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Don’t Touch

JEFF’S PROPERTY

BY JEFF

WRITEN BY JEFF

Hey,

Alright let’s get this straight. As I stated in my previous journal, I mentioned all the bullshit I had to go through. The girl I’m in love with played me in front of the whole class, not to mention her jerk-face boyfriend keeps pushing me. One day, I’m going to be rich, and they’ll regret everything they ever did to me.

Anyways, before I get too emotional on you, this journal has one purpose, and one purpose only: to please my mother. I went to a therapist recently because my mom thought I was depressed and all that, which I tried to deny, but she wasn’t having that. Pam, the therapist, suggested that I write everything that I’m feeling, and how my day went, and what exactly what went on.

At first i was like “yeah, definitely, it sounds like a plan” out loud to Pam, but really in my head I was like “man, fuck that”. Turns out my mom was thinking quite the opposite, because right when  we left Pam’s office, she drove me right to dollar tree to get a journal. Now, i’m actually kind of used to writing in a book. Its quite comforting since I have no one else to talk to, that actually understands what I go through. My first journal I filled in so much, I had to wrap it up with a rubber band because it was bursting with loose papers every time I dared to open it. I just decided to get a new one, so my mom gave me the money for it.

Oh, and lets get another thing straight: I’m going to be rich one day. When that day comes, I can sell this journal for money, and become even MORE richer. Please, hold the applause. Anyways, Let me tell you a little about myself, since my other journal is so old you probably can’t interpret anything. Hi, I’m Jeff (as you probably guessed from the cover). I’m 16, I love Nutella, cocoa butter, old school Dell computers, and Forensic Analysis. Yes, i’m weird- I get that numerous times throughout the day. Which I still don’t understand., because I don’t do anything to anyone. Why can’t anyone mind their business? The world may never know.  I also forgot to mention something very imperative: something happened, something big. I don’t know the full story, because my mother still thinks i’m still too young” to know, but I think I understand it enough. From my experiments, observations, and knowledge, there was a bombing. I’m not talking about the soda bombs that the immature “Jocks” put in the nerd’s locker numerous times throughout the school year. I;m talking about an atomic bomb. It was huge. The burnt imprint is still on the sidewalk, one whole decade later.  It left a big mess, and killed thousands. America never told us who it was, and why they did it-but thats nothing new. The government never tells us anything. When it all happened in the year of 2051, thats when things started to go wrong. The air was polluted, the smell of gas and chemicals was everywhere, and people went homeless. Most people’s homes were abolished, or should I say blown to smithereens.  Everything was gone. Pets, food, homes, people, clothes-everything. We slowly recovered by the little amount of grants and stamps that the government gave everyone in my area, called Aksala. My father had the cutest little shop where he sold bait for the river that flowed in our little town. Sadly, it died along with him. My mother and I are doing alright now, just struggling to get through each and everyday. The smell of gas and chemicals is still int he air however, and it annoys me so much.  Anyways, I’m going to bed early to night. It’s been a rough day. I have all this homework I don’t feel like doing, and it’s all due tomorrow (see, i’m no totally a nerd). So goodnight, whoever is listening...

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Hey,

I’ve been working my ass off for this stupid A that i should’ve gotten the previous quarters in history class. I love history, I do my journals, yet I still always get a B. Its not even a low B, its literally an 89.9%. Yeah, I know, its ridiculous. Anyways, that pretty much ruined my day. I’ve just  been so stressed out. Not to mention that Aya (the girl i’m madly in love with and give up my heart, limb, and both eyeballs for), just walked by me in the hallway today. Its not like she says hi to me anyways, because who would. Forget it, lets forget about this sad talk, let just change the subject. I have this really big pond in the back of my house, which all this old gunk and stuff from all the oils and chemicals the government collected from the bombing incident. It stinks, like i’m always complaining about. The creepiest thing happened though. I keep forgetting my new keys that my mom got made just for me on my dresser, so I just go in through the back door whenever I leave them, since the back door is always opened. I hop the fence, and fall into a glob of mud, or whatever it was. I brush it off the gooey brown dirt off of my new pants, then look up to the weirdest thing. Yes, a thing. I’m not sure if I was just seeing things, but it looked like a head. Thats when I started running, because stuff like that creeps me the heck out. When I got into the house, I had to take a second to catch my breathe, i’m not much of a track star. I shouted “MOM” to see if she was home. No response,which I expected. I went right into the shower-I couldn’t take the smell of that dirt on me. I turned on the water to the perfect temperature, not too hot, not too cold. I start to think about what I saw, trying to decide if I was going crazy or not. I came to a conclusion: I must’ve bumped my head onto the ground when I fell of the fence to quickly. So i just went with that for the rest of the night. I’m satisfied with that conclusion, because now I can finally go to sleep, since I have to wake early for school, anyways. Which I should do now-so goodnight, whomever.

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Hey,

Today was just like regular day, except a couple of things. Okay, let me explain a little bit. I took a deep breath. It smelled of gas and chemicals. It's just that stupid smell that still never went away. You get used to it though (well not me, my mother has).

Anyways, as I was saying, today was really weird. As I was coming from that hell hole you call a school, I saw something very peculiar (and yes, that was one of my ten dollar vocabulary words I had to study for Miss Pahomav's class this week). There's this small pond behind my house that was really cute before all the chemicals and waste got into it, and made it all green and muggy. As I walked past it something glowed in the water. It looked like two glow in the dark eyeballs that my friends would by from five-below to scare me. HOwever, I could tell this wasn't a prank.  could've sworn I saw them blink too. That was creepiest part though. I mean, I just brushed it off and walked away, saying to myself "that school lunch must be having some sort of side effect on me", thinking I was just seeing things. Hopefully I don't see nothing creepy like that again.

Once again, i have another essay to write, I men, do they ever give us students a break? its almost spring break. goodness. So on that note, I should probably start my essay, which shouldn’t be THAT  hard since i practically write an essay everyday. So goodnight, stranger.

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Jeff here,

Okay so  it happened again guys ("guys" refers to whomever cares and finds my diary in the future one day when i'm already filthy rich), I saw it again. It actually came up too. It was REALLY weird. Only the head I think. Because it looked like it had really bad weave on top of its head, so I could tell it was girl thing. Maybe I really am going crazy. Or is it just the school lunch? Or maybe its a ghost? I have no idea, but I really need to start bringing my keys, because I'm really getting tired of hopping my fence, only to walk past the pond with that creepy thing in it.

P.s: that essay was not easy, AT ALL. I went to bed at 5 in the morning. 5 IN THE MORNING.

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TO WHOEVER:

Alright, I know i’m not crazy, because it actually came out of the swamp/pond/puddle thing thats behind my house, and let me tell you this thing is strange. First, it looks like a glob of mud. Its got a fat person’s figure, with mud on top of it. Basically like a sloppy joe burger. Now, before you think this is one of those boy meets robots type stories- its not. I’m not gonna so indulged into this thing, because I honestly am creeped out, and its me. I threw a stick at it, to see if it would like explode or something. But instead it just blinked again. I figured if it handle a stick, it could handle me (the stupidest concept you will ever hear in your life, yes I know.) The thing that gets me is that it actually moved its mouth. It’s weird. As weird as it might though, it’s still cool. I’m tempted to run  a couple of test on  the thing, but i’m scared how it would react. Will it eat me? will it knock my lights out? We’ll never know. Or will we...? Goodnight, brave world.

Jeff Again,

Okay, I found out something about it: I have no idea what IT is. Okay, okay, I found out a couple of things however. Running some text on the sample I got from it, I came up with a couple of theories. It has some type of critical mass of fissionable material, because it needed to create a chain reaction in the atomic bomb, for it to explode. Isotopes such as  uranium-235 and plutonium-239 were later found in my experiments. Both of these ingredients were both used in the atomic bomb, which makes sense because the glob and chemical was all goes right into the pond/swamp/puddle type thing in the back of my house, which might be the reason why this THING is in my backyard. Yes, I am pretty genius you could say, but what bothers me is how does it move its mouth? What makes it-IT? After doing some research, i found a couple of other interesting facts. For one, there is nothing else like it. There have been no other reports in newspaper, youtube, not even nerd.org is there ANYTHING about a glob monster made from mixed chemicals. So you could say this is an amazing finding, and that i could become famous for this. Actually, while writing this, I just realized how rich I could become from just this glob monster! I could by my own house, my own dell company- or rather all the Nutella I want! That would be real nice.

But would that okay though? All this sounds so nice, but i’m not sure this is going to be the best choice. I mean after I call whoever I have to call, every  FBI agent and police officer would invade my house 24/7, and I don’t think my mom could handle that much in invasion and stress- especially since what happened to do Dad. She’s just been backed up on work so much so thats he can pay for all the bills, which I respect about her, so I won’t call I guess. That Nutella would’ve been nice though. Just for my mom though, which is amazing because i’m actually being considerate. Since that’s all I have to say for now, Ill just go to bed, goodnight- and let the force be with you.

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Hey,

Its the middle of the night, and i’m terrified. I heard some noise outside and looked out the window. Its the glob monster again ( yes, i’m calling it that now). ow, you’re probably wondering why i’m writing this right now, when I’m terrified, when I should be calling the cops or something. “Man, this kid is obsessed with this journal”- well you’re wrong. Its my stress reliever, and like I said before I gotta record almost everything I think in this book for when I’m famous. Anyways, lets get to the point.

I woke up to this vrooom-vrooom-vroom noise. Not like a motorcycle, but like a glowing sound,kind of like how a bee’s trailing sound he leaves behind him when he quickly flies right past you. Yeah, it was creepy. so i went outside, but instead of going right down the stairs, I jumped out of the window. I must say, it was quite painful but it was worth it. I went towards the glowing green light, and as I suspected-it was it. I don’t know what it is with me and sticks, but I always throw them at things. after I there basically a half of a tree branch at it, it shifted. It was like it didn’t feel the branch. In fact, it was like jell-o. I’m not scared of it anymore, its just more creepier than scary.

After it shifted, it kept making those weird noises. “Vrooom-vrooom”. I went closer, quietly, steadily, trying not to disturb it. Of course I slept on a couple of crunchy crunchy leaves and sticks, so I wasn’t as quiet as I thought. I shifted from side to side, disturbed by its surroundings.

I’m Face to “face” with the Glob Monster.

It continues t glow. It continues to make the “vroooom” noise. I hold my hand out, just like the scene in ET, where he touches the alien. I poke it. Worst decision ever made.

