When Someone’s Smarts Left People Shocked or Uneasy.

2 # The 7th Grader Who Could Summon Spiders.

There was a kid in my wife’s 7th-grade class who knew everything about spiders. He could identify any species just by looking at the spider, its web, or even a tiny part of its leg. He seemed like a typical nerd at first. But then I learned he could actually call spiders out of hiding and onto his hand. He demonstrated the trick to friends, whispering to them as the spiders climbed up. Over time, he had figured out specific sounds that different species responded to, all from observing them in his backyard. I found myself curious about his home life—and also a little unsettled by it.