Chapter 7
When I looked over at Josh I could tell he was just as shocked as I was. We were teenagers! Why did we need to take a whole semester taking care of a baby?
The whole class had gone crazy when they saw what was written across the board. “Quiet! Everyone please be quiet!” Mr. Patterson barked. The room fell silent. “Thank you. Now I know you are all probably freaking out that you are going to have to put up with a baby for a whole semester. As you should be, but I wanted to let you know, that whichever group has the highest score at the end of the semester will receive a prize. This year’s reward is a one semester scholarship to any college of your choice,” he cleared his throat. “When I call your name, come up to my desk with your partner and pick up the packet of instructions for this project. Adam and Leah. Taylor and Samantha. George and Katherine. Joshua and Charlotte. Justin and Hannah.”
After everyone had received their packets, we all went back to our seats. “Okay, for the remainder of the class and for homework tonight, I want you all to read over the packet and fill out the information on the last page. The packet will ask you questions that may seem irrelevant, but please answer each one truthfully. Good luck!"
“Well at least we have each other for this,” I said.
“I don’t think it will be too bad, I mean, it is good practice,” he answered, a slight smirk on his face.
I felt my cheeks get warm, as they almost always did when I was around Josh. “Well, we shouldn’t have to worry about that for a long time,” I said, followed by a nervous chuckle.
Josh nodded and we went to our lockers to get our biology books.
***
"I just don't get it, Mom. Why do they need to know all this stuff? My insurance? Doesn't the school already have records of that?" I wondered aloud.
"I don't know, honey. I'm sure they have a reason," she suggested.
"Did Luke have to do this?" I asked.
"Did I have to do what?" Luke questioned, taking a bite out of an apple.
"Fill out all this personal information about yourself for TL," I said.
"No, but we didn't ever do the baby thing. Mr. Patterson has been trying to do it for years now, I guess he finally got approval," Luke remarked.
"Oh, why wouldn't they let him do it before? It's fake babies," I stated flatly.
"Who knows, Mr. Johnson is really particular about stuff like this."
***
"Everyone, line up at the door by your partner. Make sure you have your packets with you, we are going to the gym," Mr. Patterson ordered the second the tardy bell rang. We did what we were told and lined up side-by-side.
Josh intertwined his fingers in mine and we walked to the gym in silence. When we got to the gym doors, we stopped and Mr. Patterson spoke, "I am going to call each of your groups in one by one to choose your child. Once you receive your child, you are to exit the gym and go outside. There will be someone waiting for you. There are 10 of you total, 5 groups. There are 8 babies. If you and your partner feel like taking on an additional child, you will receive additional credit and it will be taken into consideration for the scholarship. Okay, who would like to go first?"
