“That’s another question I had,” I went on. “Why would people choose to believe in something they can’t even see? All those things we study, none of them are real people ...”
Jessica sat in silence, studying me, her brows furrowed, her soft brown eyes searching mine. She opened her mouth as if to say something then closed it again. Instead, she shrugged. “I’ve never actually had anyone ask me that before.”
I was silent, wondering how she could never have thought about it. It seemed so silly to me.
“Well,” Jessica started again, “I guess that people kind of want something to believe in ... something greater than themselves.”
I pondered her answer.
“People want something to look up to. Some religions might be made up, while other ones might be true,” Jessica elaborated, noticing my confusion. “Many times, people think of their gods as their creators.”
I watched her for a moment, processing what she had just said. Creators? I had only heard that word used when referring to the people who created us. Did she mean to tell me that there was someone else who created all of them? Or at least, a theory? This seemed overwhelming to me, but at the same time, it did make some sense. Did that make us all mechanical? No ... the creators had specifically told us that we were different. But how could you create flesh and bones? I stared at my lunch tray, trying to sort this out. You couldn’t create flesh and bones ... the creators had specifically told us that, too.
Then again, I remembered countless times in our history class when the teacher spoke of groups of people long ago who worshiped certain items or ideals. The creators had also mentioned this. Maybe these gods were merely figments of their imagination, deities to blame or to trust. They had to be.
This was all getting very bewildering, an emotion I had rarely experienced, at least, not since I had come to this school. I pushed the thought away and replaced it with the idea that the humans were delusional. They liked to look up to something and declare it would solve their problems. It didn’t make sense, but neither did any human behavior in that regard that I’d seen so far.
Just the same, I didn’t like the state of unknowing.
“Does that answer your questions?” Jessica asked.
I paused. “Mostly, yes. Thanks.”
“Good.” She beamed.
I shook my head, admitting to myself that I had a lot to learn about humans before I would understand them.
Chapter Four
“What did you observe?” the driver’s monotone voice asked me once again, like he had done every day since I had started going to school. I heard the click of the recorder turning on and then my voice as I answered.
“What did you learn?” was the next question. I automatically answered, staring at the back of his head.
Soon we were back at the Institution and I hurried inside, tossing my bag on my bed in the room I shared with Yvonne.
But as I walked out into the lobby, something caught my eye. I turned, watching as people were being dragged through the front doors and although it seemed like something so odd, the creators acted nonchalant, like this was an everyday occurrence. The people were unconscious, and I noticed right away that they were human, not mechanical, like us. I watched as the staff carried them into a back room and the metal door clanged behind them. The hallway was empty and almost hollow as I stared at the swinging doors.
I sensed someone come up behind me and turned to see Yvonne. Her gaze followed mine to the doors that methodically swung back and forth, their hissing sounds slowly coming to a halt as their motion ceased.
“Who are they?” I stared at the closed doorway where they had disappeared.
“Just humans.” She spat out the last word like it was a bad taste she couldn’t wait to get rid of.
I wondered at her sudden animosity. “Why are they here?”
She shrugged, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. “Who cares? They’re probably used as templates.” She laughed. It was a beautiful noise, but I sensed indifference, as if she knew how twisted her comment had sounded and didn’t care. “A way to make sure we come out looking like a normal person.”
All of a sudden somebody bumped into me from behind. I stumbled but didn’t fall, turning to see who had been so clumsy.
“I’m sorry ...” a voice said, sounding vacant and afraid. “I don’t ... my legs ...”
I twisted around and saw a blonde girl, one of us, standing there looking uncertain.
“I’ve only now been turned on ... that’s what they said ...” She paused, looking around.
“Oh, it’s fine, I understand,” I told her. When I had been turned on, I could barely walk as well. It would only be a matter of time before she was able to operate perfectly.
The girl seemed a little more relaxed but then tensed again as she shifted her gaze to Yvonne. She turned and stumbled slightly, then unsteadily made her way out of the room. Puzzled, I watched Yvonne’s eyes, dark and cold, staring after the girl.
The room seemed to get darker upon Yvonne’s sudden change in expression. She had a way of making a once livable room ice cold.
“What was that for?” I asked, curious as to why she would act that way.
“They’re annoying,” she hissed, still glaring at the door.
“What do you mean? We were once like that.” I felt like a child, talking to Yvonne, but I was truly wondering what had gotten into her.
“It was different for us,” she said, rolling her eyes as if she was irritated by me as well. “They’re completely new. They act like they’re so stupid. They’re a disgrace to us, don’t you see that?” Her eyes bored into me accusingly, her hands clenched at her sides.
“I don’t know ...”
“Ugh. Drew, don’t you see?” she asked. “We’re better than the others. The humans. We’re above them physically and intellectually. And androids like those,” she said pointing to the door through which the blonde girl had vanished only moments before, “are an embarrassment to our kind. There’s no room for them here. There’s no room for the humans, either.” And with that she stomped off, leaving me open-mouthed, staring after the perfect android who had just claimed the world to be ours.