It start to grow silver blades as scales. Scales so sharp, it splits my upper part of my finger open. Blood dripping, I move back suddenly.  It starts to make the “Vrrroooom-vroooom” noise louder, and faster. “VROOOM-VROOOMVROOMVROOM”. I moves back, one step at a time. Now, you would think that a normal person would run for their lives, but I tried to make clear before, I’m not that normal. I watch it as it starts spinning, instead of swaying. It starts spinning faster, and faster, and faster- till I’m so dizzy i feel like fainting. It starts levitating , going up slowly, but surely. It’s about 8ft in the air-still spinning faster and faster.

It stops.

Now. Im. Scared.

I started to walk back faster, and faster, until I was basically behind the big bush in my mother’s garden, peeping through the leaves of it. I start shaking, this anxious feeling in my stomach.

Okay let’s stop here:

If someone finds this, please tell my mom I love her. I really do, and I didn’t say anything just for her. I’m really not ready to die, and so far, i’m going out of my mind right now. I’m probably sweating blood right now, thats how scared and nervous I am. So, uh, yeah- just tell her I love her.

Okay, let’s carry on now:

I’m basically shaking the bush right now, but as I watch the Glob monster frozen in time, I touch myself just to make sure he didn’t freeze me too. Good, i’m okay, i’m still here, for now.

It starts to sway once again.

Swaying so smoothly, like hands at a Jazz festival.

It starts to bring apart.

The globs start to scatter everywhere- in random places. Now at first I thought it was going to create mini minions, and starts to attack the earth, and take over everything-but thats just me being worried I guess. Instead, it started to spell “Alaska”. I wondered what it that meant. I mean, its 2067, what is that supposed even mean?

I stays there., jiggling on the ground like freshly poured Jell-O.  I stand up, to see it closer, and its still moving a little. Once again i throw a stick at it, and surprisingly it doesn’t move. I look back at my house to see if my mom woke up, which she didn’t thankfully. I look back.

Nothing is there. I think is sunk into the ground while I was looking,because little part were slowly disappearing into the grass. I just stood there. Silently , waiting for something to happen. Nothing else happened. I waited for another twenty minutes. I hear the crickets, as the leaves ruffle into the air. I start heading back in.

As I open the door, I hear the “vroom” nose, but when I looked back, there was nothing there. I ignore it, and go back into my house, up the stairs, in my bed. I really am kind of proud of myself though. These past few days have been really weird, but i’ve changed a little. I’ve learned to be considerate, and I appreciate things a little ore-such as my my finger (which I need to get fixed). But most importantly, I went ahead and did something out of the ordinary, just like my my dad told me to do. I mean I guess that’s good and all. But what confuses me is what actually happened, and what this means for me. What does “Alaska” actually mean? All their questions, and no answers. Oh well, I’m going to bed, now, because just reading this over gives me a headache. Goodnight, Dad.

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Wassup,

I haven’t seen anything yet. Not a glob of mess, not a sound- absolutely nothing. Honestly, I’m glad. I don’t want to creeped anymore than I already have. So whenever I forget my key, I hop the fence as usual. I then go to the pond. Nothing is moving, it just still smells of gas and chemicals. It never went away. I wish it went away with the glob monster actually, that would be so nice.

  I always thought I had a great life. Never taking anything for granted, I was so humble. Just looking at my life you would think that I got everything I wanted. That I was set for life. However my family worked for everything we had. Born Jonathan Miles Harris, I am now 16 years old. I have black hair, I am 5 feet 6 inches. I am Milano male(Which is african american and Caucasian), With a heavy accent. I have reddish brown eyes, crooked smile, and I am 150 pounds. Who ever finds this short book will know what really happened to me.

    So to whoever saw my story on the news I disappeared when I was 13, and reappeared on my 16th birthday. From where I was I saw everything that happened when I was taken. Everyone tried to blame my parents for me coming up missing. Because my mother was a former drug smuggler for the black market people believed that she was the cause. Others came up with the theory that because my father was a powerful district attorney. He received death threats from people relating to the inmates, some people theorized that I was taken because of him.

    Breaking down the two theories was the job of the police and detectives, but It was impossible. My mothers past was filled with too many colorful people, and if this was a result of her past we could never know. My fathers was a smidge better, however still was a lost cause. After trying to ensure just for about a good 3 months the police gave up and left my parents with a huge burden.  

    When I was took by “this creature” I was scared for my life. I blinked about a good 130 times to try and see if it was a dream. I pinched myself over and over again, and I prayed continuously. I just wanted to be back in my room making a beat or in the gym. Really I would have preferred to be anywhere but here. I couldn’t stand being in this dark moving vehicle’s trunk. I remember what happened when I was abducted.

    It was a saturday, and I was walking to Acme to get snacks for the movie night my friends and I were about to have. While standing at the netflix box I was tapped and grabbed. Trying to put up a fight against 4 grown individuals was like a turtle trying to escape 4 different wildcats. After successfully getting my eyes and mouth covered I was shoved forcefully into a vehicle. After that I felt a heavy thump hit my leg, which were the snack that I just purchased. A feminine voice said eat these if you want to be partially satisfied during the trip.

    After being in this surprisingly roomy trunk, being tossed my fulfilling snacks, and not hurt during my kidnapping I had a feeling I wasn’t really in danger. Every so often I would hear the same voice ask me was I okay. I would answer yes, but can someone please explain. She would reply the same way each time all in due time. You’ll be caught up in all the confusion shortly sweety. I just knew from her tone that I wasn’t in immediate danger. After driving in a trunk for days, and only having the trunk be aired out once, we arrived in an open field in pennsylvania.

    As the 4 humans get out the car, I hear them speaking a different language.  When they spoke it was almost if they were devising a plan. I tried to listen to see if there were words I knew. After listening for about 40 seconds my thoughts became jumbled. I was so confused and went into a stage if mind where my eyes were completely shut, I couldn't move, but I was conscious.

    After being in this stage for about an hour, I woke up on a spaceship of some kind. Scared to death I yelled and tried to move. I couldn't move because I was strapped down. My throat was closing because the amount of air I had, I wasn't able to breathe. I felt like I was being suffocated, or the driest price of bread on earth. My airway was closing up and at a not soothing pace.

    2 people walked into the room and saw me struggling. One just stood there in amazement, while the other was a girl my age. She recited the words from the trunk and I went into the same stage. As I was laying there I felt a sense of relief as if a new adaptation was given to me. I was able to breathe in space now. As I woke up I remembered feeling safe again.

    However I realized that no person should be able to breathe in space. So many questions formalized in my mind. Why me? What are these things? What do they want with me? I wanted answers and I wanted them now. As I started to look around again the setting I was I'm started to adapt to my room. I start to pinch myself and blink again. Nothing happened I was still in this room.

    As Boredom started to rise, I start to interact with the things in my room. I went to play my game, everything on my play-station was the same. To pass the time for a while that's what I did. And every-time I got hungry I went to my mini fridge and got something to eat. I figured that if I stayed there I would get answers out of someone. After a good 6 hours of playing play station it got a knock at my door. It was the girl who saved me when my lungs collapsed.

    When she came in the room was dead silent for about 10 minutes. We both had awkward looks on our faces. Both of us wanting to say something. Until she says you must be confused. I reply kind of, but thanks for saving my life. I start to ask he about why I got here, and question what’s going on. She responded saying she doesn’t really know. We spend a little while talking and she ask me is she pretty? I respond saying yes she is very beautiful. She starts to cry and say that its been a while since she heard that. I ask her why she said that? She starts to tell me about her and her boyfriends latest break up. Conflicted with listening to this girl I just met, and figuring out where I am, I choose to listen to her.

    After talking for a while she ask can she show me around the space-ship. I tell her I am pretty tired, but I would love for her to show me around tomorrow morning. She exits my room and I cannot fall asleep for a while. I just keep replaying all the incidents that went down in the past couple of days. I try to comprehend everything, and even try to use my cellphone. None of that even worked. I was stranded somewhere else, and didn’t even know where I was. I still felt safe though I felt like I would be understood and taken care of. Around 5 o’clock I fall asleep and wake up 3 hours later. I feel really refreshed, and really hungry.

    As I wipe the sleep from my eyes I wake up to the same feminine voice saying goodmorning. I respond hey where am I? She tells me this time “you are better off here”. I say well can atleast tell me why I am here. She says that will be revealed in time.  She hands me a plate of my favorite breakfast, and the remote for my T.V. I thank her. As she walks out she says don’t worry you are safe here. I eat my breakfast and watch the new episode of my favorite show. Then a question arises in my mind how is my favorite show on, and i’m not on earth. As my favorite show is playing I recall what happened during the last episode. As the episode ends, the girl who I now know as jacell walks in.

    I start to get dressed and while i’m taking off my pajama bottoms she stares intensely at me. I know what she wants, but I quickly get dressed. We leave my room and go to explore the spaceship. We go to every area of the spaceship, we look at every attraction and place to eat possible. As we start to be around each other for this extended period of time we both get more comfortable talking, joking and having fun. As we are walking back to my room she grabs my hand. We continue to walk though. It's only when I got to my room she kisses my lips. I felt it coming though, but I was still surprised.

    As the weeks turn to months I am still on this spaceship. Everyone knows me, and pays more attention to me rather then when I was in Philly. I guess you can start to say I love it here. Me and Jacell are in a relationship now. I get to be free as in rules wise, and everyone likes me. In these past months I've had a blast, only things is I miss the people who loved me on earth. As time continues to pass I wonder "will I ever get to go back?" "Do they still think about me?" "What's happening now?". Questions clutter my mind on a daily.

    A years goes by, everything here is good. I still miss the earth but I love being here. I love my new friends, I love that if I go back to earth I can say that I breathed in earth without equipment. I love that I was made into a big issue, I love this spaceship as a whole though. I'm torn between my home and my new home. As I sit and contemplate all these things, I remember that even if I wanted to leave I can't. Then a thought comes to make the best of what I have here.

    Jacell comes and we walk through the park for a little bit. Then we go to the town hall. As we arrive I see all the lights off. I start to piece things together. We seen nobody on our walk, lights off, and I've been here for a year. I assumed it was a party. Unsure I didn't say anything to Jacell. I just walked in after her and as she turn on the lights everybody on the space ship jumped out at me from all angles. I was still surprised and I knew what it was. The party was great, they really knew how to make me feel special and welcomed. As I left the party everybody handed me gifts and I just loved that night.

As me and Jacell left arms full we walked back to my room. As I placed my gifts down, she pushed me onto my bed. Things from there got a little X-rated. I enjoyed her company that night. My one year on the spaceship was better than all my years on earth. As Jacell left in the morning, I got dressed. I'm starting a new engineering class. I still wanted to make music and play basketball, but I wanted to learn too. I get to my class and immediately felt welcomed. We were starting to make transporters.

