Difference is taller than me by at least a foot and, of course, much stronger. I've known Diff since the beginning of time. His favorite cartoon was The Magical Mystery Frog. That stupid green frog went with him everywhere. I had Barbie's that could ride the frog, so we became fast friends. Some of the boys made fun of him back then, but none would dare screw with him now.
I turned my back and pulled my hair aside so he could secure the bolts on the back of my suit.
“You are supposed to secure the backplates before you step in the damn suit, Kar. You need a PPE refresher.” Difference knocked on my suit's thick shoulder panels so hard that I could feel the plastic casing protest all the way down to my footpads.
“Doesn't it seem odd that we have to wear all this crap outside. I've seen pictures of people in the sun with bare skin. Some of the images are only four decades old.” I buckled my arm guards and secured my headcover to my neckpiece.
“Those dumb asses were killing themselves. My grandmother told stories about her father having most of his ear cartilage cut off to remove his skin cancer. She said he looked like a white, wrinkly old bat by the time the doctors were through with him. I don't think they knew the sun was radiating them to death.”
“Damn, I guess not. Seriously though, I can't wait for nightfall. I want to go outside and breathe.”
“You and me both. Hey, my grandparents are planning their life ceremony for the first weekend in December. I'm sorry for your family's sacrifice. The whole stupid tradition sucks fat butt.” Diff looked wistful and I
“Thanks, I know it's supposed to be an honor, but I don't feel honored. I've been trying not to think about any of it.”
“Did I tell you that I'm slated for Protection path? I need to declare my final choice by next weekend. My birthday is Friday.” Difference shared his choice with a hint of pride.
“Oh, wow, that's right. My birthday is a few weeks after yours.”
“Yep. You're choosing the domestic breeder path, right?” Diff set his eyes on the floor and smashed a stray pencil with his boot.
“Diff,” I squealed. “they don't call it breeder. I'm not signing up to become a piece of fricking farm livestock. Domestic Creator.” I explained, latching my thigh panel to my body frame.
“Yeah, yeah. That's right. Well, I need a post-human breeder in case I don't return from my mission. Someone to produce my heir and take my breeding rights. I want to choose you if it's okay.”
“Posthumously not post-human. You have lineage status? I didn't know you were from one of the original twenty families?”
“Shit, I never remember that stupid word, and it's after you die right, so you're not human anymore.” Diff fiddled with the latches on the lockers. He seemed unusually scatterbrained. “My mother's side is a founding family, so I have all that extra stuff to fill out on my applications.” Diff seemed embarrassed by my correction. Still, I didn't want him running around saying post-human like a blithering idiot.
I tried to lighten the conversation. “I haven't formally declared my status. I'm doing my final tests. You are my first posthumous agreement. I accept your request. I would be honored.” I pushed my thick gloved hand out towards Diff and pounded his fist twice. A standard verbal commitment signal—the first one I had ever made about something this important.
“Besides,” I added. “it would be a real shame for those gray eyes of yours to vanish from the planet. I hope you tag some of your DNA for open use. Breeders see your stats in the bio catalogs, and you may have quite a few heirs.”
“Thanks.” Diff blushed and stared at the high ceiling. “But I'm only a variant one. My skin isn't thick enough for variant two. Now, if I were a two with these eyes, then I'd have something.” Diff winked and pulled hard on my last set of boot laces.
“I'm never going to get those untied now,” I whined.
“Hey, the trolley to the main parking lot will be here in less than a minute. Are you ready slowpoke? The second bell is about to ring.” Diff whacked my arm and pulled me along with the tips of his black gloves.
“Yes, yes. I'm so ready to be free of this life-sucking place. Two days off is not nearly fricking enough.” I straightened my pink on black day suit and slammed the locker closed behind me with unnecessary force.
Any progress towards Saturday makes me anxious. I want to stand in place and stop the giant conveyer belt pulling me forward. Time is not on my side. Each second moves forward pulling me into a place I don’t want to go.
Diff scooped up my backpack and followed me out into the parking lot with a hard smack to our school's exit banner and a loud howl of appreciation for our mascot, the ancient lone wolf. “Arrg, whoo hoo.”
BUTTER AND SALT
The power indicator on my day suit blinked its red and yellow lights at me when I hopped on the school trolley. The energy packs were almost depleted. I faced my solar panels toward the most exposed parts of my arms and thighs and hung my body outside the trolley for better exposure. The trolley driver wasn't pleased. He shook his gloved finger at me, lazily fulfilling his obligation to ensure my safety.
Diff and Payton were seated on the bench closest to me. Diff set his hand on my belt while Payton grabbed on to one of my arm clamps. I was in no danger of flying off the trolley.
The staff wasn't too concerned with us fifth years they knew we were almost out the door and would be
