Mechanical by Pauline C. Harris Read Free Book Online Page B

hard enough
would bring back the logic that used to guide me.
    “Drew?” I heard Jessica’s voice and instantly
stopped shaking my head, knowing how ridiculous I must have looked.
“Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine,” I said with a laugh, hoping they
would laugh too. “I have a headache.”
    “Well, don’t shake your head, that’ll make it
worse,” Caroline said from across the table.
    I nodded and started eating my lunch.
    After school, as I was standing in the
parking lot waiting for the van, I looked around at all the kids
waiting for rides. I saw them talking with their parents. I saw
some getting in the car without saying a word while others smiled
and laughed, and I couldn’t help feeling that twinge of desire I
had felt earlier in the day. These kids had families to go home to
while I had the cold, blank Institution. Something inside of me
ached for the family that other children had and that I lacked. I
envisioned the average family in my mind—the talks, the trips, the
unity. All I had ever had were the creators, and my early memories
were vague at best.
    No, Drew, you can’t talk like this, I
told myself. But I didn’t seem to be really listening because that
feeling didn’t go away, that desire and longing for more, and the
emptiness I felt when thinking about my existence.
    I turned away and looked at the road,
searching for the van. Just then, I noticed Jessica making her way
across the parking lot toward Michael’s car. A thought fluttered
through my mind along with a burning desire and without thinking
twice, I reacted on it.
    “Jessica!” I called. She smiled and made her
way over to me. “Could I stay at your house tonight?” I asked,
ignoring the part of me that was screaming for me to stop, to
regain control, to remain logical. I knew it was probably rude to
ask something like that, but the thought of going to the
Institution made me almost cringe. I didn’t know what was wrong
with me. This was completely irrational, but I knew that if I
wasn’t a good enough android for them, I didn’t want to stay where
I wasn’t valued.
    Jessica beamed. “Sure, that would be fun. I’m
sure my parents would be fine with it. Hold on a sec while I call
them.”
    I sighed in relief. “Thanks.”
    Jessica pulled out her phone and walked to a
quieter part of the parking lot. She came back a minute later
wearing a grin. “They said it's okay.”
    Just then I noticed the van pulling up. “I’ll
be right back,” I told her, and hurried towards it. The driver,
David, greeted me when I opened the door. “I’m going to spend the
night at Jessica’s.”
    David swiveled around in his seat to stare at
me behind his dark sunglasses. “What?”
    “Strictly for observation purposes,” I told
him and he seemed less surprised.
    “Um ... okay,” he said slowly. “Does Glen
know about this?”
    I shook my head. “No, but you can tell
him.”
    “Remember Drew, you’re not like them,” David
began, but I waved goodbye to him and started to walk away. He
didn’t jump out of the car and come after me, so I saw that as a
good sign.
    I met up with Jessica at Michael’s car and we
all climbed in. “Drew’s spending the night,” Jessica explained when
Michael gave us a curious look.
    “Cool,” he replied in an even voice, but
Jessica stared at him strangely. We drove for about ten minutes
before reaching the Walter’s house.
    “Oh, my mom wanted to know if you’d like
spaghetti or hamburgers for dinner,” Jessica asked me as she
climbed out of the car. “I forgot to ask.”
    I shrugged, deciding that either one would be
fine considering I didn’t think much of food. “Whatever’s easier
for her,” I replied.
    Jessica laughed. “Okay, well I prefer
hamburgers so if that’s okay with you, that’s what I’ll
request.”
    Michael opened the front door and stood
aside, allowing Jessica and I to enter first. I couldn’t help but
notice Jessica’s shocked and almost appalled reaction to