Chosen.

Chosen. Chapter five

CHAPTER FIVE

Kyle

"We got assigned a report date for tonight, and I heard that all the families scheduled for the first day are the most likely to be chosen. On top of that, I have been..."

Wow, he could probably just go on forever.  I wish I didn't have to listen to half of this bullshit George is spouting right about now, but good things come to those who wait so I've heard....and it helps if he thinks I'm somewhat interested because he tends to say more than he should. 

"...and my dad also told me that he got a port-mail from the higher-ups talking about how they are seriously considering one of the families in this area. And he didn't hear much else except one phrase and it sounded like a muffled "cuh" sound when they pronounced the family name. Isn't it obvious, a "cuh" sound in the name? K for Kirklands?  So, I feel like we pretty much have it in the bag based on all that." George finally stops to see if I'm in total agreement with him or if he needs to keep throwing BS out to convince me.

Bingo, that's the kind of details Daddy likes.  "Ya, ya, I definitely think your family has a good chance based on all that, for sure. Umm, what time did you say your family's report time was again?"

"We got eleven tonight, cutting it close, but it's still on the first day. And I know they say you'll have no memory after, but I bet I'll be able to remember some of it and, if you're lucky, I might just give you some tips since my family is pretty much chosen already," he boasts.

Unbelievable!! "Gee, that would be great," I answer sarcastically, not that he notices; just keeps talking.  I see Hannah coming in our direction, and when she sees me talking to George she looks pretty confused,

"Hey, Kyle! Can you give me a hand with this thing in my room?" she calls as she walks towards us.  I know she is just trying to help; so I tell her to go ask Autumn, but I make sure to give her a look as she's walking by to let her know this is on purpose.  I can tell she caught the vibe and is going to be bugging me later to get in on our latest prank.  I get as many details as I can out of George before I literally can't take another second of his company and have to make up something.  He doesn't seem aware of his effect on people.... or he does and just doesn't care. But he states how he wanted to do some last-minute training, anyways, and we both go home.

I head straight to Heath's room to fill him on everything I learned, trying to be as quiet as possible so no one will know I'm back home yet.  His door is locked..... typical. "Heath, let me in. We've got a time frame," I whisper urgently. He opens the door and I hurry inside before Hannah hears and comes out of her room wanting to know what her role is. 

Heath's room isn't what you would call clean, but it isn't messy like a typical thirteen-year-old's either.  It's more like deconstructed gaming systems, pieces of old controllers and old portals, discontinued monitors being tinkered with, so not really your classic jeans on the floor and old food wrappers. I swear, Heath is probably a prodigy in his own right when it comes to technology and experimenting with new designs and ideas.  They all know he's really good with gadgets and whatnot, but nobody in my family knows what he's truly capable of..... except me, of course.

"So, what'd you find out from our friend, Georgie?" He asks, cutting straight to the chase, as usual.

"Well, they're heading to the Government office about 10:45 since their report time is eleven tonight. We can sneak in the second they leave.  So we will at least have the time it takes them to drive there and back to get what we need done.  We don't know how long this thing is going to take.  It could be all night or it could only last five minutes, we just don't want to be caught inside.  Oh, and Hannah walked by while I was talking to him, so I was thinking we should have her help us, mostly because she knows something is up now, plus you're going to be busy doing more than we had originally planned."  I fill him in about the port-mail George mentioned and how I want him to scan for it and anything else like it while we are there, just in case.