The Institute

by Stephen King

He had no psychic powers, but there was one power he did have: he was the grownup. The adult. They wanted him to tell them there was no monster under the bed. ‘It’s not on you. It’s not on any of you. That man didn’t come to warn you to be quiet, he came to poison your life. Don’t let him do it, Kalisha. Don’t any of you let him do it. As a species, we’re built to do one thing above all others, and you kids did it.’ He reached out with both hands and wiped the tears from Kalisha’s cheeks. ‘You survived. You used your love and your wits, and you survived.

Tim thought that some of the people who could push the big red button were kids, in mind if not in body, but didn’t say so.

*politicians cough cough*