The Test chapter 1

When I woke up that early Thursday morning, when the owls rushed away and and the birds hummed a wake-up tune, making me sit up on my bed, I never expected what was about to come. I turned my head and saw that my calendar was insisting that today was indeed the day.

The day for the test.

I could smell my mother making oatmeal in the kitchen. In our small one-story house, it wasn't hard to hear and smell the sizzling milk blending with the oatmeal, even from my bedroom. I tiptoed across the room, trying not to wake Celeste. She was cuddled on her bed that was across from mine, her toes beneath her blanket. She was my ten year old sister, and she needed to get her sleep before she wakes up. I walked to the bathroom, shivering in the coldness of the morning. I peeked at myself at the bathroom mirror. I squeezed my haircomb and forced my tangled strands to collaborate, yanking at each miserable knot. I scrubbed my teeth clean and let my deep red curls escape.

"Morning, mother," I greeted as I entered the kitchen. Lazily propping myself on the chair, I patiently waited for the oatmeal to be ready. "Good morning, Aspyn." My mother said with a faint but pretty smile tugging on the ends of her lips.

"Today's the day." I said, forcing by bangs to a comfortable position.

"Are you excited, dear?"

"I can't say that," I struggled to find comfort in the lumpy chair, "well, let's say I'm looking forward to it. When you took the test, you got good results, right?"

Mother eyed me and returned a brief nod of an answer.

"What if I....what if I fail the test?" I asked quietly. My words were regretted the moment my brain understood what they meant. Mother briefly and quietly sighed, twisting her hair into a bun. "I believe in you, Aspyn. Have a lot of faith in yourself."

Mother always knew the right thing to say-a gift I am sad to admit, I do not have. I'm more like my father. Stubborn. Intelligent. Ambitious. Thick-skinned. I share his green eyes. If father were alive, I would've felt more happy in this house. Only my bloodred hair is inherited from my mother. Mother poured the honey on top of my oatmeal. The honey stayed afloat, sweet, soft, and pure, swerving to the edges of the bowl. I dug a spoon in as soon as the oatmeal was placed in front of me. I breathed it's sweet scent and let the honey melt in the heat of my mouth, savoring each bite. It was sweet, slightly crunchy, and had a likeable edge to it. 

The bowl was finished in no time. I wanted to ask for more, but time was almost over for me to get to the Town Square of Sector four, where the test results took place. The worn out wooden grandfather clock alerted me that seven o'clock was approaching.

Mother went to wake Celeste, and we all headed for town square. I tried to rid my qualms about the test, but I couldn't. If I failed the test, my life is over. But if I won, my life is far from over. We headed through the forest and left the village to the town square. It was a square-shaped area, huge, with a large memorial implanted in it's center. Inside the memorial, the test took place. A crowd was already gathered around the memorial. The crowd suddenly filled with hoots and cheers, and President White appeared. A professional looking man, wearing a pricy suit and tie. He head a microphone to his lips, and let a smile engulf his face. The crowd was almost crazy when they laid eyes on him. The highly appreciated President White, who had invented the test.

"Citizens of the union," He said, "Welcome to the test."