Changed

Chapter 3 PREVIEW

            After a moment of complete terror, both the driver and Dr. Polentzy smiled at me in amusement.

            “What was that all about?” Polentzy asked.

            “Oh, um…,” I drawled, realizing how frantic I must have acted.  “That was my dad.”

            “Is something wrong with him?”

            “Pardon?”

            “It just seemed like you were kind of anxious to get away,” he pointed out.

            I had barely met this guy, and after keeping in my feelings all my life, I wasn’t sure I was ready to share them.

            “Well, kind of.”  I shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to put it.  “I don’t know, I’ve never been close to my pa—my adoptive parents.”

            I was grateful that instead of continuing to pry, he introduced me to the driver, Dr. James Loot, the man who discovered my clothes last night.

            “We expect that you have some questions,” said Polentzy.  “We have a three hour trip, so now would be a good time for us to answer them.

            I only had a slight idea of what was going on, so of course I had questions.  “What kind of research do you need me for?”

            “For now, you are the only one of your kind that we’ve been able to track down in the last three years.  We’ve had some evidence that your species existed, but not solid proof.  The government, which is funding us, is asking us for solid proof in order for us to continue our research.  After we get that done, we want to find out more about your abilities and perhaps solve the main problem we’ve come across.”

            “Which is…?” I wondered.

            “After years of searching, you’re the only one we’ve been able to find, and that in itself was a major breakthrough.  However, based on historical evidence, your kind used to be plentiful compared to now.”

            “My kind?” I asked, quizzically.

            Polentzy must have detected the slight disgust in my voice, because he quickly apologized and said, “Don’t take us wrong, Klara.  We fully acknowledge that you’re a person, but understand that we’re using these terms just for lack of a better word.”  He turned to Loot.  “What would a better word be?”

            “Race?” he suggested with a shrug.

            Polentzy turned to me, his eyes looking for approval.

            I smiled a little bit.  “I don’t care.  I just thought it was weird to hear you talk like that.”

            He seemed relieved that I wasn’t upset.  “Please let us know if anything bothers you, okay?  We just want to make sure you’re comfortable and don’t feel like you’re only a test subject.  That’s something we all discussed and agreed on before we came to get you.”

            I felt a tug in my heart.  The tone in his voice made me feel like they were actually concerned for me.  Mom and Dad were never worried about how I felt.

            Stop babying yourself, Klara, I told myself.  It was too early to judge anything.  I couldn’t even be 100 percent sure that they were real doctors and scientists.  There wasn’t anything making me suspect otherwise, but still…

            I decided one thing for sure.  I wouldn’t call the Morgans Mom and Dad anymore.  They would just be the Morgans.  And I wasn’t EVER going back.