Chapter Five
Throughout the next week at school, I found myself getting better and better at being able to imitate humans and noticed that Jessica and her friends seemed a little more comfortable around me, too. I was able to talk fluently, dismissing things I didn’t understand, but keeping them in my thoughts to ponder or ask questions about later.
“You’re so pretty, Drew,” Hailey said one day, out of nowhere, a hint of jealousy tinging her voice. We were eating at the lunch table. The chatter and noise of the cafeteria made it difficult to hold a conversation, but Hailey’s voice was loud, causing me to pause.
I looked up, contemplating why she would say this, when looks had never seemed to matter to me, the other androids, or the creators. I dismissed the thought, remembering that most of what humans talked about was pointless.
“You don’t even wear makeup and you’re still gorgeous,” Caroline added. “You are seriously flawless.” She shook her head, pouting in a teasing way. “I envy you.” The tone was playful, but I could detect true jealousy hidden beneath it.
I laughed, having noticed before that this was most humans’ normal response to compliments. “Thank you,” I replied. There was a pause, and I wasn’t sure of what else to say.
Just then I saw Michael walking towards our table. “Hey Jess,” he said quickly, barely glancing her way. “Hi Drew.” He smiled and I noticed he had dimples, just like Jessica.
“Hello,” I replied.
Michael smiled again, an expression that spread across his face, lighting up his eyes.
“So, Michael, what’d you want?” Jessica asked, but stopped once she saw him set down his tray and sit next to me. She gave him a funny look mingled with surprise then knowing amusement. She glanced at Caroline, who smirked.
&nb
sp; “So, what are you guys talking about?” Michael asked, taking a drink of his soda and seeming oddly comfortable considering he was the only boy sitting at a table filled with girls.
Jessica shrugged, clearly annoyed by her brother’s presence.
“We were just talking about how pretty Drew is,” Caroline jumped in. Hailey snorted with laughter beside her.
Michael nodded in mock contemplation. “I would have to agree,” he replied, looking over at me with amusement.
Hailey nudged Caroline, discreetly gesturing at the two of us. I wondered why everyone was making such a big deal out of what seemed to be nothing so I just went back to eating.
“So ... Michael?” Jessica said, giving him a meaningful glance. “Don’t you have a class starting soon?”
He shook his head and smiled. “Nope.”
Jessica glared at him with irritation.
“So, Drew,” Michael said, turning to me. “How’s school been so far?”
I thought for a moment, remembering him asking me a similar question only a few days ago in class. “It’s fine,” I replied truthfully.
“So, what’s your favorite class?” he asked. I noticed that he hadn’t touched his food at all.
I paused. Why were humans so enthralled with personal attachments to objects, places and people? I didn’t understand. I did have things I enjoyed doing, but I never strove to figure out favorites of mine, or to learn others. “English,” I said, repeating the first thing that came to my mind.
“Sweet,” he said. “I like that class, too.”
“Probably only because Drew’s in it,” I heard Jessica whisper to Hailey and Caroline, giggling, but I knew Michael couldn’t have picked it up.
“Miss Clark’s a little mean, though,” Michael commented.
I shrugged. “I don’t think she’s mean.” I thought Miss Clark was nice compared to a lot of teachers. She was always good-natured and had nice things to say. I wondered why Michael thought what he did, but then remembered Miss Clark calling on him countless times to be quiet and realized that was probably the reason. It was his own fault, though.
Michael shrugged. “Easy for you to say that. She likes you,”
“Well, I don’t interrupt her during class,” I pointed out. I had meant it to be practical, not funny, but Michael seemed to find it so because he laughed. I frowned in self-disappointment. Why couldn’t I get the hang of how humans behaved? No, why couldn’t they just behave rationally? That would make this whole thing so much easier. I didn’t understand them at all. Well, maybe a little, but for the most part, I didn’t.
“Geez, Drew, smile a bit, will ya?” Michael said with a laugh.
I quickly formed my expression into a grin that seemed to satisfy everyone. Soon they started talking again and I let myself be left out of the conversation to just observe. I noticed Michael shooting frequent glances in my direction and I wondered what was so interesting. I finally ignored him and focused on the conversation—how they reacted, how their expressions formed and what they were.
Soon lunch period ended and we were on our way to our next class.
Chapter Six
“Hello, Glen,” I called, striding into his study. The room was brightly lit with bookshelves lining the walls. Everything was in its place, from the alphabetized books to the papers neatly arranged on his desk.
Glen was one of the creators who headed the Institution. He was responsible for taking care of the androids and answering questions when they needed help.
He looked up from what he was reading. “Hi Drew.” His expression was friendly, but he looked slightly preoccupied. His face was closed off and I couldn’t tell if his smile was real or forced. Glen was hard to read.
I stopped in front of his desk, moving to sit down. “I have an interesting proposition,” I told him while he looked at me expectantly. “Jessica, a girl from the school, asked me to spend the night at her house. At first I didn’t really understand, but then I learned that it’s normal for friends to sleep over at each others’ homes.” As I explained, I was hoping to enlighten him and see some sign of approval.
