Correction

Chapter 21: Hello, World!

"See, the trolley problem forces you to choose between two versions of letting other people die. And the actual solution is very simple. Sacrifice yourself."

Micheal, 2018

Chapter 21: Hello, World!

"Did you guys know that Thimble's gay?" Usher chuckled.

"I kind of always knew." Cass smiled. "My gaydar works pretty well."

"So who's your special someone, Thimble?" Solm asked, dipping a fry in ketchup.

"It's who was, not who is." Thimble said between bites. "We're not together anymore. But his name was Jordi."

"That's a pretty nice name." Cass smiled. "Do any of you guys have special people?"

Solm and Usher shook their heads, either reluctant to share or not having anyone.

"What about you, Thonk? I'm sure wherever you came from you had a nice girlfriend."

"Really, now?" Thimble laughed. "I think you might wanna check your gaydar."

Solm jabbed Thimble yet again with her elbow. "Shoot, sorry."

"I think he has game."

"Sure he does."

***

Thonk sat alone at the Academy grounds. The park was more desolate, lonelier than what Solm and Usher described. He walked around aimlessly, going through the artificial forest, feeling the mysterious door. Solm, Usher, Cass, and Thimble were all selected for the mission. He thought maybe he's too young to see whatever the rest of the adults are facing, but how much worse could it really get?

He waited in the classroom, watching the door carefully for Moze to enter. When he opened the door, Moze appeared shocked to see the boy sitting there alone.

"Oh, hello there, Thonk." He took a seat down at his table, his long, gray fingers folded around each other. He pushed himself forward in his chair. "I didn't expect you to come today. I don't have anything prepared for you."

"Yeah, well, it gets pretty lonely. Did you see the number up in the sky?"

"Two-twenty-seven." Moze answered. "It's not great, no."

"Why are they so dangerous anyways?" Thonk questioned, his voice quivered.

"That is just how it has to be sometimes." Moze replied. "I can understand how it's unfair to you though, Thonk. It's not amazing, being brought here against their will, but the Academy does it for the greater good."

"Do you think it's worth it, though?" Thonk asked.

"Yes, I do." Moze confirmed. He snapped his fingers. "And it gives me an idea!"

Moze scrambled below his desk, the sound of pencils and wooden drawers clanging. Thonk stood up to peek over, but shrunk back down in his seat when Moze glared at him. He reappeared with a whiteboard and an erasable black marker. He placed it down in the spot of the projector board, and began to doodle.

"What is this supposed to mean?" Thonk asked over the squeaking of the marker.

"Let me give you a scenario." Moze began. "Imagine you are standing next to a train track with a switch, and you see a trolley coming down the track. Tied down to this track are five people. With your switch, you can divert the trolley to another path, however, it will hit one person who is tied to the second path."

Moze presented his drawing, crudely and shoddily drawn with stick figures and a messy drawing of a train.

"Which would you choose? Would you pull the switch or not?"