Abilities

Gazet sat on the couch waiting for William to respond to the story, but he didn't respond. William stood across the living room with his arms crossed replicating Mr. Clean. Except, instead of a friendly smile, William stared at Gazet like a teacher that was waiting for a student in trouble to explain what happened. The first-time father was waiting for something. A wink. A punchline. Something to lighten up the situation.

Without getting either one of them, William started to laugh. It was an uncomfortable moment and William could do nothing but and hope that it would ease the tension that was quickly filling up the room.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand what any of this has to do with me. Why would you break into my house to tell me this ridiculous children’s fable?” William was tired. He reached over to grab his beer that was sitting on the mantle above the fireplace and swallowed half of what was left with one gulp.

He turned to the wall that separated the living room from the kitchen and rested his head against the smooth wood. Behind him hung the picture of the first time he met Melissa. His eyes turned towards the picture as he listened.

“In the story, Love, Disappointment, and Murder all stayed true to who they were supposed to be,” he began to explain. “All of Creator’s children have become a part of us. Our actions, our emotions, and our ways of life are all tied together through this story, except for two parts. The Sun and the Moon were the only two things that are not a part of us. They are their own being in the legend.”

“What legend? None of this makes any sense,” William was growing irritated. “The sun and the moon are going to kill us all?”

“No, but your sons just might because they are the sun and the moon from the story." They are.”

“What? Are you out of your mind? I don’t know what the hell you are trying to say, man.”

“Do you know what an Ability is, William?” Gazet interrupted.

“Yeah, uh, a talent,” William finished the remaining beer at the bottom of the bottle. It had gone warm and flat.

“Well yes, but not in this case. An Ability is a person that is gifted. A person with abilities unlike anything that’s ever been heard of. An Ability is somebody...somebody with special abilities. Skills. Someone that can do something that is considered out of this world, something magical.

“Like superhero powers?” William laughed at the very words that came out of his own mouth. He was beginning to think this little Irishman was in fact crazy. He stepped into the kitchen. Gazet heard the top snap off of another beer. William stepped back into the living room.

“For lack of a better comparison, yes. An Ability is a person who has special powers.”

“Again, saying I believe any of this,” William dropped back into his chair and began turning the bottle in his hands, “What does this have to do with me?”

“William, your sons, Mitchel and Michael, they are both Abilities.”

“I…” the bottle stopped turning and William’s eyes moved from the lip of the bottle to Gazet. “I haven’t named my sons.”

“You didn’t. But I know them because I am an Ability, William,” Gazet climbed off the couch. “We have to go to the hospital now. I’ll tell you everything you need to know on the way.”

A tall, red haired man walked through the front door. He was a big, pale man. He was younger than Gazet and closer to William’s age, around twenty or twenty-one. But he was big, nothing but muscle with spiked hair that nearly grazed the top of the doorway. Looking straight at William, he nodded. Gazet nodded at the man as if they were both agreeing that it was time to get out of the house.

“The hospital? Why?” William’s back straightened up as his eyebrows knitted.

“Because someone is coming to kill your children,” answered Gazet