Glen nodded, watching me.
“She brought it up because we have an assignment due in a few days that we have to work on together. I told her I would get back to her. Don’t you think this is an interesting opportunity?” I watched his expression closely as I gripped the sides of my chair and leaned slightly forward. “It’s a better way to observe how they act in their own homes where they’re most comfortable,” I explained. I unclenched and clenched my hands slightly against the armrest, hoping he would agree and like my idea.
Glen looked thoughtful for a moment. “You know, Drew, that’s a very good idea,” he said, flashing me a smile.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about it,” I answered, feeling a little proud of myself for earning Glen’s approval.
He sat there, thinking, a forgotten smile on his lips. “All right.” He looked at me. “Why don’t you call her right now and tell her your parents agreed?”
“Yes.” I got up and turned to go, but Glen called me back.
“Don’t forget to act like a human,” he pressed. “You need to eat dinner, talk, smile, and actually sleep during the night. Okay?”
I nodded, a little offended he would think I could actually forget. After all, I was his creation, perfect in every way. How could he doubt me? “Of course.”
After calling Jessica, I headed for my room to get my bag, pleased for my chance to observe as well as imitate human behavior. Anticipation and a surge of gratitude washed over me as I remembered Glen’s smile of approval.
As I walked into my room, I saw Yvonne lounging on her bed, reading. Her legs were propped up precariously on the window ledge about a foot above her bed. I reached for my bag on the dresser, noticing Yvonne’s gaze darting toward me.
“Where you going?” she asked, sitting up. The androids rarely left the Institution. I could see the curiosity in her eyes and possibly...jealousy?
“Jessica’s,” I replied, as her look in her eyes instantly vanished and I pushed it from my mind.
“Huh.” She raised her book again and continued reading. Her reply was nonchalant, but I could tell she was still interested.
“See you later,” I called, leaving the room.
“Bye,” came Yvonne’s reply.
I hurried out, got into the van and soon I was at Jessica’s, finding the outside of her home quite normal and not as intimidating as I had previously imagined. I hesitated before leaving the vehicle, going over what I was expected to do and how I was expected to act. What if I messed up? What if they found out? Confusion flickered through me like a bolt of electricity as I realized what I was doing—worrying. I paused. I couldn’t be worrying. I was an android. It was impossible. I shook my head, telling myself that it had to be some short circuit or something. I pushed aside those thoughts and left the van. Jessica greeted me at the door and ushered me inside.
“Mom, this is Drew,” Jessica said, pulling me with her into the living room.
Jessica’s mom looked up and smiled. “Hi Drew, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I replied, glad for the many hours that the creators had drilled us on correct and polite behavior among adults.
I was then tugged away and we headed upstairs where I dumped my stuff in Jessica’s room. I couldn’t help but notice, as I gazed around, how perfectly it matched her. A light peach color covered her walls and although this and yellow were the main themes, it wasn’t obnoxious or too bright.
“So, I started a little bit on our assignment,” Jessica said, gesturing to the floor where diorama parts lay strewn about.
We had been assigned the medieval jousting portion of our history studies so Jessica had bought little plastic horses and people. “They didn’t have medieval horses or knights ... so we’ll have to figure something out to make them seem ... authentic,” She told me, biting her lip in thought.
I nodded, still
staring at the strange little figurines and wondering what we could do with them.
“Maybe we can color them?” Jessica suggested. She pulled out some markers and paper from her desk and we sat down on the floor. She started scribbling out a small little square and soon we were inventing coats of arms and armor. Jessica grabbed some tape and held it up to one of the tiny horses. She threw her head back and laughed. “This is ridiculous,” she cried, holding up the horse and paper for me to see.
I laughed too, seeing how strange and tacky it looked. “Well, what about a lance?” I asked, imitating a knight holding one.
Jessica held up a toothpick. We both burst out laughing as we tried to figure out some way to attach the ‘lance’ to one of the figurine’s small, plastic hands. All of a sudden, I stopped short, my breath caught in my throat where a laugh had threatened to escape only a second before.
Jessica stopped momentarily and stared at me. “What’s wrong?”
I looked at her, suddenly realizing how strange it must have seemed. “I just have a headache,” I said, conjuring up a plausible lie.
“You want something for it?”
“It’ll go away soon,” I assured her. I frowned in thought. I had laughed many times before, but it had always been a forced laugh, never an authentic one. I hadn’t even known what a real laugh felt like or what it was like to be happy enough to laugh, to really laugh ... until now. I had laughed with Jessica over something so small and meaningless, but I had actually felt something. I stared at the tiny, plastic statuette, wondering how something so trivial could bring this out of me. I shook my head. No. That couldn’t have been the case. I wasn’t human. I couldn’t become human.
Jessica said something about food, interrupting my thoughts, and I distractedly followed her as she left the room and went downstairs. As we made our way to the kitchen where Jessica said the snacks were stored, we passed the living room and I saw Michael sitting on the couch. He turned around when he heard our footsteps and smiled at seeing me. “Hey Drew,” he called, getting up from the couch and following us into the kitchen.
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