Chapter 8

"I'd have to say, Junior," said Vee. "That was just a tad bit rude."

"I didn't know she actually liked him ... teens ... you know."

"Yeah ... I understand ... there are times when I hate my mom," Wendy said.

"Don't worry about it ... she hated me all through her teen years. She didn't get over it until she had you," explained Junior. "Children don't understand their parents until they're parents ... then it's Katie bar the door."

"What about... ?" asked Vee.

"My mom?" Junior shook her head, "She was so much older and she had the Twins first. I liked her ... she cooked ... and she was the first one to feed Company human food. The world lost a great lady when that bitch in the white house went power crazy." She sniffed back a drip. "And I think there's something about living in a swamp that twists ... look at the history books ... even their legislature ... there's got to be some weird kind of fungus under the fill dirt ... rots the good parts and leaves the greed.

"Hold on, I have to take this call," she fished a small pad out of her pocket, "Who?

"I need to speak to Wendolyn."

"Wendolyn Wanzor Austin?"

"Yes."

"Which one?"

"Oh ... the Fifth."

"Vee, it's for you."

"This is she."

"This is the Proctors Office," the pad said. "You took a test today?"

"Yes sir."

"A General Knowledge test?"

"Yes, Sir."

"By your self?"

"Yes ... why?"

"Where did you take it?"

"In the auditorium at school ... why?"

"Who was there?"

"Several Proctors ... or so they said."

"No one else?"

"No sir ... I was alone ... why?"

"One more question," said the voice on the other end. "Did you have any assistance?"

"Did I cheat? Is that what you're asking?"

"Yes."

"No!" Vee hung up.

The pad vibrated, Wendy answered, "What?"

"We just got done scoring the test ... it's impossible."

"What?"

"No one ever ... in the history of the test ... ever tested perfect."

"Yeah?" Vee was pretty upset, "I didn't cheat ... it was a dumb test ... an eighth grader could have passed. And ... NO I WON'T TAKE IT AGAIN!"

"But ... But ... But."

"Fuck you and the horse you rode in on!"

"WENDY! DON'T YOU DARE THROW MY PAD IN THE LAKE!!!"

"Yes, Grand mother!" and she threw it anyway."

The lake was frozen and snow covered. All that happened was a little poof of snow.

"You listen to me, little girl ... you're not to old to spank. Go get my pad ... NOW!"

Listen to your grandmother, Wendy.

Wendy broke down and cried. "I didn't cheat," she sobbed. "I didn't."

We know. Don't worry about it. and to themselves the Powers that Be said, "Glad she didn't take the watch."

"Yes, she's dangerous."

"She's horny, guys."

"Her hormones are running wild."

"That's no reason for the tantrum."

"Oh Really ... what happens to you every 28 days?"

"We're not talking about me!"

"Uh huh ... and what are you doing right now?"

"NOTHING!"

"Uh huh. Cut the girl a little slack."

"WHY SHOULD I?"

"Because ... look at what you're doing."

"I'm not doing anything! Keep it up and I'll kill you! Shit! I have to go change my tampon!"

"Whew!"

"Glad she's gone."

"She gets to be a real bitch."

"While we're six ... wanna party?"