Lost and found: A journey of time

III

"Wait, are you related to Elliot Thompson, the valedictorian?" a voice interrupted from the other side of the room. The question hung in the air, and all eyes turned to Andrew.

"Um, yeah, he's my older brother," Andrew answered. The eyes of his classmates suddenly took on a new light. Whispers and murmurs filled the room as the news spread through the class.

"Wow! That's so cool!" one girl piped up from the front row. "Elliot is like... the best!"

"How did your brother score the second-highest marks in the land?"

"What's it like being Elliot's younger brother?"

"Are you as smart as him?"

"Why is your brother so hot?"

"Is your brother dating someone?"

The questions came thick and fast, like an outpouring of curiosity that Andrew hadn't expected. "Whoa, whoa, slow down everyone." But it was too late.

"Can you ask him to come to our class sometime?"

"Do you think he'd sign my textbook?"

A girl in the class spoke up, "Can we please focus on the task at hand? This is supposed to be a game where we learn each other's names, not interrogate Andrew about his brother."

Andrew was grateful for the girl speaking up. Miss Davis agreed.

"Okay, Andrew, you can continue with the game."

Andrew said, "Yes, ma'am." He cleared his throat, and then he began, "My name is Andrew Thompson, and I once swallowed a whole quarter on a dare." A chuckle ran through the whole class.

Miss Davis smiled and said, "Thank you, Andrew. That's a great fact. Let's move on to the next student." As the game continued, Andrew couldn't help but feel a bit left out. Everyone seemed to know each other, and they had their inside jokes and stories. He wished he had grown up in this world instead of growing up in the chaos of 2022. He could have grown up with these kids, sharing memories of cheesy birthday parties and summer camps. Sharing that bond of childhood laughter and tears that now seemed so far away. He shook his head to shake off wishful thinking. What's done was done, and he was here now for now.

After a few students, the game ended, and Miss Davis went to each student's desk and gave them 14 textbooks. "Okay, the textbooks will be your property for the whole 3 years, so treat them with care. You will take home textbooks every weekend. And yes, the school expects you to read textbooks on the weekends. Is that clear?" Miss Davis said: Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

He felt a rush of anxiety wash over him. He had always been a good student, but he wasn't sure if he was prepared for this level of academic rigor. He couldn't help but compare this world to his own. In his world, he was a straight-C student, and he rarely studied. He was the kind of kid who could get by with just enough effort to pass his classes without ever having to work hard. But this wasn't his world, and he knew it would take some time to get used to.

Miss Davis continued, "You will have a quiz on the textbook every Monday. The quiz will be worth 10% of your grade, so you must do well on the quiz."

Andrew was shocked to hear this. A 10% quiz on Monday? He had never heard of such a thing before. He felt a rush of anxiety wash over him. He had always been a good student, but he wasn't sure if he was prepared for this level of academic rigor. He couldn't help but compare this world to his own. In his world once again.

Also, every Monday, we have an early start because on Monday we have an assembly, so we expect you guys to come here before 7:15 a.m. The school gates will be open at 6:07 a.m., so please don't come before 6:07 a.m. because the gates to the school will be open until then. But on Monday, don't try to be too noisy in the assembly. We expect everyone to behave like the adults you guys are going to become one day."