    As a few more months passed Jacell and I moved into together. This was one of the best decisions I made. We got to be together way more. She would go to her job, and I would go to school. As time passed I became a better engineer. I was too of my class. When graduation came I gave the best speech of my life. Jacell and the lady from before were there clapping and screaming the loudest for me. After graduation I went out to dinner with the two of them.

    A few years have passed, and now I'm a engineer. I own my own company. I do my own things, and I own a house now. I moved out of the room and me and Jacell own a house. I gave fixed the spaceship so many times. Every time I help out, they give me new equipment. On my day off, I had some uranium. Looking at my first project, I replace me small stick of uranium, with a full stick of uranium. By multiplying the magnitude of the travel, this should be able to get me anywhere and back. My plan is to go back to earth and then come back. I tell Jacell my plans, and she says "if that's what you want to do." She tells me not to do it today. I respect her wishes. I wait a week before I leave. During that week I was shunned, and just by myself. I didn't understand it, and just felt disrespected. As I left, I kissed Jacell goodbye. And kissed the ladies cheek and got into the teleporter. As I touched down I wrote these words. "It feels great to be home." I spend a good minute looking at where I'm at. As my chest starts to hurt briefly. I feel as though

The skies were awake on a sunny morning in San Francisco. Most people were heading out to their jobs and students riding the busses to school. It was a ordinary day in the city and neighborhoods. Traffic was moving quickly down at 19th avenue, I was in the car with my dad heading to school while listening to the morning radio show. Most of the time, my dad drives me to school because he goes through the same direction to his job. He carries blue prints in the back of the care everyday to work because he’s an architecture.

My dad turned to Sloat blvd and onto 26th street, driving towards Eucalyptus Dr. He parked at the corner of the school. I stared at the school, thinking it’s going to be a long day. Before, I could get out of the car, my dad slightly turns his head towards me.

“We’ll Michael, this is your stop,” he said.

“My stop to hell,” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Don’t say that, you’ll be fine. You know what, how does pizza sound for dinner tonight?,” he suggested.

“I guess that sounds okay.”

“Alright, I’ll let your mom know. But hey, it’s just high school plus you’re only a junior. What do you have to lose? Better things will come in your future,” He said joyfully.

“Hopefully, one more year left and then I get to leave for college.”

“We’ll take care and stop stressing. I’ll see you at home, Okay?”

“Okay,” I said.

I grabbed my school bag and headed out of the car. I shut the door and turned to the car, my dad rolled down the window.

“Remember it’s just High School. Have a good day!,” He shouted.

“Thanks,” I replied.

My dad was pretty strange but I wouldn’t change a thing about him. Slowly, my dad drives off down the road.  

~

When I was signing in with my ID, I reminded myself that I have Mr. Greg class first which was physics. I was a A+ student. I didn’t feel any special about being one of the smartest kids at school. I felt completely normal. I walked to the second floor towards the grey lockers to grab my binder. Physics class was down the hall.

When I entered, mostly everyone was present. The class was way too loud, I didn’t know people build up their energy so quickly. For Christ sake, I can’t even get up from my own bed. Lowell High School was a lot different from any other school in San Francisco. Sometimes, I wished that I went to a regular school. The class was completely arrange with groupies. The popular girls were on the right side in the back of the class near the windows. In front of the class, the nerds were watching Japanese Animes. The athletes were on the left, talking about last night basketball game on ESPN. And I, just sat in the middle of the class.

When I got to my seat, David came to class. I’ve known David since elementary school, David is the only latino friend I have. He was wearing a Lakers snapback, dressed in a white V-neck with black skinny jeans along with a nice pair of jordans. Sometimes, he likes to mock me in Spanish. Sadly, I didn’t understood what he was saying because I’m Italian.

David walks towards me.

“Yo Michael, guess what I found out yesterday,” he said

“What?”

“I heard Brittany moved back from New York. I didn’t believe it at first but when I was walking towards the park. I spotted Brittany and her family moving furniture from the truck on 33rd and Ortega. I didn’t say hi to her because I thought she wouldn’t recognize me, It’s been 6 years since she moved,”

“Oh that’s great, I remembered we all went to school together and fooled around”, I remembered her. Back in the old days, she was my crush. I liked her but I never told her.

“Yeah I know, We should stop by and talk to her.”

“Maybe tomorrow.”  

Before David could speak, Mr.Greg entered the room with his leather suit bag. You can tell in Mr.Greg’s face that he looked excited. Mr.Greg looked like he was around his mid 30’s. He was everyone’s favorite teacher. His class was my favorite. The student were curious about Mr. Greg thoughts.

“Okay class, I have a announcement to make,”  Mr. Greg said excitedly.

“Please, take a seat.”

Everyone tries to finds their assign seat. The class was anxious while Mr. Greg seattles his suit bag onto the desk.

“Okay, It’s a truly honor to say that our school is eligible to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. We were picked from a raffle and lucky to have such a great opportunity. More than 1,700 high school students from over 70 countries were provided and within the winner receives a $5 million award.”

At that moment, I retreated into my own head, picturing X. when Mr.Greg kept talking to the class, I faded away from the class conversation and only thought about the competition. A science and engineering fair and a $5 million award, huh? This definitely sounds that would fit me perfectly to achieve. I would have to create something that no one have ever thought about doing. I have to get started right away. All eyes will be on me, I can already imagine. The judges would be surprised and many people will be mindblown. It’s going to be a process but it’s going to be outrageous.

My mind fell out of the zone. I continued to listen to Mr. Greg. I faded away from the class conversation and only thought about the competition. A Science and Engineering Fair and a $5 million award, huh? This definitely sounds that would fit me perfectly to achieve. I would have to create something that no one have ever thought about doing. I have to get started right away. All eyes will be on me, I can already imagine. The judges would be surprised and many people will be mindblown. It’s going to be a process but it’s going to be outrageous. My mind fell out of the zone. I continued to listen to Mr. Greg.

Mr. Greg explained to the class, “From now on, I want all of you to come up with a idea and just generally brainstorm the project based on what you want to present,”

“So folks, We have to work this out and make everything seem possible. I would recommend to start now because the deadline to turn in the project is May 25.”

Its only March, I have time to work on my project. I just need the right idea to work my way through. I looked around the class, I seen that no one was interest and wasn’t planning to do their best. The only thing that I can think of is, It’s my lucky day.

David tilted his head towards me.

He mumbled to me, “This is stupid.”

“It’s not stupid, I can ace this project,” I rejected.

“We’ll you can, not me. It’s science fair project for a stupid company, these days no one is interest in intel.”

“What does this have to do with popularly?”

“Everything Mich, everything”.

~

After settling down with my parents and siblings on the dinner table eating pizza, I explained to them the science fair opportunity. They were glad to see me that I was interest in such thing. They supported me, I was also surprise as well that I was into the fair. I was wide awake, I kept thinking about Intel ISEF. I knew that it was going to be extraordinary. To me, it’s not just a science and engineering fair. It was more of a life challenge, I want to accomplish something that my parents would feel proud of me for once. Now that I realized that I became to obsess with the science fair.

I remembered my dad keeps his tools and blueprints into a little house, that he built in the backyard when I was younger. It was already midnight and everyone else was already asleep. I wanted to take a look at my dad’s private space and to search for the right tools. Soon, I decided to sneak out the backyard but before I can get anywhere my dad keeps his space private. Of course, I would have to get the keys but it was too easy to find them. I got out of my room and walked silently down the hallway. The keys were left in the kitchen. Opened the back kitchen door and ran to the small house.

“Damn, which key is it,” I said frustratedly knowing that there was 20 different keys.

Finally, I found the key to the lock. I slowly turned the lock and opened the door. I switched the lights on, everything seem completely normal. I walked inside and notice there was blueprints laying on the middle table, dust were cover on the shelfs, construction tools were attached to the wall. I didn’t see anything interest nor I found any secret. I knew my dad was hiding something but I suppose it’s not hidden here. I put my hands onto the table and thought to myself.

I notice a red glance between the blueprints, I became anxious. I pushed the blueprints onto the side and saw it was a small red button, I was a coward to push the button but I had nothing to lose. Suddenly, the walls were changing their appearance. The room was transforming I never seen such thing before. There were new silver screens, holograms of DNA’s, machines, and gears. It filled the room with such great technology, I was shocked and wonder why my dad keep this for so long or maybe he was keeping from someone?

I searched around and experiment some new gadgets. To the left, I saw a little creature that was kept inside of a large glass cylinder. The little creature was gray but looked more like a newborn puppy, It was covered with electric wires.  It was marvelous, it blew my mind, I was fantasize.  

“What are you?”,

“What type of creature is this?,”

“Are you alive?,” I questioned.

I noticed on the bottom of the glass cylinder there was a name tag. It was labeled as “Experiment 106”. My dad created a masterpiece. It was unbelieveable, I was blown away from my dad’s secret projects. Suddenly, I had gotten an idea. I thought about the Intel ISEF, I wanted to go beyond than people expected with the projects. I decided to take the creature from the lab and use it for my presentation at the fair. At the same time, I couldn’t take it away. It was my dad’s property. I didn’t know what to do, It would be counted as stealing. Everything was locked, I had to type in a code in order to release the little creature.

I started to guess random numbers,

“45678?,”

“ Access Deny,” the computer lab spoken as it flashes a red light on the pad.

“43579?,”

“Access Deny,”

“26896?,”

“Access Deny,”

“76543?,”

“Access Deny,”

“96780?,” I was getting frustrated. I knew my dad wouldn’t make a random pass code onto the computer. I thought about an important date that my dad treasures, first thing that came in mind was parents wedding date. I gave it a try.

“09197,”

“Access Approved”

My heart began to beat fast, It was nerve wracking. The red light had switch to green and the wires began to untangle from the creature body. There was a green water inside the glass cylinder that kept the creature in place, it began to empty itself until there wasn’t anymore liquid inside. My hands were shaking, I slowly took the glass cylinder. I tried to avoid my thoughts and the consequences that could happen. I approached the middle table put everything back in place, I pressed the red button, everything went back to normal. I made sure I locked everything with the right key. As I gotten back outside, I checked both sides and ran to my room.

~

I woke up the next day, It felt like I was in a dream. I looked under the bed and saw the creature laying inside of the glass cylinder, I knew it wasn’t a dream but it was now reality. I reach for my phone and called David as soon as I can, He was the only person that I trusted. I dialed the number.

