What's happening to me?

Nothing happened for the rest of the day. The books were still on the table where I’d left them, and Mrs. Astral kept checking on me every few minutes in an effort to calm my nerves.

I don’t know if she called my parents, but they were normal when they picked me up. Mom grinned brightly as I slid into the back seat. “Nothing beats getting off work early, except a day off, of course. But we’ll have plenty of time for that once we get on the plane! Did you find any good books?”

-Not good enough to risk taking with me.-

It was meant as a joke, and Dad chuckled. He always did to ‘encourage my humor,’ but since he was the one driving, it was left to Mom to read my responses on her phone to him.

“That’s not very nice, Rei. Honestly, I think you’re overdue for some misbehaving. Lots of teenagers have adventures like that, you know?”

-Lots of teenagers steal books?-

Dad shook his head. “And sometimes they do worse things.”

-You want me to break the law?-

It was Mom’s turn to giggle as she stared out the window… and me through my reflection. “What we want,” Mom said without looking away from my reflection’s gaze. “It's for you to have everything you want. Just like any other teenager.”

-Like Zack?-

I wasn’t sure why I brought him up. My brother and I weren’t spoiled. We did chores, and Zack was now working on some mysterious project that he refused to talk about.

While I was supposed to study my brains out, and challenge myself to ‘become the best version of myself and develop into another perfect employee for the corporation.’

Even my parents were content to leave me alone as long as I put in some effort most of the week. No one had asked Zack what he wanted to be when he grew up.

He simply graduated from college and joined the corporation. I doubted he even relaxed during the summer. No one asked me what I wanted to be, but if I wasn’t cut out to be a scientist or do something similar, no one had told me.

It was frustrating not knowing whether I should make plans.

Dad looked at me using the rearview mirror, his eyes buried in a nest of laugh lines that crinkled up at the corners. “Yes, just like Zack. Your brother is currently being a trailblazer for you, Rei. Did you know that?”

I shook my head. -Why is he blazing a trail for me? Have I been headhunted to join his department?-

Zack wouldn’t like that, but I doubted he had much say in the matter. If our parents, or their bosses, decided something, it was going to happen.

I just wish I knew what they’re planning to do with me.

The ride to the Drop Off devolved into silence. I thought about telling them about what happened at the library. But they would certainly make me see Dr. Markert tomorrow if I did.

I kept my eyes trained on the window, watching the gray buildings start to dissolve into a chain-link fence with barbed wire running across the top.

Guard posts started appearing at regular intervals, and soon, several cars joined us to the Drop Off. I didn’t see anyone close to my age. I never did.

The base was for staff and their families. That fact used to be an odd source of comfort, but I couldn’t get Bao out of my head. He’d been as real as Mrs. Astral, as real as the shadows that called to me when I visited the tree.

But how can someone real not show up on a video feed? Why did he look human before the lights went off? I closed my eyes briefly and leaned my head against the window.

The road was well-maintained, so there was never any danger of bumping my head until Dad parked the car, wheels kissing the yellow line that separated the parking lot from the sidewalk around the building.

“We’re here!” Dad called, stepping out of the car like a little kid who needed to pee. Mom was one step behind him, but they paused when I didn’t move right away.

“Rei?” Mom called as I opened my door.

I didn’t bother typing. Dad was looking at the carts, all neatly lined up and ready to use. It made me grin at the familiar sight as I walked past Mom, wrapped an arm around her waist, and gently pulled her along.

We didn’t visit the Drop Off often, so I had to make the most of it. Dad had already grabbed a cart and entered by the time we caught up to him. The Drop Off was organized like a bazaar or flea market.

The walls were lined with shelves, while tables and pallets dominated the middle, giving people a clear view of the products while also creating a maze.

Theoretically, there would always be enough odds and ends to please everyone at any time. But some items, like cameras, game consoles, and local delicacies, were on a first-come, first-served basis, with the option to order something if there was high demand; the Drop Off would then stock it.

If not, then you treat each trip like a mini holiday. Dad eagerly pushed the cart, stopping occasionally to pick up something to show Mom and me.

I started tuning them out after Dad grabbed a bottle of sun tan lotion and argued the pros and cons against the previous four bottles he had looked at.

My screen hung limply from my hand as I leaned against the cart. The other ‘shoppers’ all seemed to know where they were going and what they were hoping to find.

And a few also called out to my parents upon passing. This would only make them pause their lotion discussion to reply, and as soon as their coworkers left, they went right back at it.

I tried to be patient. If the base in Australia were constructed like this one, then I’d be relying on that lotion to stop me from turning into a boiled lobster.

But after five minutes of them talking about SPFs and whether they needed a waterproof one as well, I got restless. I lightly tapped Mom’s shoulder and vaguely waved towards the far wall.

