G1.2 Ch 16 – Secrets Revealed

It wasn’t a big surprise when the school bus failed to show again. Frustrating maybe for Badr who was trying to learn all he could, but given the buses habit of not showing when the snow got to thick it was not a big surprise.

Brava and Biff both spent their snow days working on the one lesson packet they had from their teacher.

Baako and Badr had already finished their packet work. So Baako worked on various paintings, sticking to his mom’s rules and never finishing one. Badr helped out with a few chores and waited patiently for Almas to teach him more about gardening.

Badr didn’t have to wait long, Almas got bored with what she had been doing so she focused once again on teaching Badr about gardening, this time she drilled him on different plant species and there names. It went on for hours. Gage alternated his attention between Brava and Biff’s chess match and listening to Almas lessons on gardening. When Gage realized it was information he had already learned he went back to watching the chess match.

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Once again the days were flying by with a steady tedium. If anyone was finding the steadfast routines boring they didn’t complain about it.

One morning when it seemed as if the sun was up just a minute or two sooner than before Brava yelled at Badr for being gross and disgusting when he grabbed a dirty bowl and licked it clean. She was going to say something more when everyone heard an engine rumble and a horn beeping. All four kids quickly dropped what they were doing and ran out of the house for the school bus.

While at school Badr met a boy named Neal LeBlanc in science class. At first Badr felt like there was something familiar about Neal but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Then as he played with his hair he realized what it was. Neal’s hair was exactly the same color of white as his. It took Badr almost the whole day, but finally he managed to ask Neal about his family. Neal explained that he lived with his mother, Noemi LeBlanc, but didn’t know his father. His mom, he explained, had been part of a genetics experiment years ago. Badr pointed out that they might be related since the white hair seemed to be a trait exclusive to his family.

Neal mentioned that there were two other students that Badr might be related to as well, one was a girl named Carla Kessler who had the same white eyes as Badr, and the third was the crazy boy Freddie that everyone tried to avoid. Badr shuddered at the idea of being related in anyway to Freddie, but was intrigued with the mention of Carla. So he asked Neal to point her out, Neal replied that he couldn’t Carla had graduated from school a few days earlier. Badr asked him how he knew, Neal told him there was a graduates list near the entrance.

Badr Avani and Neal LeBlanc
{parents Noemi LeBlanc & Ahmose Avani; traits: genius, never nude, hates the outdoors, and loner}

Badr was hoping to talk with Neal more but Neal rushed for his bus home as soon as they were let out.

Freddie Avani {parents Anwen Avani & Ahmose Avani; traits: insane, neurotic, technophobe, inappropriate}

When Badr and Baako heard Freddie coming up the hall way they rushed to get on their bus as fast as they could. After the days conversation with Neal neither boy wanted to look into Freddie’s white eyes and have to acknowledge that there was a very strong chance that they were related.

Baako and Badr whispered intensely to each other on the ride home. They weren’t sure how to take the days events. They needed to ask their mom if she knew anything about the science centers genetic research. They started arguing back and forth who would be the one to ask. Finally Baako hissed “your the one who wants to work at the science center you ask her!” Badr stared mutely ahead at the frozen road, Baako was right it would have to be him.

Almas happened to be outside when they got home. Baako took his school work and hid behind a snowman while Baako confronted their mom.

Almas looked startled, “I guess I should have realized you would find out sooner or later” she said sadly. “I guess there’s no point in trying to lie to you now that you’ve met Neal and Freddie.” “No, no point mom” Badr retorted.

So with a heavy voice Almas explained that while he had worked as a medical doctor Ahmose had agreed to go to the science center and help out with an experiment in genetics. Unfortunately for Ahmose he hadn’t been told that he would be one of the test subjects. Almas knew about the project from one of her police cases, and had suggested a way out of the project for Ahmose, but it was to late and he had already fathered 3 children. “Mom, Neal seams fine …. rather normal. Why then is Freddie so messed up?” Badr asked. Almas shook her head and told Badr that he would have to wait until he was older to learn the rest of the details. With that she turned and went inside.

Since no one knew if the school bus would show up the next day all 4 children promptly did their school lessons. Just as everyone was getting ready for bed Brava spoke up “by the way we’re being promoted to the upper classes after today, we’re to old to be in with the little kids any more.” Gage and Almas nodded their acknowledgement, they knew the day had been coming for sometime.

{Brava & Biff, the joys of random cas Biff’s shirt matches his evil trait and Brava’s top works with her loves the cold trait.}