“Hello?” David answered.

“David, meet me at the local park”.

“Why?”

“Because, it’s an emergency. You have to come now.

“What happened, are you alright?,” David became frighten as I heard in the tone of his voice.

“Yes, I’m completely fine. It’s about something else.”

“Alright, I’m on my way,” David ended the phone.

I got out of bed and took the glass cylinder inside of my school bag, I rushed to change clothes and headed out the door. I bumped into my mom before I can exit out of the front door.

“Michael, Where are you going at this time? You haven’t eaten your breakfast yet,”

“I know, I’m going over a friends house,” I lied.

“At this time?”

“We have a big exam that is coming up soon and we have to study.”

“But it’s only saturday.”

“Practice makes perfect, right?”

“Yeah but…” My mom didn’t know how to respond.

“Hun, just let him go. He’ll be fine.” My dad said.

“But…”

“Just let him go” He suggested.

“Alright, just don’t come back too late. Okay?”

“Thank you.”

I rushed to the door and headed my way to the park.  

~

Luckily, when I got to the park no one wasn’t there. I waited for David to come. I had a feeling he was going to freak out when he see’s the creature. I checked my bag and realized the creature wasn’t breathing nor moving. It stood silently still or maybe the process wasn’t complete as I thought it would be. David finally arrived, I was expecting that he might freak out but I knew he would understand.

“What’s the emergency?” David asked.

“I don’t know where to start but what i’m about to show you is top secret”

“Okay?”

I took out the glass cylinder from the bag, David began to freak out.

“Michael, What the hell is that?” David said with the scarness in his tone.

“I’m not sure what in the world is it but I found it at my dad’s laboratory in the back yard”

“Is it dead? It’s not moving.” He questioned.

“Hopefully, it’s not. I need it to be alive for the science fair?

“Wait wait, you stole this creature from your dad just so you can win the fair?

“Its not just any fair, it’s just…,” David stopped me before I could finish my sentence.  

“This is about the money isn’t it, the 5 million award? Your parents are already rich, What more do you need?”

“I don’t want the money,”

“I just want to go big and do the best that I can.” I tried to explained.

“Look, I understand you want to go huge on this but isn’t this just too much?”

“No, I know this can work but…”

I felt something shaking, it was the little gray creature moving around in the glass cylinder. The creature was opening it’s eyes. They were shaded blue but form like a goats eyes. It looked furious. Inside, the creature was going insane. I got scared and threw the glass cylinder across the grass. It had hit a tree and broke the glass, I absolutely made a huge mistake.

“David, stay calm.”

“What the hell are we going to do,” The fear in his voice he cried.

The creature slowly got up from the ground and onto it’s 4 legs, it started to stretch like it was asleep for many years. The creature looked from both sides, it was confused and lost. A coat of fur began to grow on the body and claws were getting sharp by the minute. Within the time, the creature started to get big,. The create  was getting upset, so it begun to howl and hiss at us. Step by step, It was slowly moving towards our direction.

“Run!,” I shouted. There was no time to lose, we had to make a run for it.

We ran and ran deep into the woods, we noticed it was endless. We were being chased by the grey coated creature. I was losing my breath, my heart beating like crazy, the warm blood were rushing in my veins and sweat were dripping down my face.

“This is hopeless, we have to climb a tree!”

“No, we have to go back to my house?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“This is my fault... I’m the one who caused this problem and now I have to fix it,”

The woods seem like you would see something from a horror film. There wasn’t any sign of the creature so we stopped behind a tree to catch our breath. We stood completely still in one place.

“So whats your plan? How are we going to get out of this crap?” David said silently.

“There has to be sometime injection inside my dad’s laboratory”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive, I remember seeing a green chemical inside the lab. It should be able to work. The creature is created made by genetic, on the other hand it’s a clone. It is able to be stopped.”  

I was hoping, my plan would work. I don’t want to fail. We heard footsteps, it was getting closer and closer.

“Whatever happens, just keep running.”

“Alright then, this just better work!,”

“I’ll distract the thing, while you make a run for it.” David suggested.

I was afraid. The creature found us hiding behind the tree. The creature was aiming at David, as he was distracting the wild beast. David dodge when the creature tried to jump on him, he soon grabbed a wooden stick and slam the creature against the tree.  

“Go, Go!” David shouted.

We ran for our lives.

~

We were running like the speed of lightening. We put as much energy as we could before the creature was able to attack us. This mess was all my fault, I shouldn’t have touch anything. I was way over the top to think a creature for a science fair would be a good idea, I was wrong.

We finally got to the house and noticed the creature kept chasing us. Me and David ran inside but luckily the door was open. We shut the door before the creature was able to get inside. The moment was intense.

“Dad, Dad!” I shouted.

My dad rushed downstairs. He questioned, “Michael, what is going on?”.

“You have to help us,” I begged.

“Dad, Listen I’m sorry. I stole your experiment from the laboratory, I shouldn’t have took done such thing in the first place. You have to help me, it’s coming after us.”

“You took experiment 106? Michael, that clone is way too dangerous,”

“Did you not read the label that was above the glass cylinder?,” He said angrily.

“That’s why I need you to help me, I know you have an injection that can stop this creature.”

“Michael, you put me and the family to crisis!”

“Where is experiment 106?”

“It’s outside.” I was disappointed in myself.

“In public? You let it out in PUBLIC?”

“The glass cylinder broke and got away, I wasn’t able to stop it”

The door was banging, it was the creature. I looked to the side of the living room and seen  my mom holding the twins tight in her arms by telling them, that everything is going to be okay. Deep inside, they were scared to death.

“Honey, take the kids upstairs.” My dad requested.

My mom obeyed and took the kids to the room upstairs.

“Michael and David, I want you both to go upstairs as we’ll”

“Dad, This is my mess. I need to fix it.”

“No, it’s too dangerous,” My dad said with a worried in his face.

“I can handle this, I swear I can,” I wanted to be brave.

“I can too sir.” David said.

“Alright follow me.”

My dad requested us to distract the creature while he was able to get the injection from the laboratory.

“Hey, hey. Over here you little freak” Shouted David as he was slamming against the trash cans.

I as we’ll took slapped the metal trash cans together. The creature was running back and forth, it seems like the loud banging voice of the trash cans were bothering it.

“Tackle it and hold it still” My dad cried.

“How?”

“Grab it from the behind, It may be strong but its the only way.”

We ran towards the creature. The creature growled so hard that it even hurt my hearing. Next thing, I noticed was that me and david were wrestling the creature. It was strong and husky, the creature pulled out it’s claws and scraped my face and arms. I was bleeding and so was David. Our clothes were getting ripped and dirty from the mud. We put as much strength as we could.

“STEADY, keep it still.”

“Hold on,”

“Watch out!”

The needle was the size of a nail tool and the liquid inside was bright green but thick as blood. It made me nauseous just by looking at it.

“That will do, It’s a injection that is able to kill the creature. I kept it secure for in case of emergencies.” My dad explained.

The creature was slowly closing it’s eyes, and wasn’t putting force onto itself. It was slowly dying. I was glad, the situation was almost over.

“Here, that will do… for now.”

I was finally able to breath, I was exhausted.

Later that day, My dad set up a bonfire. The only solution to keep this creature away was to burn it into ashes. I watching the creature melting into the fire, It was unbelievable scene. The creature was now gone.

The beginning .

“Mom! Mom! I got my letter.”

Having the letter in my hand looking at it. I was so happy, and enhances. it few like I was waiting for this letter for years when it was only 7 months. Most people like to be the one to open their letter but I was scared. I didn’t know if I was going to get into to the high school that I wanted. My mother walked in the room looking confused.

“What letter are you talking about ?”

“My Letter is here, my high school acceptance letters. I’m scared to open it can you open it for me ?”

I felt like I was going to cry when I gave her the letter.

“Sure sweetie, are you ready?” with a smile on her face.

“I remember when I got me my high school acceptance letters. It was years ago.”

“Mom can you tell me the story later and open the letter”

I want to say mom I don’t care,  just open the letter you're taking to long.  

“Okay okay” she said .

She started to tear the side of the envelope, that how she open it. She don’t like to open it from the top. She says that opening it from the side is much easier. She started read the paper out loud.

“Dear Ms.Jean Here are your five schools you applied. If you don’t get into any of the schools you will not be allowed to go to high school. You will Have to go get your blue papers and start look like for a job that will take for. ”

I didn’t want to start working yet, I wanted to go to school to get more education before looking for a job. I started to remember when My mom told me about when her mother was a kid and everyone have to go school. And if you didn’t go to school you would get a good job. But this was in the year 2041, and it 2094 and a lot of things changed. My mom looked at me and read the schools name.

“Reddy Science High - accepted”

I like that school but it’s not my dream High school.

“Union High school - accepted”

This school with one the the biggest school I applied to. I’m scared it might be too big.

“Mac Smith Math High - accepted Dream High - accepted ”

These school was my safety school. I know I would be able to get in. I have a 38 GPA and the highest GPA is 45.

“And last but not less the High school I know you want to get into Central High School -- accepted.”

My mom gave me the letter . I wanted to start crying but I was to in shock to say anything. Today was a day that I will never forget. Central High school is one of the top school, I get to live at school and meet new people. This is the only school I really wanted to go to. Everything change, the stories I would hear about how My great grandma would Went to college and got her master and still couldn’t get a new job. To me that sounds sad, I didn’t understand how that could happen.

First day !

First day of Central high school the school was so big. We drove 20 miles from the city to the suburbs. There wasn’t a lot of noise outside. It was like no one was there walking on the sidewalk. Looking out the window Waiting to see the my dream school My mom started to talk to me.

“Sweetie I’m really going to miss you. It’s going to be different without you being there with me.”

Tears started to come down her face.

“I remember when you was a baby, changing your diapers, doing your hair and making sure you ate your vegetables”

“imma miss you to mom,” I said.

“Now I want you to work hard not get into any trouble at the school. You know they will kick you out if you do. ” she said wiping her tears.  

“I know mom I know mom.”

We go up to the front out the school. When there were hundreds of kids just like me waiting to start their first day. I got out the car went to the truck and got my bags and suitcases. My mom came over and help me out. I looked at the mansion-like building. Everyone was walking through the big front door. As me and my mom follow everyone else , there was a Man wearing all black suit. He had blue eye and blond spiky hair.

“Welcome to Central high school my name is Eric. I’m the Dean of the school. I will be making sure you kids who are young adult now, get the best education. If you can come follow me, I will be showing where your kids can sign in, get there rooms, and their food card.”

