Mommy's little angel

And because his parents are wealthy and devoted, because he is their perfect child, and a faultless inspiration to thousands of people who never realized how good they had it until confronted with his story -- the same thousands who desperately hope that somehow their own lives can change nonetheless, perhaps through the words of this silent boy -- Marshall Ball gets to be all of that.

Who would ever tell him otherwise?

Boundless horizons: Troy and Marshall Ball in the front yard of Listener's Hill.

Deron Neblett

Augmented communication: Marshall with Laurence Becker and his "GM," Louise.

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More About

• Marshall
• Troy
• Laurence Becker
• Austin
• Richard Wawro

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"It's completely up to him," Troy says. "It always is."

E-mail Brad Tyer at brad.tyer@houstonpress.com.