By: Melissa Zhao

I mentally perform my everyday checklist, the quick, easy check I have done so many times that it’s is permanently ingrained into my mind. The two things that are always – I mean always – on my mind, are my checklist, and my personal motto: you have to control yourself, Lofen.

Nobody around to hurt? Check. Good weather today? Check. Feelings in control? (This one is especially important.) Check. Okay, then. We’re ready to begin.

I close my eyes, pulling out a … well, I’m just not sure how to describe it, but it’s like a tugging feeling in my gut, and I thrust out my hand. Around me, in the safe, small, protective dome Dad built for me – yeah, did I forget? he has powers too – after he discovered my power, rain gathers and storm clouds boom and lightning crashes, all within the force field. So far so good. With a flick and a clap, the storm intensifies, bringing the wind, clouds, lightning, and rain to a higher level. Rain claps itself together into hail. Winds howl and whirl – a torturous sound for some, but music to me. Clouds bunch and scream, growing darker with each passing second. And I, Lofen, stand in the middle of the chaos. Crazy, screaming, even maybe horrible, chaos, but … it’s what I do.

At 12, I am a weather god. My father can manipulate emotions, my mother can heal anything with a touch or whisper, and my brother can change anything passing through the mind, whether they are thoughts, or just flyaway remarks flashing in and out. He could convince someone to do anything. Luckily, he is not a bad person. In fact, he is the opposite. Nein, my brother, is the kindest person I’ve ever met in my 12 years of life. In our family, magic is natural. All our family members also have natural powers we can learn, like say, this force field. Oh! I almost forgot. Today is the day my powers reach their full extent.

With a final yell of silence, the entire storm calms down to a whisper, then dead silence. Ducking out of the force field, I squint at the blinding sun and slip into my house. “Mom, Dad, Nein? Where are you?” Sighing, I slump down the wall. With such a busy family working on their own powers, no one has time for me. I know it seems selfish, but sometimes I just want my big brother back.

Suddenly, a shadow moves. Alert, I hold out my hands and they immediately start glowing with power. “Show yourself!” I command. “Sure,” the voice whispers in response… “SURPRISE!” My family jumps out from their hiding spots. Mom claps once, Dad snaps his fingers, and Nein whistles, and immediately a party appears. “Today your powers reach their fullest extent!”

I smile, and Nein pulls me close and whispers, “No matter what, we love you. You come first, your powers next.” With a content sigh of happiness, I nod. I know already.