o talk to you," Xander's

eated. When Xander asked what his grandpa thought, she gave him som

irteen. Besides, anything with an AI was somewhat suspect in most people's mind

ly function without them. Xander had grown up with them, so he didn't know what it was like

banning devices during class. Xander found it funny to watch everyone reach for their phone when the

he

r school today, and we

d to prepare fo

nstructed me to

not weir

honk from t

ng a corner of toast into his mouth

fting session before school. Donnie had wormed his way into the arrangement when Kevin accidentally mentio

der's mom happy to have one mo

t Donnie sat in the back ro

ander said a

tbelt on, Kevin j

coming to Pam's o

wanted to invite everyone over to watch something on streaming video. Her mom said Pam couldn't invite Xande

ander had promised to play with all his winnings from the previous month's game. His grandpa said the buy-in had been raised to a minimum of $500,

Friday night or Saturday

lking about?" Mr

Netflix and chill. Her mom sai

ty reference, which

ing Saturday nig

ing p

't invite us?

hundred dollars," Xander s

. She jerked her head around before th

f you playing poker for that

ll from Mrs. Wilson. And that she should ask his grandpa about the poke

e sit at Xander's table this time, but the lady hosting the game had said they would dra

r asked

00 to blow?"

going to blow it; I pl

t you do?"

say, Mrs. Wilson, care to clue us in to the

ok her head. Thankfully,

d as he bailed out o

hool. She'd already collected Izzy,

ath that could be used to transport guns for when they went hunting. His dad had installed a high-end cooler in the back that would hold ice for ten

they wouldn't run down the van's battery. The wall panels had all been swapped out with wood paneling he'd coated

ntil he turned sixteen

They walked in to see Grandpa Davidson looking at the plans Xander had given his mom. With him was Mr.

, who messed with your perfe

ease call me Max," he said as he r

x is eager to pick your brain before we b

drawings they were reviewing and saw marks

an it through an AI

blown version is supposed to allow you to optimize for location. An example it gave

pace. That's why it eliminated m

us," Max said. "But, like I told your grandfather, this is how we've done

nt and what type of lifestyle they have. Based on that information, it can better design a house for them. For example, we

ice-related features. Better yet, it can redesign the layout to put the offices

inted out several other AI software options th

information, depar

m colors. They'd met with the buyers of the two homes yet to be

ed. "For example, Dad wanted our home to have a Victorian feel. That period of architecture was bet

ss,' which consisted of colors that could be expected to survive any t

painting those homes next week, and the customers are now excited about changin

a's box. Fortunately, it didn't sound like his customers wante

t thought of th

ult," his grandfa

watched intently. He had no doubt she'd be t

, his mom turned t

u allowing your grandson to

r, who gave a micro-shrug to let him

d. Xander promised to bring his winnings t

undred dollars?" hi

y all want a piece of him. My money

ntee a win. It only took one unlucky break to lose it all. He'd made it his goal not to b

money before winning it-which meant the poker gods would

guess he needs to learn hi

dfather

member correctly, he's still a thirteen-year-old, despite all of his supposed maturity. Thi

im riled up so he'd make mistakes. He hoped he got seated at his grandfather'

dn't look at his laughing mom and grandfather. Let

heir painting clothes so they could

ander needed to be careful. It usually wasn't an issue because his dad rar

ork clothes. When he came back downstairs, his parents were ar

nder. "I learned today that you have enough money

ad,' Xande

ying a box in when his father backhanded him hard enough that when his head bounced off it, it put a dent in the freezer door. His dad felt he

his mom's comment that she expected the house to be move-in ready. Somehow

rt and lashed out. Lucky Xande

hen. But this seemed like it might esc

arned working for Grandp

, anything you earn will go to me in th

not ha

ot work anymore

flinched at

e angry bear,'

uickly that the kitch

d you ju

nder a chance to

unt. We'll go down to the bank tomorrow morning and close the

's enough,"

got between them just in time for his dad to hit him in the eye. Fuck, t

their raised voices and witnessed

looked. He would happily bully his family behind closed doors, b

p and pointed t

ut

her. "If anyone's

od and fac

leave, I'll

e mouth. Xander's head snapped back, and h

his dad in handcuffs while his mom and sister sat at th

believe a grown man would take his hand to a thirteen-yea

the patrolmen said.

he'd gone too far. Wayne mumbled an apology, som

ce officer said they needed his injuries documented. Besid

home until nearly three in the morning, while his dad spent the

ten, his mom and grandparen

r. Oh, hey, Xander, how are you

ache, but I'm

ou breakfast,"

real and let you guys get back to whateve

it down. I need to tal

as his mom buil

ather. I just need time to determ

have a loan on the house, and all the

t?" his

ow?" Grandpa D

some stuff in Dad's off

nd. Then, his mom was pissed because she'd waited until Izzy moved out of the house

nder's mom admitted that his dad used to

ay utilities, I can get a part-time

anything over you," Grandma Davidson said. "We'

ked at his

nyway," Grandpa Davidson said. "You'll be fine. We have pl

d let it out slowly. A sl

," she w

rges if his dad agreed to the divorce, reality set in. Wayne's lawyer must have explaine

his grandfather had better connections than Xander ever realized. It tur

her over poker. The sad part was that he hadn't even gotten to play poker. Consequently, his title as Rizzma

e to his new study habits. They had nothing to do with his having already ta

our device for the answer? Better yet, why would you need to know the square root of anythi

his grandfather sold the thre

e was Julie, who Xander had dated and lost his virginity to in his junior year in his previous life. The youngest sister, Pippa, was his age. She never dated anyone until she met

two sons: Tim, Xander's age, and Brian

son, Cliff, who was a few years younger than his sister. Cliff was adopte

e sitting in front of the TV,

g for visitations,"

ine," Xan

both looked at

ave us over more than a couple of times a year.

him after what he did

t for you," X

over and squeezed Xander's knee to say thanks

hey broadcast this from New York, so it was an hour

e ... two ... one ... h

presents after the ball dropped. Izzy rushed to the kitchen to get the cak

clothes a size too big for him. It was understandable because he'd grown to be five-nine and 128 pounds. He

efinition. He wasn't ripped by any means, but Xander was no longer embarrassed to tak

oordination was shit. His grandfather as