Going Around

Business Cards and Short Walks (Jasper's POV)

My name is Jasper Julius Hangrin, I'm 17 years of age, roughly 5'11", and I have ginger-brown hair. I have been in the orphanage since I was born, when my parents died in a drive-by shooting in the ghettos of Detroit. I didn't know much about my parents, only that they weren't the type of people that you wanted to be around; that's what the orphanage told me, at least. I don't know what that means.
I'm not the same as they were, in any case. I'm at the top of my class in school, even though I'm also the youngest. I have lots of friends. I'm even on the track & field team as a high jumper. I applied to lots of colleges in hopes of getting recruited into their track teams, but I've other plans if that doesn't work out.
Many families have tried to adopt me, saying I'm the "perfect child," the "only one they want," I've heard it all... but I don't want to be adopted. I've been like that ever since I could remember. I never liked to be with anyone except my friends.

One day, I was sitting in my dorm room with my best friend, Archie Gregor, when someone knocked on the door.
"Better answer it, Jasper," Archie said without even taking his eyes off the magazine he was reading.
I answered the door to Mrs. Hodgero; the orphanage director, and a tall man in a pressed, grey suit. He was well- built with nice, but greying hair and a fresh shaved face.

"Mr. Hangrin-" Mrs. Hodgero starts.

"Jasper," I interrupted.

"Jasper, this is Mr. Duggary Lance, a scientist who's working on a project he believes you would like to hear about."

"Go ahead," I say. I walk out into the hallway and Mrs. Hodgero walks away.

"What is this about, Mr. Lance?"

"Call me Duggary. I'm here looking for another subject for an upcoming test. We only need one more person, having a girl around your age apply for it, already. I was hoping you would be interested in applying, as well," Duggary said.

"Will it interrupt me going to college?"

"If all goes as planned, not at all."
"Okay... I still need to think about this."
"Take your time. We won't go looking for another person until it's a no from you."

"That's considerate of you. Thank you, Duggary."

"I hope to be working with you soon, he says as he slides a business card into my shirt pocket.

When he left, I walked into my room and told Archie about it.
"Dude you could do something cool, whatever it is. What is it?"

"I have no clue."

"Go for it, baby."

"Don't be weird. Okay I'll do it."

Two days later I walked to the address on the card he gave me. It was surprisingly close to the orphanage, about 6 blocks. When I walked in, there was a woman sitting at the desk, a pretty woman, but I noticed a ring on her finger.
"What can I do for you, hun?" the woman asks.

"Umm... I'm looking for Duggary Lance, he gave me this card," I answer her more shyly than I normally handle things.

"Oh you must be Jasper. Duggary has been expecting you, thanks for coming. Follow me."

She takes me to a beautiful office, with Duggary Lance sitting at a table.
"Ah, you're here. Excellent."