984 (Complex Series, #2)

Chapter Twenty

\I stare even after the door closes. What could Miranda want from Dana? And why is Dana so mad? 

Charlotte is looking at me strangely, "Piper? Are you okay? You're just kind-of staring...at nothing."

I nod slowly, " It was just…nothing. Never mind."

Charlotte shrugs. "Whatever. If it's important, know that you can always talk to me. Now, come on, we are visiting Teachers today."

I tear my attention away and follow Charlotte down the hall. Charlotte begins explaining, "In the Unknown, we still find education important. We want to give everyone the same advantage for success. It's required that you go to Teachings until you're a ten year. After that, you can get your Pros or you can continue studying or you can do both. I know a lot of people who will just discuss and learn things with Teachers at night or during meals. Teachers have to be sixteen years or older to work and have to be able to work well with kids.

 “This is the only job where it's better if you were at the Complex longer. Some jobs, like Techs or Vitals, you need have been in the Unknown since you were a ten year, so that people know that you are completely trustworthy. But, for Teachers, it's better if you are in the Complex longer since you have a more solid education.  Teachers are also pretty much babysitters, they spend the whole day with the kids. They take the kids to all their meals and sleep in the same room with them."

Do I want to be a teacher? Spending my time teaching six through ten years? It sounds better than Fields or Techs. But, I've never spent time with kids younger than me. It was always just the girls my age with me in the Complex. I don't even know how to talk to little kids. 

Charlotte presses her Notice to a scanner and we walk through a door. Immediately, the sound of children's laughter and singing reach my ears. We walk down a hall that is laid out similar to that of the Nurses' wing. Semi-see through doors line the walls. The similarities stop there. Happy voices ring out. A girl with her hair in blond pigtails skips down the hall, an older girl follows smiling, "This way, Addie, right here's the Teaching Room." 

Charlotte approaches the older girl, "Hey Alex, do you know where Matthew is? We have a Rivie tour."

Alex grabs the little girls hand to keep her from running towards us. The little girl shouts, "Charlotte, Charlotte, I can count to fifty. Ready? 1, 2, 3, 4..."

Alex speaks over the girl's counting, "Matthew is in the ten year class room. I'll go get him. Can you watch Addie?"

Charlotte smiles, "Sure, I'd love to."

Alex lets go of Addie's hand. Addie skips to us, continuing her count, "25, 26, 27, 28..."

Alex opens a door and pokes her head inside. 

Addie is spinning around in circles, laughing hysterically, "39, 40, 41, 42..."

A boy walks out, he looks about eighteen or nineteen. He smiles when he sees Addie counting, "48, 49, 50." Addie jumps up and down. "50. 50. 50. Isn't that awesome, Charlotte?"

Charlotte laughs, "It's very awesome. I don't even know if I can do that."

Addie turns serious, she narrows her eyes, "Yeah. You a fourteen year. You can count, right? Alex, Charlotte can count, right?"

Alex smiles, "I don't know, Addie."

Addie looks back and forth between Charlotte and Alex, trying to figure out if they are serious. Finally Charlotte says with a grin, "Do you think you should believe us?"

Addie shakes her head, "No. Not for one second." She crosses her arms and marches off down the hall.

Alex rolls her eyes and takes off after Addie. Alex calls out, "Addie and I should be getting back to teachings anyway. See you later, Charlotte."