Wednesday

Not Just Clones

I glanced around the camp, taking in the same sights always present. Most of the children were preteens, blond, blue-eyed, and dressed rich; though, they still managed to look awful. It was like someone went to a prep school and kidnapped all the children and brought them here. Just as I had expected, nothing changed.

Taking one last look around, there was one exception I had failed to notice at first. Surrounded by families dressed in polo shirts and khakis, I noticed one family that wasn't. There were two sons and their parents, clearly uncomfortable with those who surrounded them. Who I assumed to be the father was looking at his son with a cigar in his mouth, wearing a black striped suit and bow tie. He was giving one of his sons a cigar as well, the son dressed in a black and white t-shirt, with a strange spike of hair at the from of his head, with the rest completely buzzed. The mother stood next to them in a tight, floor-length black gown. She was watching the children with pity in her eyes as she talked to her other son.

As I turned my attention to him, I paused. He was wearing a white collared dress shirt with a black tie. Over it, he wore a black sweater and black dress pants. He was pale, as were all of them, and had dark eyes and dark hair, though his was perfectly in place and would have been normal looking, had it not been for the way he was dressed.

While I watched, it appeared my sister had noticed them too. She gave our parents a sly grin before walking towards the out of place family.

"Hi! I'm Amanda Buckman!" Thank goodness. I thought she might be rude. "Why are you dressed like that?" Nevermind.

"Like what?" The boy my age replied, straight faced.

"Like your going to a funeral. Why are you dressed like somebody died?" Oh no. I began walking over with my parents, hoping to stop her rude behavior.

"Wait." was his response. I couldn't help it, it made me crack a small smile. Most people would be dejected after Amanda talked like that, but these people were strange.

I could tell Amanda didn't like this answer, as she made an awkward face. Luckily my dad saved her from having to respond.

"Hi. Don Buckman." Uh oh, his boasting voice. "Isn't this place something? Very exclusive. A kid has to be extra special and gifted. Our Amanda's already skipped two grades." No, she hasn't. Why does he feel the need to lie to complete strangers? "What about your boy?"

"Probation." Yet again I smiled slightly at the proud smile this father held.

My mother decided she would try to continue this conversation, surprisingly. "We just love Chippewa. Amanda couldn't wait to come. It was all she talked about. She even talked her sister into coming with her." She made a face as if she finally remember I had been standing next to them. "Oh! This is our other daughter Veronica. She finished her senior year with a 4.2 gpa and a 32 ACT." Veronica blushed and avoided looking at the family. She was proud of her accomplishments but they certainly were not the first things she wanted people to know. "And this young man?"

I turned to look at him, finding him staring at me with a strange look in his eye. His mother noticed and answered for him. "Oh, Wednesdays at that special age when a boy had only one thing on his mind."

"Girls?" My mother asked, patronizingly.

"Homicide." He stared at her blank-faced.

I laughed a little, making my parents look at me disapprovingly. They excused themselves, bringing Amanda with them, and I was left with the strange family. Though I wanted to stay, I smiled at them genuinely before excusing myself. "It was wonderful meeting you all. I hope I see more of you guys."

I took one last look at Wednesday and walked towards where everyone had gathered, waiting for Becky and Gary to make their announcements. As I listened to the same speech the vibe every year, I found my eyes wondering to Wednesday and his brother. They were so much different from everyone I'd known, and I found myself wanting to know more about them. I already liked them more than all of my precious friends. They seemed real, something you don't often find with the people I'm surrounded by.