Summary

In "Heads, Twice," the father and mother have Luke tested. In the waiting room, the father has "a bad feeling" (153). He wishes "he could shield" the boy (153). After the tests, they meet with the doctor. He explains that Luke "is what's known as 'twice exceptional'" (154). He is both gifted and challenged. The mother gets upset by the inconclusiveness of the diagnosis. The father "feels dazed" (155).

The mother researches the condition. The father does not think it has anything to do with vaccines. Instead, he blames himself and God (156). In the coming days, he starts to feel both shame and relief (157).

They decide to put Luke into a different school. In the summer, they visit museums and take a vacation to California. They try to do what normal families do.

When they get home, the mother rips open the "report the doctor promised" (159). The...