The Mistaken

Prologue

I never had a normal life growing up. I was always out of place, especially when I turned 16.

The first five years of my life had been with my first parents, Andy and Joyce. But, on my 6th birthday it was time to move on to my second family. Like most kids my age, we were more than excited and so were our F1's (first family). This was a milestone for any child, as they would be entering school with there F2's.

Joyce and Andy decided not to invite anyone to my send off. So when my birthday rolled around I had already been packed up and ready to go. Andy and Joyce helped me pack everything into the T2F truck. I turned to them with a big smile on my face, ready to start my new adventure, until I saw there solemn faces.

"What's wrong?" I had asked them.

"Oh nothing dear, we're just going to miss you, that's all." Joyce tells me, just before she breaks down in tears, embracing me. I didn't understand why she was crying, all the send offs I had been to had been joyful and celebratory, not tearful. But I guess Joyce was always a bit emotional.

After she released me Andy hugged me next. Not as long as Joyce thankfully, just a quick little squeeze. We stood there in silence for a little bit until the T2F truck driver said it was time to go. I gave them one last smile and hopped into the car, as I was closing the door Andy spoke. "Wait, Kenna, take this," he handed me an old envelope. "Don't open it until it's time." Before I could ask anything he closed the door and we were already on our way to FP Central.

FP Central is the Family Placement Central. I'd only heard about it by kids who had just gotten to their F2's. It's a place where for a week your examined and watched by Placers who would, by the end of the week, decide who your F2 would be. This FP Central was only for six year olds and eleven year olds, anyone going only to their F2 or F3. When you turn sixteen you go to your F4 but you are examined not only to decide who that will be, but who you will marry and what profession you will enter. That happens all at 4P Central, which lasts for 2 months. 

But at the time, that was the furthest thing from my mind, rather the letter I held in my hand was the closest. On one hand I wanted to rip it open and devour the words, but on the other hand I wanted to wait, to listen to Andy and open it when the time was right. But how was I supposed to know when the time was right? But before I could even flip the envelope over the car stopped with a jerk and the driver got out and opened my door, exposing me to a large building, stories high with children all around. Once he unloaded all of my stuff he waited with me until my Placer came over. He greeted us both and we both thanked my driver as he left.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Kenna," my Placer started, "I'm Alex, your Placer, and I will be until your last placement at 4P Central.

And he was.