Out Of The Shadows

Chapter 2

I stand up very straight, my heart beating like a drum.

The first few girls start to file in. I see a flow of the dresses colors all coming together.

Finally its my turn, so I step I into the light of the room. Warm smiles greet me, mostly by parents and government officials.

I look across the room. The boys are filing in. I either don't know any of them, or don't recognize any of them. After all I haven't seen any of them for since primary school.

Kat latches herself onto my arm and tugs me over to a table.

Her and my parents are both sitting there.

"Hey honey", my mom says. She smiles proudly. "You look beautiful." My dad says.

"Heeelo lady's Aaaand gentleman!" The announcer says. "Tonight is a very special night for our graduates of secondary school. They are becoming adults! "

I hear a few sobs then. Probably from parents.

"Anyway the ceremony will start in twenty minutes, so parents, get ready to sob." He flashes an award-winning smile at the crowd.

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Twenty minutes passes by quickly.

The announcer calls up the "special ladies and gentlemen."

Everyone comes up in the way we had practiced at school. (In rows.)

He starts calling names alphabetically for the girls.

I see my friends coming and going, squealing when they see what's on the sheet.

"Aarika Johnson."

I walk gracefully (not really) onto the stage. I shake hands with the president while he hands me my sheet.

We are not allowed to open ot until we get back to our seats, so I have to weave through the tables.

Finally I'm there.

My parents crowd around me as I open the envelope.

It reads:

Aarika Grace Johnson is appointed the job of outside explorer. She lives on the floor 445,895 apartment 63. Unless her new husband and her like his better. You have also been given a generous contribution to your money status: $400,000. For your offspring you may have up to four children.

We congratulate you on your enter into the world.

Signed, President Ole Williams.

I stand there looking at the sheet. Outside explorer... $400,000... four children.

It was just as I had dreamed.

Kat comes running towards our table. Of course she had opened it the envelope before she had gotten to our table.

"I got OUTSIDE EXPLORER." she yells dramatically. "ME TOO!"I also yell.

We hug.

This night is actually turning into the best night ever.

A boy watches us staring. But quickly looks away when he sees me looking at him.

"Alrighty the girls are finished, lets have the boys come on up." The announcer says.

The other guys seem to surround the boy that was looking at me before.
He must be popular.

I study him for awhile. He must be a government officials son or something.