If all you had to do was request a test and say no, everyone would do it.

I once heard the best lie was wrapped in truth and that’s what I planned to do.

Still, I should be careful. For the questions that seemed dangerous, I pretty much said no. Questions about cooking, for example, I said I didn’t mind. It was a lie, but I figured having some yes answers could only help make it look good.

Don’t know why I’m worried. All I have to do is back out if they offer ‘The Package’. Even the website says it’s optional.

I clicked the last question about my hobbies and a wave of gooseflesh went over my body. The touchscreen disappeared as both rod halves floated toward each other. Once the rod was complete, it hovered up, then floated to my wooden dresser. A European accented voice spoke, “After twelve hours review your answers and confirm. Press either end to activate. Place your thumb on the view screen to confirm, then your thumbs on both ends again to send.”

Great just before bedtime. As if I needed more trouble going to sleep. Just hope I’m not pregnant again in my dreams.

***

I spent the rest of the day doing chores around the farm under the hot sun. It was one reason I wanted to leave. I wasn’t built for this kind of life. If I had big muscles like Nate all this work wouldn’t be so backbreaking. I could do the coal mines if they were still profitable. Although, that was a moot point. Sure, they liked tiny guys that could fit into the low tunnels, but I didn’t need to cough constantly thirty years down the line.

Look where that got Pa. Farm work and the occasional job in the mines, and nothing to show for it. Just a constant cough, wrinkles, and a head of early white hair.

I threw the last of the feed into a trough for our cows or rather pets since we couldn’t sell them. I closed my eyes while my stomach churned.

It’s not fair.

There was some animosity at being the first male in four generations to not get the farm. It went beyond that. My sister could save it if she wanted to help. Sure, Nate wouldn’t willingly pick her for a wife and she wasn’t into him.

Although it didn’t stop her from fucking him.

Guess you don’t have to like someone to sleep with them.

It was her stupid stubbornness that put us all in this situation. At her age and in our town, it would be a scandal but a minor one. She’d get hitched to one of the richest families in the area. That’s not a bad thing no matter how you look at it. There’s no way they’d let us lose the farm. Getting my sis ‘in trouble’ would be... bad for their business. They’d want to make things right.

Hell... I might worry about nothing. One year from now, I won’t care. The farm will be paid off and I can see the results of my plan.