I was so happy, I know I was going to make new friends. Their was 5 line so the students can sign in. I hope this don’t take all day. 30 mins passed I get to the front of the line.

“Next! ” Said Mike, it was on his name tag.

“Hey” replied back nervously

“What your name?”

“My name is Carly Jean”

“Here’s your Room number 307 here is you key, you will be rooming with two others girls. If you lose your key come to the office and they will give you a new one, but please try not to lose it. Here your food card. You get breakfast, lunch, and dinner free. You will have 2500 points for other foods like snacks throughout the year.”

“Thank you”

Eric walked in the room with this big smile on his face. His smile make you feel like you going to drop to the floor how pretty his smile is.

“You might being having the dean as your new father.” My mom turns to look at me.

“ Ill mom, don’t say that ...” I look at her like she crazy. I can’t see my mother being with the dean of Central high school the school. He probably makes more money than my mother plus some of the parents. I can see him in his big house with lots of cars.

“It looks like everyone is almost done here. This is the time when the student and parents say their goodbyes. If the parents have any question you can come to me call the school or email me. I will answer any of your question. We will be seeing you in three months for visiting day.” Eric said .

“My baby is all grown up now. You can call me anytime to talk. If you need anything call. I love you Carly Jean.” saying While my mom hugged me so hard that I felt that I couldn’t breath. I tried to move my arm up so I can hug her back.

“Mom I can’t move.”

“Im sorry” I pick my arm to give her a real hug. After the hug my mother gave me a kiss on the forehead. She started to walk away from me. I remember I didn’t say I love you to her . “Mom I love you!” I yelled not caring who seen me.

“Okay student everyone grab a map of the school and go to Central Living building there are 10 floors in that building. Whatever is the first number to your room number you will be the floor your room is located. After finding your room you will have until 1:30 until we will meet at the ballroom.” Eric told us.

I was scared I didn’t know anyone in the school. I was hope the my roommate was going to be nice and fun to be around. I was so nervous that I was thinking of how I was going to say Hey to them . Hey my name is Carly Jean I'm your roommate. Or Wassup my name is Carly Jean. I also wanted to know if my roommate was going to me all freshman or mix of classes? Their was so many question in my mind. I follow everyone to central living building. There were elevator and stairs . I didn’t like the elevators because one day I got stuck in between the 3rd and 4th floor of my mothers jobs. She works as a Lawyer at so fancy building. After that day I never want to get on the elevator. So I took the stair as some people waited for that elevator to come back down.

When I got to the 3rd floor I started to look for my room. The hallway was long and narrow, It felt like I was walking for year looking for my room. I finally found my room 307. I used my key to open the door. I felt like I was a grown person. I didn’t have my mom here, and i didn’t know anyone. One I open the door I see a tall girl with long black hair. She was so pretty that i felt like the school was fill with beautiful people. Looking at the girl she made me feel like I wasn’t as pretty as I was People always told me that I was pretty but looking that her she made me feel avenger looking.

“Hey my name is Carly Jean.” I said not knowing if she was going to be nice or mean to me. I was hoping we like the same thing so we can get alone.

“Hey Carly nice to meet you! My name is Helen.” Said Helen with a big smile on her face. She even had straight teeth.

“Nice to meet you Helen.”

“So I picked my bed it’s this one” she point to the bed on the left of the room. There was three twin size bed in the room. Three working spaces with lamps and a flat screen t.v, they even have refrigerator. One bed was on the left side against the wall that the one Helen pick. One bed was in the back right next to the window I wanted that one. I wanted to look outside and see everywhere. I come see the fields and the mean building where we are going to be learning at.  The other bed was on the right side it was against the wall. We all had desks next to our beds. all the beds look alike and so do the desk.

“I think I’m going to pick the bed right to the window.” I said to Helen as I walk to the bed.

“Are you ready to take the test?” asked Helen as she unpack her things.

“Ugh I’m scared I want to do well on this test .” I replied

“You're going to be fine just don’t think about it too much.” she said smiling.

I started to unpack my things as I see a short girl with glasses on walk through the door. As she walk in,

“Hey everyone ! My name is Rita”

“Hey Rita my name is Helen”

“Hey Rita my name is Carly”

“We pick I bed already the only bed left is the right side one.” I said pointing to the bed.

“Hey you guy It’s almost 1:30. We have 15 mins, we should leave around leave in ten minutes.” Helen pointed out to us.

“Rita you ready for the test their about to give us” I asked

“I don’t know, I didn’t know what type of test it would be? I’m nervous”as she unpack her thing on to her bed.

“I know I’m not going to finish unpacking right now.” Helen said.

“Same here” rita and I said at the same time.

“Let stated going to the Ballroom before we end up being late.” Rita said

When we got to the ball room everyone was taking their seat. Helen, Rita and I sat right next to each other. Eric walked in the room and went to the stadium.

“Alright everybody take a seat we’re about to get started. So as many of you know you’re going to be taking a test. This test does not affect anything just let us know what you know already. Try your best and we will help you become smarter. Goal is to make sure that everyone has a IQ of 1800 or more.”  Eric said.

“That high number for the IQ test” Rita look worried saying it.

“The test will start after this speech. You will be ok, just try your best. Everyone will get a going to a class room. the teacher will come and count the people to go to the classroom. ” Eric said

A teacher came over to where I was sitting and started counting us off. The teacher walk us to the classroom . We all sat down, they gave us a the test and pencils.

“Here the test no talking. If you don’t know something you can skip it, It will have all the time you  need to finish the test. Good Luck! ” The teacher told us .

The test was a package, I felt like I wasn’t going to finish this all today. I started to look in the test to see what i know in the test. It really wasn’t that bad. I got a lot done in about 40 mins, but most of the people felt the classroom. There was some question I couldn’t answer so I got up and walk to the teacher gave her the pencils and test.

“Ok your done you can go get some lunch and class will start 2 days from now.” The teacher said quietly .

I turn to see if Rita and Helen was still taking the test, but only Helen was in the room. So I walk in the cafe, think to myself, if I did good on this test even if I there no good or bad grade for this I will still want to be very smart. I finally got to the cafe. I walked up to the lunch line to pick something to eat . They had everything that you can think about from pizza to hotdog. Everything you wanted was here. I got a hotdog and an apple juice. I started to look for somewhere to sit.

“Carly ! Carly over here, I have a seat for you ” Rita was yelling and waving her hand.

I walked over to her and took a seat.

“Hey how long you been here ?” I asked

“I got here 5 minutes ago. They have everything here, I ever have so much food and one place.” Rita

“I know right! Well we have two day to look around and see everything here.”

“Oh yes, I want to see everything. I hear they have a pool, I think we should go swimming.”

“That sound funny!” I said

Later that day I was walking around that until I got lost. These hallway all look the same after a while. But I seen Eric walking so I started to walk behind I didn’t want to yell. But he walk in this room. The room was filled with computer and scientists.

“They kids are so dumb . They would be able to get 1800 on the IQ test. Do you have what I need? ” Eric said looking mad.

“Yes , Sir . I’m done make the GS shot. This is will make sure they will get higher than 1800 on the IQ test.” a scientist said with a smile on his face.

“Good we will started tomorrow! These kids are not going to make my school look bad .” as he started to walk back to me. I started to look for somewhere to hide. I was behind the door. I was still lost and I didn’t want to ask Eric after finding out that he going to give us shot to make us smarter. I started to think the I wasn’t smart . But I didn’t know where I was at so I follow Eric until I got to the cafe again. I ran to my room, where Helen and Rita was there.

“Hey where you been ?” Helen asked

“I got lost and guess what I seen Eric and some scientists, and they made a shot called the GS shot. It’s how the students get smarter. I don’t like the idea of this. What if we die, or what if we get something for it . I don’t like the sound of this. Eric keep saying that we was not smart and we all need the shots.” I said.

“What that not right! “ Helen said.

“I think we should tell everyone what happening.” Rita said .

“Yes, but we need to show them the GS shot.” I replied .

“We will need to go to the lab and get the the shot” Helen said.

“We should go to the lab tonight and go get the GS shot I want everyone to know about it,” It started to make me mad that he call me dumb. I was one of the told people in my class. “ let go right now because I think he is not in there now” I said

“Your right let go” Rita said putting her shoes on.

We all went downstair to the stairs to the lab. I looked inside to see if there was anyone in there but there wasn't. We all slipped up to look for something call the GS shot.

“I found it” Rita yelled.

“Lets go” I said.

We ran up stair but in to our room, locked up our door.

“Tomorrow I going to call the police and tell the school.” Helen said.

“Yes let go to sleep.” Rita said.

In the morning we got when to go get something to eat people was talking about the meeting with Eric. After eating Eric starting his meeting in the cafe

“Goodmorning student, today I’m going to be talking to you about a shot the you're going to have to get. This shot will make sure you don’t get sick, ” said Eric

“You're lying!” said Rita.

“Yea you're lying!” said Helen.

“We know what's the shot is for to get us smarter you say that we was the dumbest student. And I have the shot with me.” I said  Showing everyone “It’s call the GS shot. He made scientists make it so we can get smarter. But we don’t know if it can hurt us or even kill us.” I said.

“How did you get that ?” said Eric.

The police walk over.

“Do you know Illegal for shot like this ? You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?” said the police officer walking away with Eric.

“Yes we did it now we can learn without no chemicals in our body,” Rita said.

Jason Greene y Harry Freed, arquitectos

Cliente: Tomás Arango

Nuestro cliente se llama Tomás Arango. Es muy listo y feliz. Tiene 15 años. Vive en el Centro de la ciudad. Le encanta skateboarding y jugar videojuegos. Le mucho gusta plantas, y le gusta verde y la playa.

La casa de Tomás es en la playa en Los Angeles. Es cerca de un parque y un supermercado. Es una casa mediana, moderno, sofisticado, y elegante. La casa tiene dos pisos. Es muy bueno para perros y gatos. En la piso primero de la casa, Tomás tiene muchos partidos.

• La sala de estar tiene dos consolas y una mesa para la tele fantástica.

• En el dormitorio de Tomas, hay una piscina caliente.

• El comedor tiene cuatro sillas elegante y una mesa.

• Hay a baño en el piso primero  y cuatro dormitorios en el piso segunda.

• Tiene un bidé y un lavamanos en el baño.

• No hay un sótano en la casa de Tomás.

• Tiene una nevera frío, una estufa, y una fregadero.

• Hay muchos videojuegos divertidos.

• En el piso segunda, hay un baño más, con una ducha.

• Tiene un invernadero grande, también.

