The Gifted

Chapter Two

"Okay, see you later!"  My mom waved as I walked out of the door of our Home Quarters.

I walked down my road and eventually met Karly and Charlie along the trail.  We all looked at each other excitedly.  I think I must have not been the only one thinking about this talk today last night.  We all started chattering away about the talk we were going to receive today.

"It has to be important this time," Charlie commented.

"I think so too," I replied.

"I think it must be since we haven't gotten an explanation for the WMCE's yet," Karly agreed.

Charlie laughed.  "But then again, it's only been one day.  They haven't really had a chance to tell us yet." 

Karly nodded.  "True, true."

I suddenly realized that if we could, we would talk about this all day, but if we don't stop now, we'll be late for class.  "Guys if we don't hurry, we're going to be late."  We all looked at each other and darted towards School House.

"Last one there's a rotten egg!" yelled Charlie as he sped ahead of us.  We laughed as we tried to catch up to him, but he had longer legs than both of us and we were no match.  Karly and I playfully shoved each other, both of us trying to get in front of the other.  When we met Charlie at the doors of School House our stomachs hurt with laughter.  We held our stomachs until we heard the chime of the school bells.

We glanced at each other once again before dashing into School House.  We all made it into our seats before our professor entered the room.  "Good morning, class."

"Good morning, Professor," chorused the room.

"As some of you may recall, we have an important guest speaker today."  The class nodded vigorously.  Our professor continued, "I expect us to be on our best behavior for him.  He should be here any secon-"

Perfectly on time, our guest speaker walked into the room with a rolled up poster in hand.  He was a tall, thin man.  He stood straight up like his spine was a steel pole.

"This is Rodger.  He is our guest speaker for today.  I want you to give him your full attention," our professor explained.

"Hello, class.  As your professor mentioned, I am Rodger.  I come to talk to those of their last year of being Third-Levels every year.  This year it's your turn."  The man pointed his poster at us.  "It's your turn for the Capability test."

Karly, Charlie, and I looked at each other and shrugged.  We hadn't ever heard of this before, and, by the looks of it, neither has the rest of the class.  Everyone had a confused look plastered on their face.  The Capability Test?  What was he talking about?

Rodger chuckled.  "I see some of you are confused.  Well, that's why I'm here, to explain this.  Okay, so imagine if one of you got a 92% on a test and another got 57% on the test and another got a 100%," he explained.

Carol, the strictest of our class, threw her hand in the air.  Rodger nodded in her direction and she burst out, "But, sir, that is impossible!  We have never had different scores on a test.  The rules say that that's the way it's supposed to be.  That would be different.  That would be bad.  No one would be the same.  It would be chaos!"

"I know, Carol."  Carol looked surprised that he knew her name.  "That's what I'm going to explain to you.  You're right.  It would be different.  And you're also correct in saying so because that's what you have always been taught.  But as I said before, I'm here to explain to you how it wouldn't be so bad."

Carol slumped down in her chair defeated.  "Now where was I?" Rodger wondered aloud.  "Ah, yes.  So, if everyone had a different score on a test, some good, some not so good, what would that mean?"

David raised his hand cautiously.  Rodger pointed at him.  "Some people got a lot wrong on the test whereas some people would have gotten maybe all of them correct," David explained.

Rodger nodded.  "Yes, which also means..."  He looked at the class expectantly.

Ella raised her hand.  Rodger nodded in her direction.  "Some people understood the test completely, and some couldn't figure out the questions at all."

"Correct!" Rodger yelled.  The class jumped half way out of their seats.  "Let's say the test was on math, shall we?  Okay so that would mean some people would excel at arithmetic and some just wouldn't be able to process anything about it."

The class nodded in understanding.  It was a very interesting concept to imagine.  I had never imagined such an idea before.  The idea was compelling, intriguing.  What if we all were different?  What if Karly was great at art and I was awful?  What if Charlie was better than the both of us at science?

That could create jealousy, frustration, disappointment, and pride.  I don't understand how that would be for the better.  But it would give people some change...

"Okay now close your eyes and keep in mind that world where people excel at different subjects and hobbies.  Okay you got it?" Rodger asked the class.  The class, eyes closed, nodded in response.  "Okay, good.  Now, what if I told you that in that will be you in the near future?"

Eyes shot open.  Mouths hung ajar.  Carol looked like she was about to lose it.  Karly, Charlie, and I glanced at each other, unsure.   This sounded great and all, but I don't know if that's what I want.

Rodger continued, "In the next few months every single one of you will be training for something called The Capability Test.  It will define your separate skills with a series of tests.  Depending on how you pass or if you pass the tests, your job here will be decided.  And you will be different from everyone else for the rest of your life.  You will have your own talents, skills, interests that set you apart.  How does that sound?"

About half the class smiled broadly, nodded vigorously, and whispered excitedly.  The other half of the class looked unsure of this whole thing.  Carol was starting to look extremely pale.

Fiona's hand flew up in the air.  "Yes, Fiona?" asked Rodger.

"How are we supposed to be training for this exactly if we don't have any differences to set us apart for training?" interrogated Fiona.

"Brilliant question, my darling!" exclaimed Rodger.  "I was about to get there!  All you have to do is simply take the orange pill that will now come with your Evening Meal in addition to the other nightly pills you're required to take.  Sound good?"

Everyone nodded as the bell signaling lunch rang.  "Wow, that went quickly!" Rodger commented, looking at his watch.  As the class filed out of the room, Rodger reminded them he would be back the next week to get started on their training, and he was hanging up the poster he had brought to explain a bit more.  There were many murmurs as the class left the room and entered Eating Center.

Karly, Charlie, and I found each other in the crowd of students.  "So what do you guys think about this?" Karly asked.

I thought for a moment.  "I don't exactly know, but it should be interesting."  Charlie nodded in agreement as our Noon Meals were brought to the table we sat at.  Karly shrugged, and with that, we all dug into our meals.