Lost

Chapter 1

Two more days.

            I race home on my hoverbike as it tells me to go slower, but I mute it because I can’t go slower. I need to get home to have my mother sign the permission contract for the space expedition in two days.

            Finally pulling up into the driveway, I sprint up to the door and quickly punch in the code, scanning my eye before racing through.

            “Gertrude!” I shout, and our housekeeping robot slides down from the ceiling panel. “Gertie, call Mum for me right now.”

            “Right away, sir,” she answers, and I toss my computer to the ground, jumping onto the sofa. “What is the hurry?”

            I grin at her screen, trying to slow my breath. “You’ll see.”

            “Jacob?” My mother’s face appears on Gertrude and I lean forward, a huge smile plastered onto my face. “What’s the rush? Gertrude put in an emergency call. Are you alright? Did something happen at school?”

            Shaking my head, I scan the permission contract onto Gertie’s tray. “We got our contracts today for the expedition in two days. I need you to sign it right now.”

            Mum shakes her head, sighing. The only thing that makes me smile is the smile that’s starting to creep up on her face. “I’m at work, silly. I’ll sign it later.” She studies the contract anyhow that’s popped up on the side of her screen.

            “Please, Mum. It’ll take three seconds.” My fingers tap my knees. I can’t hold still.

            I’m usually not like this, acting like a complete geek. If I was in public I’d probably lose my cool kid status, and my friends would tease me every chance they got. Mum doesn’t really care, though.

            “Fine,” she says, and I see her reach forward to grab a pen. “But only because I’m awesome.”

            “Yes!” I exclaim, grabbing the sides of Gertrude’s screen. “Thank you thank you, you are so awesome!” I watch her put down her signature and she scans the contract back to me. Grabbing it eagerly, I sign my own name without even reading it. I’m so ready for this.

            “You do know how I feel about this whole space expedition though, right?” Mum asks. She glances up at me and I feel my smile slipping off my face. She sees my dismayed look and shakes her head. “Nevermind, Jacob. I just want you to be happy. Okay, I’m going now,” she says, looking to the side somewhere. “The boss is coming. Besides, Mandy was in the middle of doing something important. I’ll see you later J.J.”

            “Okay, later Mum,” I reply, and I leap up from the sofa. Gertrude’s screen goes back to a list of things she was doing to clean the house. I pick up my computer. “I’m heading to Noah’s house,” I tell her, and she waves one of her hands.

            “Have fun, Jacob. Be home before nineteen o’clock. Remember, Patrick is coming over to dinner at nineteen thirty.”

            “Right,” I call, and I open the door. “Thanks!” My hoverbike is waiting for me on the driveway. It silently floats off the ground and I begin my trek to Noah’s house.

            Winston, the Pager’s housekeeping robot, opens the door for me and tells me that Noah is up in his room. I thank him and walk up with my computer and the contract in my hand.