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Daily 
Warm-Up
16
Fiction: Fantasy
The Electric Touch
Diego debated whether or not to assist the science 
teacher in her attempts to get the students’ attention.
Here, in science class, his ability wouldn’t be quite as 
noticeable, and he could make a positive difference. He 
unobtrusively pointed a gloved finger at the light 
switch, and the lights went out. Wiggling his finger 
slightly at the switch, he turned the lights on again. As 
expected, the class quieted some, enough for the 
teacher to explain the day’s experiment.
“Let’s work with Diego; he really understands circuits 
and all that stuff.” Two of three students headed 
toward his workstation. Diego wasn’t surprised.
During the entire unit on electricity, he had never 
lacked lab partners. He’d been very careful not to 
accidentally touch anyone, lest he shock them. Kids 
had long since quit asking questions about the gloves 
he wore constantly.
Thumping his books on the kitchen table, Diego set 
aside his speculations about when they might move on 
from electricity to bask in the security of his home 
environment, where he wasn’t considered a freak.
“Those cookies smell good, Mom. What kind are 
they?” Diego swooped in to see if there was any cookie 
dough available for sampling. Her response was 
muffled by the sounds of his brother’s electric guitar as 
Ricardo wandered through the kitchen, guitar not 
plugged in, as per usual. He grinned at the thought of 
the oven heating up at his mother’s touch, Ricardo’s 
unnecessary guitar cords stowed safely in their case, 
and his dad’s truly wireless television.
Grabbing a couple of cookies fresh from the oven, 
Diego struggled to balance his books under his arm and 
tromped upstairs. His computer booted up, and his 
desk lamp clicked on as he entered his room, just as he 
intended—designed without external electricity.
Text Questions
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 1 . Which statement gives you a clue about Diego’s unusual ability?
a. He could make a positive difference.
b. Wiggling his finger slightly at the switch, he turned the lights on again.
c. “He really understands circuits and all that stuff.”
d. He had never lacked lab partners.