School looked different, Jen thought, looking around. The tables had been pushed to the side in a neat line, the laptop screens closed on top of the keyboards. A young woman - who looked as if she had just been granted permission to have little silver studs in her ears because of her age (twenty) - was making the rest of Jen's class line up into a straight line (a very long straight line) that winded into the distance. Bea clutched her friends arm. "Jen. I'm scared," she mouthed. Jen patted her friends head, straining her head to look over the whole line. At least ninety five kids in white hospital gowns were buzzing pleasantly away. Hospital Gowns? That was strange. Why were they dressed like that?
"Hi sweet hearts!" The young woman with the silver studs smiled a bright smile. "What course do you take girls?" She asked sweetly. Middle, Jen thought, but why does she want to know? She was about to ask when Bea spoke up. The woman smiled again and pulled out some crisp white hospital gowns from a bag. "Put these on girls," The woman neatly unfolded the gowns. "We're doing a test today, and then we're taking the medication, to keep us healthy and strong. But, as you know, the medication requires sedation, so you'll sleep the rest of the day." The woman pulled them into the line and then turned gayly to welcome a newcomer.
Bea turned to Jen. " I guess we should put these on... right?" She asked, holding out the paper thin robe like piece of cloth. Jen nodded, but her head was a buzz. Their medication. This wasn't good. Neither was a test. That was worse.
YOU ARE READING
A Million Clones
Science FictionJen lives in a society where everyone and everything is the same. The people are identical, they think the same thoughts, and learn the same things, and all know the simple messages that the Gov, as they call it, sends to keep the civilization under...
