath and ring the bell. Of course, Dr. Auberge answers the door.
    â€œAh, hello. It’s Eric, correct?” he says. “You must be here to see Renee.”
    â€œYes, sir. We’re doing homework together.”
    â€œWell, come in then.” He holds open the door for me. “Renee!” he calls up the stairs. “You have a visitor!”
    â€œOkay, I need to clean up my paint and brushes. I’ll be down in a minute,” she replies from somewhere on the second floor.
    â€œCome back to the kitchen. No telling how long a minute could be.”
Great. One-on-one time with dad
. You’d think that I’d jump at the chance to get in good with him because of the internship, but I’m pretty sure that dating his daughter isn’t one of the selection criteria. Might even count against me. “Would you like something to drink? Water, soda?” asks Dr. Auberge.
    â€œNo, thanks, I’m good.” I find a spot to stand by the kitchen table and try not to look too uncomfortable.
    â€œPlease, sit down.” He gestures to the table and pulls out a chair for himself. I sit on the edge of the chair nearest me, nervous because I’m wondering if I’m going to get the ‘potential boyfriend’ grilling. I want to be ready to jump up and leave as soon as Renee comes down, but he says, “Stephen told me about your results on the remote viewing study. Impressive for your first session without any training. Also, the fact that you and your friend are not a ‘couple.’ One or both of you has a very well developed enhanced consciousness.”
    Here’s the enhanced consciousness again
. “Uh, what do you mean?” I stumble out. Not the direction I expected the conversation to go.
    â€œWell, usually for subjects who have a high score initially, we find that it’s not the first time they’ve experienced enhanced consciousness. It might be that they have premonitions or maybe coincidences occur frequently for them. Or it could be morelike feelings of déjà-vu or dreams or that they are more perceptive of the feelings of people around them. Most likely other things, too, that they aren’t even fully aware of.” I just stare at him for a minute. I think my mouth might even be hanging open.
    â€œIs that true for you?” He looks at me inquiringly. It’s as if he knows something about me that I didn’t even fully recognize myself. I’m a little apprehensive, but also curious.
    Cautiously I say, “Yeah, I guess I’ve had some of those things