I hated going to the meetings, though. I already hated having to sit still with all adults and not play with the other kids. I never got to play. Then if that is not bad enough, the men in white coats ask questions to Dr. Vodola about me like I’m not there to answer them myself. Not that I could answer some of the questions they asked.
I can’t figure why everyone makes such a big deal about me. I never saw Sawyer go through anything as I did. I had to ask Dr. Vodola about that, and he said I was a clone, but I was still confused. Dr. Vodola got angry at me for this and said any moron knew what that meant. He told me I never had parents, and I was created in a lab. I had asked if Sawyer was like me. Dr. Vodola just laughed at me.
“Sawyer is my son. No one is like you. You’re the only successful human clone.”
The sad memories came back to me as I followed him out of the lab and to his car. Sawyer was outside in the front yard with a soccer ball and his red and black uniform.
“Dad, do you think you could come to this game?”
My eyes widen, and I started to hope we could go to his game instead of the meeting. I’d never been to a game before. I looked at the Doctor in desperation to go to the game instead of yet. I never knew if I was going to an actual meeting or one that I got poked with needles. Without even looking at Sawyer, Dr. Vodola answered.
“No, and you know why Sawyer.”
Dr. Vodola opened the car door.
“Yeah, I know, it’s because of her.”
My face fell, and my stomach twisted as I glanced over at Sawyer, who just glared at me.
“Oh, please, can we go to the game!” I begged.
“Get into your seat now R187!”
I stared at the ground as I got into the car to climb into my booster seat so the Doctor could buckle me in. I detested being called a bunch of numbers. Sawyer had a name, but I got just some numbers. After Dr. Vodola roughly buckled me in, he then drove off. Sawyer and I met gazes; both of us were very upset.
“Freak of nature!” Came a yell followed by a ‘thunk’, an egg smashing into the front car window.
“I don’t get why they don’t see what’s so great about this technology,” Dr. Vodola said as he shook his head.
I started to tremble.
“Abomination!”
“Devil’s work!”
I covered my ears, and I closed my eyes, wishing that I was anywhere else except this car. Another egg smashed against the window as I felt tears coming.
“Please, please take me home!” I cried.
“We are going in.”
People surrounded the car in fury as I tried to curl up in my booster seat. Tears were now rolling down my face, one right after the other. My hands shook as I brought them up to my ears.
“Monster! What have you created?”
Sirens began to sound off, and the police pushed their way through the crowd to the car. The car door was thrown open. Fuming voices rose when one policeman grabbed me and ran through the mob to the inside of the building. I held onto the cop as I trembled, with tears continuing to stream down my face. I couldn’t take this anymore.
“School? You want me to send something so valuable to public school?”
“Dr. Vodola, she’s going to be five years old next week and must attend school to show she’s like her peers.” Dr. Green spoke up.
“She isn’t like other five-year-olds. She’s the first successful human clone. She’s special.”
“She’s also causing riots and other problems, so to prove to everyone that she can survive in this world. We need to prove to everyone that they’re wrong about her. She might be a scientific marvel, but you must let her live a life to demonstrate to everyone that cloning is a good thing. Prove to everyone that clones can be part of everyday life without any issues. Let her live a life. It would be best if you treated her like every other child. You have a child yourself, don’t you?” a woman with her hair tied back spoke up.
“Yes, I do. I have an eight-year-old son. He and R187 have birthdays close to each other.”
The scientist who was arguing with the Doctor gave a small smile. I started to grin. This meeting was about me going to school with other children. I was going to be allowed to be around kids instead of adults. I might be able to play for the first time. I’ll be able to go on a bus with Sawyer.
“R187 won’t fit in with the other kids.”
“Now, why’s that?” the woman questioned.
“I’ve been homeschooling her, and she’ll be ahead of the other students her age.”
I looked over at Dr. Vodola, seeing his face and body stiffen.
“Is that all? I thought you were going to say she wouldn’t fit in because you refer to her by a number by a lab rat.” The woman snapped.
My grin only grew, realizing that the scientists were on my side. I squirmed in my seat as I moved to sit on my feet to see everyone better at the round table. That was when Dr. Green gave me a lollipop. This meeting was not like
