Sleeping Jenny by Aubrie Dionne Read Free Book Online

generation to generation. That’s one of the reasons why it’s an honor to meet you—the daughter of the man who started it all.”
    â€œWow.” I thought back to my dad’s dreams for his business to continue into the future. He may have been a bit of a workaholic, but his vision had survived the test of time. I was so proud of him.
    Len stacked the used plates for C-7 to load in the dishwasher. “I’ve laid out some clothes on the couch. My older sister, Istell, has a daughter who’s just left for the high-rise academies. She said you could have all of her school clothes.”
    â€œDo they look anything like what Pell’s wearing?”
    Len laughed. “Some of them do, but it will be much better than wearing your own clothes. Think about what a pilgrim would look like walking around in your old school.”
    I smiled despite my gloomy mood. “I’d probably think she was there as part of a historical reenactment during assembly time or a play.”
    â€œExactly. You want to fit in, yes?”
    I stuffed a bite of green soycake in my mouth. It tasted like a spinach wafer with white sugar to help it go down. I swallowed hard. “I guess.”
    â€œThere’s not much we can do about secrecy. Word gets around, and I’m sure the other kids can guess who you are, but at least you’ll look normal.”
    I thought of the Barbie cheerleaders and Chad. Nothing could be as bad as they were. “It’s okay. I can take some teasing.”
    Len leaned across the table and took my hand. I froze, putting up a wall to block out all the emotion waiting to burst me into tears.
    â€œI want you to be able to make friends. You have a new life ahead of you. Seize the day.”
    â€œCarpe diem.” Pell announced beside me.
    I gave her a stare. Since when did seven-year-olds speak Latin?
    Len smiled. “That’s right. Now let’s give Jenny some time to pick an outfit, then off to the hoverbus you two will go.”
    Panic inched up my spine. “You mean you’re not going with us?”
    Len looked directly at me, as if I was the seven-year-old. “It’s only down the hall and on the platform. Don’t worry, Pell will show you the way. And once you get to school, the counselors will be available if you have any questions.” She stacked up the dirty dishes on the countertop. “I have a presentation at work today. I have to go in early.”
    I sighed. Just like my mom. Some things never changed.
    I finished most of the soycakes, thinking I’d be the most nutritious teenager on the face of the Earth, then I remembered that everyone ate this way. Geez.
    I’d give my right leg for a plate of scrambled eggs and hash browns. Oh, and ketchup. Yeah, ketchup would be perfect . I imagined turning over the bottle, or squeezing out one of those fast-food packets. Shaking, my head, I stopped fantasizing. I had a hideous outfit to pick.
    C-7 stood by the couch like a butler, rubbing a cloth over the glass countertop. His robotic fingers clinked eerily against the glass. “Good morning, Jennifer.”
    I made sure to circle way around him, thinking of all the cyborg movies I’d seen where they went crazy and attacked people, taking over the world.
    â€œHey there, C-7.” I gave him the evil eye, trying to see if he’d react, but he returned to his dusting.
    â€œGood luck at school today.”
    â€œThanks.” I looked over the outfits, flipping over a few silver triangle dresses that looked more suitable for microwaving leftovers than wearing to school. I settled for a royal-blue tunic with a gold belt. Sure, I’d look like some futuristic Roman god, but at least the blue would bring out my eyes.
    I slipped into the bathroom to change, wondering how to lock a door that dissolved with the press of a panel. Oh well. Let’s hope C-7 doesn’t decide to take over the world while I’m in my undies