Fotos:

El piso primero y el invernadero:

La fachada (muy narcisista)

Michdars CO.

Michael & Darius Real Estate

Cliente: Pearl Jonas

Foto:

Descripción De la Persona: Nuestra cliente, Pearl Jonas, es muy atlético y simpático. Le gusta colore verde. Vive en filadelfia. Le Gustaría correr y leer.

Descripción de la Casa:

• Uno pisa.

• La sala de ejercicios es grande.  

• Mediana garaje.

• Tres baños.

• Maestro dormitorio y cuatro regular dormitorio.

• Jardin es magnifico.

• Cerca de un parque y supermercado y transporte público.

Peticiones: Mediana, Antigua, Dos pisos, Divertida/Vibrante, Con jardín, Un cuarto para ejercicio, verdes.

House Blue Print

Picture 1

Picture 2

Designed by Darius and Michael from Michdars Co. Real Estate

It feels lonely and cold to lock myself up like this. To hide from everyone, my entire family, all my friends, my peers, and people I love. To be unable to hold or physically touch the humans I care about..is the most unfortunate and torturing thing I have ever experienced and I believe there is no other person in this earth that goes through this conflict like I do. The fear and images that flash in my mind when I touch someone is unbelievable. To be able to predict someone’s death through a touch..is the worst gift anyone can ever receive.

My name is Kayler  and when I was fourteen years old, I was riding the train to school in the morning. It was extremely crowded and I just needed to get to school on time. The train station I ride is one of the most popular train stations in my city to get to any part of the city you need to go to. Especially during rush hour, it made it worse, it was just packed, the train couldn’t hold anymore people and workers made announcement to ask riders to wait for the next train to arrive. Usually robberies do happen since I was getting on the station where most poverty exists. I saw a man in a black coat with a brief case running away from three policeman that was happening nearly a block away from me. He was running through people, shoving them and pushing them in order to escape from the cops.

“Stop!”

“Stop now!”

The police kept yelling while chasing the man.  I thought it was just a robbery, maybe he stole that brief case from someone. It was no surprise to me, it wasn’t the first time I saw a robbery happening while waiting for my train to head to school. I looked away and continued to listen to my MP3 player. Suddenly, I heard a huge explosion and the ground shook. I lost balance right away and fell onto the ground and everyone around me started screaming. People also fell and half my body was crushed by two other people and I could not hear anything after that. All I heard was faint yelling and crying, and my vision was blurry. I started to see some smoke and haze as I looked up, trying to pull my legs out underneath from someone else on top of me. I started to feel dizzy and passed out. I came to the conclusions that it was just a bomb explosion. I passed out and from that day, my life has not been the same.

It been a few months after the incident, I started catching buses to school instead of the train. My parents were traumatized by the small nuclear bomb explosion that happened months ago at my train station. It was closed for a while anyway and I don’t mind riding a few buses to school. It’s a lot less crowded than taking that train.

“Oh my god is already 8:10” I got off my last bus to walk to school, and started to speed walk and turned up my music louder. I was too busy trying to change the song on my MP3 player that I bumped into a lady shorter than me. I looked up and caught her by her shoulders. It was a senior citizen, a frail small lady.

“Sorry!” I felt bad, she looked startled even though I ran into her sofly . She just nodded and walked away.

I continued to walk the couple of blocks I had left. As I walked farther from her, I somehow had these thoughts I couldn’t control. I kept seeing images of her in my head getting hit by a car. It was so strange, why am I even imagining this happening to her? I couldn’t stop thinking about it and I couldn’t stop seeing it in my head. The exactly images was her crossing the street and a minivan didn’t break into and hit her, and she just tumbled over. Something didn’t feel right, my gut was telling to turn back around and go make sure she is okay.

As I pulled out my earphones and started to run backwards to find her two blocks down, I started to trembled at the thought. My palms got sweaty, my legs started shaking as I was jogging. I ran down the block to the stop sign and there she was. Laying on the ground in front of a minivan, passed out. A local crossing guard from the other street heard the car and went to go check. She started yelling that the senior citizen no longer has a pulse. If only I was faster, she wouldn’t had died. If only I hadn’t touched her, maybe I wouldn’t had saw that coming. It was a strange feeling,

“How did this thought come to my mind?”

“Why?  how did I know she gonna get hit by a car?”

I ask myself a lot of question that day, but it just a mystery. I can't answer my own question. I got to school late that day. In class instead of pay attention to my teacher and learn how the earth orbit around the sun. I was in wonderland trying to answer these mystery question.

Times go by really fast, it had been 5 years after that crazy incident happen with the lady. I’m nineteen years old attending to a university near home now . I was getting dressed for a close friend’s birthday dinner party. I was anxious because I can’t wait to take pictures and I heard there’s going to be a really special surprise there by my best friend’s boyfriend, Kevin  specifically for my Katrina. I arrived to the dinner party and we are having an amazing time. Later that night when is time for my her to cut the her cake. The light are off and Kevin slowly walk out the the crow and pull out the ring in front of Katrina.

“Will you marry me?”

At first she just cried and screamed.

“Yes!”

It was so sweet, it was such a surprise. She was such a happy, beautiful girl at that moment. A month later, my Katrina told me that her fiancé is taking an airplane to another state for an internship for a few weeks with a big business company. I stopped by his apartment to wish him good luck for his internship because I heard it’s going to be competitive. I just stopped by and had a drink then right before he closed his door, I gave him a quick hug.

The day Katrina’s fiancé had to leave onto the airplane, I woke up from a really bad nightmare. In the dream, I saw an airplane crashing while trying to land at an airport and then I saw Katrina weeping and sobbing on the floor claiming that’s the airplane that her fiancé was on. I was so sweaty when I woke up, this reminds me of what happened to the poor old lady 5 years ago. I started to cry in bed because I had no clue what to do. My gut was telling me to tell Katrina right away but I don’t want to sound like a mentally insane person. It was 6AM and realized that his airplane was departing at 8AM. I couldn’t take it anymore, I called Katrina and she picked up and sounded very sleepy.

“Katrina I need to come to your house right now is really important” .

“What going? Are you okay?

“Is something importance, I’m on my to your house right now”

I drove quickly to her apartment. I cried so much in front of her, I had such a hard time explaining to her about the nightmare. I wasn’t able to tell her what happened with senior citizen because she not gonna understand. “Kayler is okay, stay calm and stop crying.” She hug my very tight that I can barely breath.  She called Kevin and explain what happen while they were talking I took the phone from her hand

“Kevin please do not get on that plane.”

“Listen to me for once, please Kevin.”

“But Katrina I have to get on this airplane right now” He hang up the phone.

I was shaking so much, it was the worst feeling ever. I left and went back to my home. I cried in bed for hours and that nightmare kept flashing by in my mind. I knew he was arriving at his destination around 5PM. I turned on the news around the time and there it was. Breaking news, a plane crashed. I called Katrina , when she picked up, her voice was trembling, she was crying and couldn’t the words out her mouth. Her fiancé’s airplane was the one that crashed while landing at the airport.

I am able to visualize the death of certain people in my lives after I touch them. “Is it because of the nuclear bomb explosion incident when I was fourteen years old? ”

After the accident I have been isolating myself among my loved ones. The entire experience has psychologically and emotionally changed me as a person, overall. I became a fearful, depressed and mentally unstable adult. I ended up transferring to another university and moving a few states away from home. My family and close friends has questioned my sudden move out and I no longer speak to my best friend of which her fiancé passed away due to the airplane accident. My life reverted from that moment on and I just can’t look back. I would much rather move far away and not create relationships or friendships with anyone in order to keep myself from feeling guilty or hurting anyone close to me. I would rather not use this “gift” of mine. It is harmful and it only causes emotional stress upon myself and people I really love.

A new environment has made me feel better about my life. No attachments to other people meant no one nor myself was getting hurt. I spent the past two years trying to forget these terrible memories and not think about my “special ability”. But for the past month, all the memories have been flashing back inside my head, over and over again. It is all coming back and I have no clue how to stop it again. It is haunting me, day and night. Even in my dreams, I can no longer sleep well without seeing the old lady get hit by a car again or my best friend sobbing because of her fiancé death from the airplane accident. This was hurting me all over again. I have decided to spend tonight on my kitchen floor drinking until my blood streams are filled with alcohol. I’m gonna be so intoxicated to the point where I need to forget these memories. Even if it means to abuse my own body.

Continuing onto my alcohol addiction now, it has not help me at all. I have only been able to wake up with headaches and still nightmares almost every night about everything. I have decided: enough is enough. If I don’t help myself, no one is going to help me. I need to reach out to someone. I feel lonely and worthless. I miss my family and all my friends back home. I can’t return home until I get rid of this “ability” or get over my fears. It’s like a monster inside, no one can destroy it except for myself.

I have visited a local psychology clinic in my city to seek help right away. I was able to contact and get in touch with the most well known psychologist there. His name is Dr. Emeric and he is specialized in hallucinations. Although my issues are clearly not hallucinations, but there is still a lot going on inside my head and maybe he can help me out with it. Explaining this whole thought process is going to be difficult. Katrina  thought I was crazy when I was warning her about her fiancé death.

As I spoke to Dr. Emeric from the very start and to the very end of my memories, he has no words but a phrase “interesting” which is the most cliché word that every psychologist usually says after he listens to a crazy person speak on their behalf. I still felt hopeless because his expression only changed a little bit. He told me to return back the following week for another appointment. I don’t really look forward to it but I will surely give it another try because I’m not giving up yet.

After I got home, I spent a few hours online researching about the nuclear bomb explosion that happened years ago. I never really looked into because every time I read about it somewhere, it made me feel nervous and it made my anxiety worse. This is just the post trauma that I have experienced. I literally went through dozens of articles online to see if there anyone else out there like me. Someone who went through a similar problem like me, someone who understands my pain of this “ability”, or someone who has this same exact ability. I was desperate to hope there was information about the nuclear bomb, maybe some other substance that it’s made out of. Because this is not a normal nuclear bomb if it has literally psychologically messed up my brain and gives me the ability to visualized some people’s death. That just isn’t normal and I am trying every way to dig up facts about this incident.

I was interviewed for a new job at a local office near my home. I decided to give it a try because I was offered a higher salary than where I was working at currently. I didn’t really like staying at one spot for too long, I started to become too friendly to my co workers and the goal of moving to this city was to stay isolated to avoid pain and harming others. Moving to this new job, there is a guy that sits across the room from me.  He name is Ivan and every morning when I see him he asked me if i want a cup of coffee he voice is very polite and sweet. I have no really had interactions like this with my co workers for a very long time being able to see someone’s smile like that towards me feels very heart warming. I miss human connections and feelings. But I must keep my distance to avoid any harm.