“Did you see something you wanted, Rei?” She asked as Dad grinned encouragingly at me.

I grinned back. -Can I walk around? No offense, but I’ll probably spend most of my time indoors anyway.-

Dad snorted. “Right. Sure, you will. We’re going to a brand new base in a country we’ve never been to. I’m sure you’ll turn into a couch potato as soon as we unpack.”

I shrugged, trying to look innocent, which only made him laugh harder. Mom took advantage of the moment to swiftly pluck the bottle out of Dad’s hand and replace it with one that claims to help you tan.

“Go ahead, dear. Your father and I will get through the boring stuff eventually.”

“Avoiding sunburns is not boring, and why would you want to tan while avoiding getting sunburned? I’m surprised they even make things like that.”

“They make everything these days, darling.” Mom met my eyes and made shooing motions as Dad tried to put the bottle back. I shot her a thank you grin and stepped between two tables filled with Tupperware, Firestarter kits, and a chocolate fondue set with a big ‘As Seen On TV!’ banner.

The rest of the tables were organized in the same way, which is to say, they weren’t. The walkways were kept clear of fallen products and dust bunnies so people could maneuver easily.

But that was all there was to it. The shelves were a little better. They contained most of the canned meats, pickles, pasta, and hamburger-type meals that just required meat and milk to complete, and enough instant noodles to feed an army for a year.

The more nutritious and fresh stuff usually wound up delivered to homes or offices. One never knew when you’d have to pull an all-nighter, and meal kits are always popular.

They weren’t what I was looking for, though. I kept glancing at people as they passed me, partially hoping to see if anyone would mention anything odd happening just to reassure me further that I wasn’t going crazy.

Sadly, luck wasn’t on my side because Bao never showed up, and the shadows stayed where they were. No one acted strangely around me, and it wasn’t until I found myself in front of a table for ten minutes before I realized that I hadn’t moved.

The table was covered in gardening supplies. I’d never thought about growing things before. The forest behind the house I lived in as a child had been the product of nature.

Neither my parents nor Zack had expressed any desire to make a garden. But this table didn’t have anything useful, like fruit or vegetable seeds. It also didn’t have anything like roses, tulips, or sunflowers. I didn’t know what kind of seeds they were.

The package was a plain brown paper bag with a ‘Claim your happiness one mystery seed at a time. Guaranteed to grow anywhere!’ A big smiley face sticker was the only thing keeping the bag closed.

I picked it up curiously just as my parents arrived with a full cart.

“What’d you find, Rei? A snack?” Dad usually thought with his stomach first—something that we’d joke about if he weren’t too tired from work.

I shook my head and handed the bag over—still uncertain if I wanted it or not. There’s no way a plant can grow everywhere. This is likely intended for families with young children.

“Do you want it, Rei? Shall we get it?” Dad asked.

I shook my head again, fighting the urge to type while looking around the room. Everyone was an adult.

There were no children or anyone around my age. I bit my lip and turned around only to see the smiley face sticker away from my face. I stepped back, making Mom laugh.

“Let’s get it. We’ve never had a garden before. We’ll put some flowerpots and plant them once we’ve finished unpacking.”

I shrugged. It wasn’t a bad idea, and the idea of having real plants around me again was both comforting and tense. I didn’t want to lose any more of the few things that made my childhood what it was.

The shadows and dreams were in my head—had to be. And soon, we’d be in a new country. I should leap for the chance to do something fun with my family.

But I couldn’t get what Bao said out of my mind. “You were never supposed to be born.”

I plucked the bag from my mom’s hand and placed it on top of a container of instant noodles. My dad grinned wickedly. “That’s the spirit. It won’t be long before you’re all grown up, Rei. So make sure you enjoy being a teenager while you can.”

This time, I couldn’t stop myself. -I’ll stop being a teenager in a few years. What else do we need to grab?-

“Chips?” Mom suggested as she pointedly avoided looking at the cart… and the three boxes containing different kinds of chips near the top.

I wanted to play along and lose myself in the silliness of family bonding time. But I was already typing again. -Do any kids live here? I can’t remember the last time I saw any.-

Mom raised an eyebrow as she looked from me to Dad. He looked just as confused and shrugged.

“I’m sure there are. But it’s not like we know everyone, Rei. Why do you ask?”

I also shrugged and grabbed a basic, plain brown flowerpot. I didn’t know why I asked. It wasn’t something I’d ever thought about before. It didn’t matter that I never saw kids or other teenagers since we moved here.

It didn’t matter that—if I really thought about, which I didn’t—that I couldn’t remember ever seeing any regardless of which base we lived on. I was never allowed to see every part of the base, just enough so I knew where the library was, and where to go in an emergency.