History Test by Julie Steimle (first e reader TXT) 📕

Jafarr nodded slowly. He ripped the data-card out of the slot and rubbed a strip of erase-all over the magnetic end. It was done. Things were fine.

Dzhon still sat with his head on his computer desk. Jafarr looked at him and wondered. Maybe things still needed some smoothing over.

Jafarr laughed with Alzdar at the back table at Sandi’s social bar. Dzhon stood, laying his head on the table.

“…And he just kept talking and talking, debating what we could do so I could avoid you but still hang out with you…” Dzhon rambled from his present position. “I barely had a wink of sleep.” 

Dzhon sat up.

“The worst of it is that if he just let me sleep I wouldn’t have such a pounding headache.” He moaned.

Alzdar patted his friend on the back. “It is ok, Dzhon. It makes it look more convincing. You were convinced weren’t you Jafarr?”

Jafarr nodded. “Completely.”

Dzhon looked hurt. “I can’t believe you’d think that of me. We’ve been friends since we could walk—before we could walk.” Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, “Your mom, my mom, I don’t think we ever did anything apart.”

It was true. Jafarr nodded and smiled. He stirred his kalger cream pudding thoughtfully and then remarked, “You know, though, yesterday was the first day we did stuff separately.”

Dzhon shook his head. “We went to ISIC with you.”

“For different reasons, Dzhon. I went because I had something they wanted,” Jafarr corrected.

Leaning in, Dzhon asked, “You don’t mean they were right? You did have a code?”

Jafarr covered his friend’s mouth. “Do you have to say it out loud?”

But then he let go.

“Trust me, Dzhon. All three of us are going separate ways. You’re going to be a Surface Patrol officer and you are going to start your day doing drills and fighting people like Alzdar and me.” He then went back to stirring the pudding, taking a scoop to eat.

Dzhon shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding. You’re my friend.”

Alzdar looked at his drink and bit his lip. He glanced up at Jafarr with a nod.

“Jafarr is right, Dzhon. You might not be a P.M., but a Surface Patrol officer will have nothing to do with the type of people we will end up with,” Alzdar said, adding, “if you catch my drift.”

Dzhon knew Alzdar meant the rebellion and bit his tongue. He glanced down at his drink and laid his head back on the table. “I need more rest.”

Jafarr smiled then shrugged. “Of course, if my father has his way, I won’t be with Alzdar either.”

Alzdar glanced at him, eyeing Jafarr for a moment.

“You with the flymites and you with the rebs,” Jafarr said stirring his kalger some more, “And I’ll be stuck fixing rotating lights and air vents, you’ll see. Dad wants me safe.”

“Safe,” Dzhon murmured to the table.

Alzdar closed his eyes and let out a tired laugh. “Well, you were always good at being safe.” 

Jafarr finished his drink in silence, gazing across the crowded room and wondering if safe really was in his future.

Publication Date: 02-26-2018

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