I came to Dr. Emeric’s office for a following appointment, he has prescribed to me anti depressants and I knew that was going to happen. That is the usual for being diagnosed with hallucinations. I told Dr. Emeric that we need to go into more depth for my illness because I need to get the bottom of everything. He told me it takes patience and time and Emeric wanted to also do further research into the nuclear bomb explosion incident. I told him I already did that and I found completely nothing. Dr. Emeric sounded like he hesitated to do this but towards the end of our appointment, he told me that he’s going to have to refer to me to a scientist to talk about.

I got home that day in a very bad mood. I don't know what to do and again I want to separate myself from the world.  I started to feel depressed and the only thing I can do now is to see Ivan. Ivan comforted me and the only one who understood me. He was there when I needed him. A connection between Ivan and I are becoming stronger and stronger.

I learned a lesson. Ivan was there for me. I was never independent. He was someone out there in the world and now I found him. The person who has helped me and understood me for my own illness and my physical appearance.

A giant metal behemoth span through orbit at thousands of miles an hour. Moth like in appearance, the middle was a cylinder roughly the size of the Hubble Telescope and each of its wings were thin layers of absolute darkness that covered a quarter of a kilometer.

EC21-2,750 began to warm up the laser in its central cylinder. Flying through space it was the pinnacle of modern technology*, and launching the first one (EC21-1) into space had almost driven it’s developers bankrupt. Its four large solar fans could unfold 500 meters out and 500 meters wide, and during lift off literally weighed tons. Nobody knew if the firing system would be adversely affected during lift off. It hadn’t been. It had functioned perfectly, and its 27,659th grandchild was about to follow in its footsteps.

Its large onboard battery didn’t heat at all as the orbiting stating prepared to fire its laser. That would be emitting frequency in infrared, and when it emitted a wavelength the station always made sure it was much stronger than that. The onboard computer of the station recognized the location and began firing the laser, a ray so strong that the eye couldn’t register seeing it and so tight a wavelength that it wobbled less than the nucleus of a hydrogen atom. A pillar of these threads of light punched through the atmosphere relaying the power to a station on the ground.

Energy Collection model 21 unit 2,750 had deposited its power, and mere seconds afterwards, EC25-2,483,950 also deposited its energy.

*Or it had been for about 6 months, but that was a year ago, so it was still moderately groundbreaking. Not like the EC10 class. Those guys were amazingly outdated.

Amelia looked at the the flower. Its petals were brown and slightly curled, as it lay in the garden. She packed the dirt around its base, and plucked a withered leaf off it.

The rest of the garden was in a similar state of disrepair. Plants that would normally be growing well were dying, and some plants had already assumed that it was fall and started dropping their leaves. She loyally crawled through the beds of plants, pruning and letting them devote more energy to things towards new leaves rather than those already withered.

As Amelia lay back she shuddered. Even in the middle of the day, the light felt dim. Turning in disgust she left the garden and moved into her house. Locking the door behind her Amelia moved inside, turning on the lights in every room, not because she was scared but… well, not not because she was scared. Generally she didn’t. Her parents had driven it into her that she shouldn’t keep the lights on, because they didn’t like paying the electric bill. Oh, and because it would kill the planet, but nobody liked mentioning that. Of course now she had to pay the electric bills, but if she wanted to pay a little more today she could. It was a liberating feeling.

As her computer began to download a video to watch in her downtime, its screen displayed the pre-downloaded news. More incidents of crimes taking place in the dark, of pot use changing to psychedelic mushrooms due to the scarcity of marijuana, and of a government official being bribed. No one cited the massive Energy Collectors as the reason for this, but almost all of the ads were purchased by the EC. Most ads on the net were these days. She furrowed her brow at the screen, but it quickly relaxed as the video began to play.

Amelia drove to work in her electric car. The prevalent use of smart cars may have horrified cultures of the past, but it was pragmatic after a time. ‘Gas Stations’ got discounts and bought electricity through bulk purchases, and also used a higher amperage than what was used in normal electric lines. They had no qualms that the world had switched over to electric.

As she stopped at a light, she saw a V of birds flying south overhead, preparing for the winter. 3 months early. While that was strange and unnatural, it wasn’t that surprising. It felt like fall, the days were shorter and it was colder than normal. As the light stopped, she saw one bird fall from the flock fall to the ground, crashing into a sidewalk.

Amelia looked at it again. She checked her watch. She did some math. The light turned green, and she crossed the street, pulled over to the side of the road and got out. The bird flapped a little.

She looked at it. Amelia didn’t know if she wanted to get close to it. Birds weren’t the most cleanly creatures, and if it was still alive it might bite. Or peck, since birds don’t have teeth… Regardless, she just kind of squatted next to it, looking down at its once flapping body. The bird didn’t move. Amelia moved her head closer, for a better look. The bird didn’t move. She kind of nudged it with her foot. The bird was moved, but didn’t react at all.

Finally at peace that the little bird wouldn’t somehow kill her, Amelia got down to looking at the details of what the little bird looked like. Sad was apparently the answer. Other than the fall having looked like it broke its wing, the bird looked completely starved, its little skeleton almost visible beneath its feathers.

Amelia sat there for a second, pondering of the strange events. The bird moving south early and the bird starving to death in the process was just strange. The bird had starved to death flying south for the winter. Except that the expectation of winter was a lie brought on by darker days, later sunrises and earlier sunsets.

She stopped her pondering to check her watch, and saw that she had to stop her pondering for a bit more time than that.

Taking out her cellphone, she snapped off a quick picture of the bird, and then on a spur of the moment decision she picked it up and put it in her trunk before going off to work.

“Ms. Smith!” Johnny said “Is this right?”

Amelia smiled down at him, if you could really call a smile that thin a “smile”. It was a grimace stretched out and curled up at the ends.

“Indoor voices Johnny” Amelia rebuked “But yes, that’s correct good job.”

Johnny smiled back, completely missing Amelia’s annoyance, and dumped all the puzzle pieces back onto the floor so he could put it together again. She made eye contact with the other teacher across the room. Mrs. Clifford looked back, and nodded. The kids were getting a bit too loud, and it was time to begin the next activity.

Mrs. Clifford stood in front of the class, and smiled gaudily.

“Okay everyone, it’s drawing time! Ms. Smith is handing out paper, make sure to say thank you, and today we’ll draw about the last time you saw a shooting star. Draw yourself and the star in one picture, and then we’ll draw what you wished for in the next one. Yes Daphne?”

“What’s a star?”

Amelia swooped in next to Daphne to handle the miniature crisis.

“Stars honey, the lights in the sky that come out at night?”

Daphne furrowed her brow.

“I don’t remember seeing lights at night. It’s just dark.” Daphne said.

“I’m sure you just go to bed too early for it.” Amelia replied and straightened to walk away.

“I haven’t either!” Said Johnny, “And I didn’t go to bed until ten last week!”

The other kids looked at him with slight awe. He puffed up his chest in pride.

“I’ve seen them,” floated the dreamy voice of Sarah from across the classroom “but not for awhile. I think they just don’t like coming out any more”

“I don’t know what to draw” Johnny complained, “can you show me pictures”

“Draw dots on the sky, with yourself underneath it.” Mrs. Clifford intervened, “And then draw your wish on another paper.”

The kids finally settled down and started making drawing.

“Do they really not know what stars look like?” Amelia

“I don’t know.”Mrs. Clifford replied.

“I know that they need to know.” She said, her mouth a smile. A tight smile.

Amelia had decided that a mass email to all of the parents at school over their children’s ignorance was bad idea, but she still could try and remedy the problem. She was about halfway through creating a website for public awareness when she found another website made to do the same thing, and she learned that she hadn’t been halfway done with her website. In fact Amelia might never have been able to accomplish what the Association Against Energy Collectors had with only the online ‘make your own website’ kit she had been using for free. The AAEC homepage was stark and annoyingly devoid of graphics; except it had a tiered forum system that allowed people to share information globally, super-regionally, regionally, and locally. Of course she joined immediately, and in a moment of weakness she used her actual name.

All of the forums had pictures of strange behaviors by animals, stories about societal breakdowns, and the question of why energy wasn’t free. Of course all forums had their share of mystics who hated Earth’s separation from the stars and people who complained about the economic plight of the Middle East in a post-oil world, but internet trolls were always a result of open discourse.

As Amelia followed the information, she realized that there wasn’t any single place that compiled all of the information. While of the forums had similar information, none had any real numbers, none stated things politely, and none gathered information about world wide similarities. Slightly annoyed, she clicked the email box in the corner of her screen and sent an email.

The information on the local forums included birds migration and crime rates, but the primary focus was on a local rally. Apparently there was a public relations department of the EC was close by, and the rally there was supposed to support civilian sunlight rights. It was important, but was really just a stepping stone for a larger rally that would be happening at EC headquarters themselves later in the year, which also was thankfully close. The thread was mostly about what signs people should carry. After a moment of thought Amelia posted that they should just carry birds in.

As Amelia was just about ready to hibernate her computer and start work on a lesson plan, she received a reply from the system admin.

Amelia Smith,

While we appreciate your drive, we don’t have anyone to devote to that. As a mainly volunteer organization, AAEC would be happy to post your articles, if you actually write them.

Amelia checked her watch. She had some time, and she had Excel on her laptop. She could get some work done.

Amelia checked her watch and leaned on her car. It was about an hour before the rally was scheduled to start, but she was composing herself. For the last three and a half weeks she had been posting reviews of the global condition, and for about half that time she was getting global feedback. Feedback at all was more than Amelia was expecting, but she was getting enough that she had to set up a different email account for it, and she got it to be hosted by the AAEC. The local forum had started calling for her by name whenever there was a question, and she had been uncertain on how to present herself for the rally. She had taken the safest route and dressed business casual, not how she normally presented herself, but first impressions were important.

“Excuse me?”

Amelia looked up startled. A news car had appeared in front of her and a bright eyed news caster was looking at her with a gaudy grin. The joys of electric cars was like constantly opening a present, surprising but not always in a good way.

“The rally’s not for an hour. This can surely wait until then.” She said straightening herself.

The reporter froze. He looked at the news car, and the camera mounted above it, and then back at her.

“Well then preliminary comments? How about your name, and how you’re associated?”

Amelia looked at him, and sighed. This is what the whole rally was likely to entail.

“I’m Amelia Smith, and I work on the-”

“You’re the one who writes the instructional part of the website!” The newscaster jumped in “I’ve read all of your posts! Is it really true that over 100 species of migratory birds are currently starving by beginning migration early?”

“Yes,” Amelia thinly smiled “otherwise I wouldn’t have posted it. I gathered pictures from across the global forums and had 5 birdwatchers and a zoologist identify them. Four more were identified, but only half could agree on them, so they were not included.”

“And you personally are interested in this because of children?” the newscaster continued undaunted.

Amelia sighed, and began answering questions. The newscaster not only seemed to enjoy every piece of information she gave him, but ask for more. She had more though, a result of trolls on the internet asking too many annoying questions, and she used her experience as a preschool teacher to say the facts simply.

“Thank you Ms.Smith for your understanding of the AAEC, we will be back later for the rally.” He grinned. As suddenly as the newscaster swooped in, he exited.

A car pulled up, and a heavily bearded head popped out.

“Is this the rally?”

Amelia sighed.

The rally had gone well.

More people had shown up than she had predicted would, and they all actually seemed invested in the cause. Throughout the event Amelia had stood in the back watching and checking to see if everything went according to plan. It did, being rather simple. Most of the protest was composed of yelling and waving dead birds on sticks (She gave all of her birds out to the others. They smelled.), but to end the protest they lit sparklers that represented the stars. They aptly burned brightly for seconds and then disappeared. Then a specifically chosen group of protesters went into press release building and had a sit in. After all, is it really a protest without a couple of arrests?

At the start of the protest Amelia had decided to be amiable, and had introduced herself to the earliest protestors. They had all already known of her, and didn’t seem too offput by her actual appearance. Nonetheless, Amelia had appreciated her business suit. As more people showed up, Amelia had withdrawn to watch and to antisocially rest. However, a crowd of people followed her. Instead of introductions taking place, the new protestors would instead introduce themselves, and meet Ms.Smith. Ms. Smith would then either start a conversation or smile a tight lipped smile at them and continue her moments of isolation. Regardless of whether she chose isolation or society, she was always able to rejoin the community the moment she wished. Being able to choose felt good.

Leaning back in her chair she smiled. It had been a good day, and proof was laid out on the computer screen in front of her. The news networks and daytime TV had latched onto the AAEC protest as a way of keeping viewers awake with their sensationalist stories of countercultural warriors. Amelia guessed that conclusion made sense. They were against one of the most taken for granted companies that existed. Energy collectors had stopped wars, started wars, and prevented global warming. A group of corpse waving fanatics that went against such a superpower could really only be seen as laughable. However, at the very least it gave the group notoriety. The local thread had just become a buzz of new greetings and moving pictures from the protest.

Ms. Smith didn’t post anything about it in her section though. Her section of the website was devoted only to the most important global issues. Public forums would have to be enough for the bragging.

A pop up appeared in the top right of her screen. She had gotten an e-mail from the AAEC headquarters.

Amelia walked into the pre-school for the last time. Her smiles were uncharacteristically honest as she talked to the kids. They kind of fawned back, not saying any real full sentences, just exclamations tied together into something that made sense somewhere in their heads. The points sometimes got across. She smiled anyway.

Before the day really began she pulled Mrs. Clifford aside.

“I can’t be here anymore.” She told her. “I know it’s unprofessional, but I have leave in the middle of the year.”

“I’m not sure I understand. You’re leaving? When? Why?, unless it’s too personal.” Mrs. Clifford calmly interrogated, swapping glances between her and the classroom of kids. She kept a placid smile on her face.

“I was offered a job at a not-for-profit organization. AAEC, it does work that will hopefully let the kids see stars again.”Amelia responded.

“Not teaching... to help children... certainly shows a certain imagination.” Mrs. Clifford said, lifting the edges of her lips into a smirk.

“It’s temporary! When things change I won’t be needed anymore.”

“That’s not going to work.” Mrs. Clifford turned her full attention to Amelia “Lifestyle choices have the tendency to change your life. It may be possible for you to return, but… well you’re always welcome here.”

“Thank you. But I think the AAEC really needs me.”

It was a mess. The constant compilation of data that was necessary for her job made Amelia’s eyes ache. The feedback was a constant rush and even trying to reply to one in three email she received was impossible. An even bigger mess was preparation for protesting at the EC’s main headquarters.

The headquarters were in the middle of a megalopolis, and when they sent out a memo they received nearly two thousand replies. A march on the central headquarters would be the biggest thing that the AAEC had ever done. It just wasn’t equipped to prepare for it. The actual organization had tens of thousands of members world wide, but it only had about a hundred employees. Of these only a percentage were in the area, and of these only a small percentage was Ms. Smith, but she felt like she was burdened with all of the work.

She knew that she was actually only working on different tasks than the others, they just seemed infinitely more frustrating. Amelia had been tasked to be the PR person for the group. While other members would work towards finding housing for traveling members and locating parking for the locals, Mrs.Smith was gathering media attention. Apparently her part of the website was the one most heavily viewed by non-members, and she was lucky enough to have been featured on several TV shows. These TV shows generally ‘allowed’ her to also talk a little about her cause before hand, adding an extra layer of stress. She wasn’t exactly a talky person, and the media coverage added to her frequent blogging made her feel exposed and exhausted.

Except that she had a way to deal with this situation. Amelia opened her email and looked at all of the emails she was sent every day, and she felt supported.

“Where are the stars?”

‘Gone’ was the answer the screaming crowd tried to say, but when hundreds of people scream at once words stop working. A wave of sound hit the man with the microphone, but that was kind of how it was supposed to work.

Standing in the back Ms. Smith didn’t participate, but just replied to whoever talked to her. At first this meant responding to protesters who wanted to meet her, but it eventually became the news network. The biggest change was when the birds came out.

A whole mob of people carrying dead birds stinks. The air was foul with their stench. The crowd around Ms. Smith parted slightly and a cop walked up to her.

“The rally itself is fine, but having this many dead bodies around may be unsafe. I have to ask you to stop them.” The cop said, mindful of the protesters around him. In the path he caused in the crowd, cops followed him.

“We didn’t bring the birds, they already were here. Dead. They starved themselves flying south for the winter in the August. We’re merely displaying what was already around.” Ms. Smith replied.

“The reason behind them being dead aren’t my job. I’m just letting you know that the protesters need to be told it’s a safety issue for them to be held up like that.” the straight faced cop replied.

“If that’s what you have decided, then you should tell them.” Ms. Smith said

The cop looked at the crowd around him, and then at the crowd of thousands screaming closer towards the AAC headquarters. He looked at her.

“I think that you have to tell them.”

“I’m in no position of authority over them, I just raised awareness of the protest. I’m not carrying a bird. If you want to stop them you should.”

The cop looked at the crowd. He looked at the 20 cops behind him. He looked at the crowd. He looked at Ms. Smith. “I never said that they should stop. I just said they should know that it is unsafe.”

And then he left.

Two days after the protests began the company let it be known that they were willing to make a deal. Of course, they weren’t going to negotiate with the whole mob, but they were willing to negotiate with twenty people.

AAEC hadn’t quite prepared for this possibility, but a crack team was quickly made. Amelia and a couple of other important public AAEC figures were included, as well as more of the actual organizers and a few members who were lawyers.

The group all walked together into the building, and were met by a man with a smile and a handshake.

“I’m Greg Wharton, the current CEO of the company. I hope we can come to an agreement. But where are my manners! Negotiations will happen at a more proper location. If you would follow me…”

Mrs. Smith turned her nose up upon entering. The Energy Collector headquarters were unnecessarily opulent, made more pompous by the CEO’s constant jabbering. It was a 10-story building with a green roof, and every floor was unnecessarily packed with electronics. The floors were TV screens, windows live streams of views worldwide, and most functions in the building were automated. In spite of the constantly working electronics, the rooms were kept cool through constantly running central air.

Energy Collector was extremely proud that their technology meant that electricity couldn’t kill the planet, and found it necessary to flaunt their power as much as possible.

Greg took the group up an elevator, and the whole entourage exited onto the green roof. Bare grass was underfoot, and Greg led them to the edge of it and looked over the fence at the gathered mob. He turned around and smiled.

“You’ve gathered quite a force. Media coverage is flocking over this mess, and we don’t like it. We are willing to acquiesce to some of your demands.”

Mr. Tarn stepped forward.

“Our organization demands more equal orbits of satellites, a recognition of people’s right to sunlight, and an effort on behalf of the company to lighting our streets after dark.”

Amelia smiled.

“My company is willing to create community help programs to help after dark.”

“I don’t think you understand Mr. Wharton. These are our final demands, we can’t step down any farther than this. The people have expectations.”

Greg sighed.

“The reason I brought this meeting to the roof was to be unobserved. Because we all have pressures on us, expectations, and we shouldn’t feel the need to have all of those met at the diplomatic table.” Greg turned and made eye contact with every member of the delegation. “Most people don’t know it, but Energy Collectors operate almost completely on profit. Once a satellite is reached, it’s pretty much self sustaining. What cuts in price people have seen in electricity is pretty much superficial. It costs us almost nothing to make.

“Now what to do with all of that money… Until now, we have mostly just stockpiled our billions, knowing that they might become useful. Now we see a use for them. My investors aren’t going to be willing to create cutbacks in our programs. We can create nature reserves, create lights, fund schools; all of these options are preferable to cutting our income by a single percent. However, we are willing to make a deal with you.”

“This year, our billion dollar industry is fed by most of the world. Cars feed it, companies depend on it, and we understandably get some money. We are willing to not get all of it this year. I have talked to the shareholders. If this deal works, we are willing to take one percent out of our yearly income… and give it to the twenty of you.”

The group blanched. Amelia looked at all of them in shock, and knew that the group’s answer should be clear.

“Profit or income?” Mr. Tarn asked.

Surprised, Amelia stared at Mr. Tarn and then walked to the roof and looked at the protestors below as Wharton and Tarn quibbled. The rest of the group also became embroiled in the definition of a percent, Amelia could feel the greed radiating from the group.

As the group was starting to calm down, she called out  “Mr. Wharton!”

“Yes Ms. Smith?” he asked, strolling up to her “Any specific questions?”

“What about the children?”

He blinked. “What about them?”

“Will they be able to see the stars?”

“We can set up a TV station or something,” he laughed “maybe an interactive website. Is that all?”

Amelia sighed. She lunged at him.

Greg step backed shocked, and put his hands out, pushing her away. Amelia let herself be hit, and be pushed away. And Ms. Winters smiled.

She stumbled backwards, and for a moment she felt the fence on her back. Then it gave way to a feeling of weightlessness, as the edge of the roof retreated.