The Hubby Hold (IQ Testing Book 2) Read online

  Duchie swings to Ketona, shaking her ponytail with a negative response.

  I exhale, studying Duchie, frowning with sadness.

  The me-chee says. “The twenty seconds have expired. The current color tone is your new citizenship home. Congratulation, schoolers! The shielding is lifting from your me-chee chair. However, your cat suit will reflect your earned color and earned citizenship, represented by one of the outer townships. Please, sit inside your me-chee, or stand by your me-chee chair. Alright! I will allow you to share another me-chee chair with your best friend, too. Now, please, show respect, here. There are five schoolers, who all have reached the gold color tone.”

  The other unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, stomp boots, tossing fists with fury at the mayor.

  Chapter 20

  Golden circle

  Female: tall, slender, pale skin, flaming red pixie cut, side cheekbone facial piercing, nose bridge facial piercing. She stands in the middle of the golden platform then shouts with an alto timber. “Be silent! Each golden colored schooler will be allowed the pleasure of announcing their greatest desire, their dream job. The golden colored schoolers will live and play inside the posh city of Colfax. To be fair and just, the me-chee host has recorded the correct answer with the associated clock time stamp. I will announce each golden colored schooler, who has correctly answered the single most difficult academic question, by name. The golden colored schooler will stand along the golden platform beside me. I will shake your hand, then you will move towards the end of the platform, for the next golden colored schooler…”

  Duchie slides her legs off the me-chee chair, sitting inside. She grins, leaning into Ketona, whispers. “And, I thought our new weird friend Nephella was nasty with her body piercings. That’s her mama, the mayor of Colfax. She’s got a side cheekbone jewelry stud. It looks kinda awesome, giving her some sweet looking dimples for her tigress personality. I don’t really like the nose bridge format, a straight barbell piece of jewelry, traveling, like a sewing pin, between her narrow eye sockets. But, it does complete her demeanie, or demeanor.” She giggles.

  I frown with puzzlement at the mayor of Colfax. I have been too busy in my teen life, without bothering to learn about the mayor of Colfax and her few mayor duties. The city is self-employed and self-efficient. Everyone has a job. Everyone does their job. Everyone obeys the laws within Colfax, thus living a good life. And, Colfax doesn’t employ any police officers for law breakers, since no citizen breaks the law.

  So, the mayor and her job is more a decoration of honor, like a first place ribbon at the pie contest. Then, the pie is eaten and gone.

  The mayor smiles, nodding then extends her hand. “The golden color tone offers five dream jobs, consisting of a medical technician, a legal technician, a me-chee designer, a me-chee technician, and an administrator technician. Now, today, within the Cubby Hole, there are five smart teens for the five smart jobs. Each technician will be studying, under an internship, with a trained monitor for six months, and then will begin their dream career. Let us meet the new golden colored schoolers, who will be the new and brightest interns of Colfax.”

  The other unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, boot stomp, and toss fists towards the mayor.

  The mayor frowns with annoyance, saying. “Be quiet! The first golden colored schooler is Rincon. He answered the single most difficult academic question in 1.7 seconds, after the posed question.”

  The unlucky schoolers make obnoxiously loud sounds, like boos, hisses, and boot stomps, being annoying.

  Rincon stands from the first chair, in the first row of mixed gold and blue chairs. He drops his chin into his chest, walking towards the platform. He extends his hand, shaking and smiling at mayor then stands beside her.

  The mayor wraps her arm around his bicep, smiling and nodding. “Quiet, please! Congratulations, Rincon. You have answered, correctly…”

  Duchie leans into Ketona, smiling and whispering. “The single most difficult academic question…”

  I giggle.

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, stomp boots, and toss fists into the air with more loud noises.

  The mayor shouts. “Quiet, here! What is your dream job, living and working in the posh lovely city of Colfax?”

  Rincon stares at the flooring then smiles at Ketona, winking. “A medical technician…”

  I exhale with defeat.

  There is only one medical technician among the five dream jobs. However, Rincon, rightfully and honestly, beat me with the correct answer to the golden question. He deserves his pick of his dream job, within the Cubby Hole.

  Rincon smiles at Ketona, nodding with excitement.

  I clap and smile to Rincon, exhaling with defeat. I wanted the medical technician position, like my BPs, studying, since four years old for that dream job. Well, I can choose another dream job, then.

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, stomp boots, and toss fists, during the announcement.

  The mayor nods and shouts. “Quiet, here! Please, meet the new medical technician. Thank you, Rincon!” She shoves Rincon away, saying. “Please, scoot down the platform for the next golden colored schooler.”

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, stomp boots, and toss fists.

  The mayor frowns with annoyance, shouting then reads her note cards. “Be quiet! The second golden colored schooler is Marsilla. She answered the single most difficult academic question in 1.9 seconds, after the posed question.”

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, boot stomp, and toss fists, being annoying.

  Marsilla stands then covers her mouth, giggling. She skips from the second golden me-chee chair, in the first row of mixed gold and blue chairs. She stops, swinging to the other unlucky schooler then waves both arms, like a victory sign.

  The unlucky schoolers loudly boo, hiss, boot stomp, tossing their fists, being upset.

  Marsilla giggles and smiles, posing for her victory then swings and walks towards the platform. She extends her hand, shaking and smiling at mayor then stands beside her.

  The mayor wraps her arm around Marsilla, smiling and nodding. “Quiet, please! Congratulations, Marsilla. You have answered, correctly…”

  The schoolers loudly boo, hiss, stomp boots, tossing fists into the air, being annoyed and mad.

  The mayor shouts. “Quiet, here! What is your dream job, living and working in the posh lovely city of Colfax?”

  Marsilla smiles and nods, staring into the unlucky schoolers. “A legal technician…”

  I nod with acceptance.

  Her BPs are, also, both legal technicians, so Marsilla would select that dream job, too.

  Marsilla sways side to side, giggling and smiling with her victory.

  Duchie and I clap and smile at Marsilla.

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, stomp boots, and toss fists, during the announcement.

  The mayor nods and shouts. “Quiet, here! Please, meet the new legal technician. Thank you, Marsilla!” She shoves Marsilla away, saying. “Please, scoot down the platform for the next golden colored schooler.”

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, stomp boots, and toss fists.

  The mayor frowns with annoyance and shouts then reads her note cards. “Be quiet! The third golden colored schooler is Nephella. She answered the single most difficult academic question in 2.2 seconds, after the posed question.”

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, boot stomp, and toss fists, being annoying.

  Nephella stands from the third golden colored me-chee, walking to the mayor.

  The unlucky schoolers loudly boo, hiss, boot stomp, tossing their fists, being upset.

  Nephella doesn’t smile, standing away from the mayor, and doesn’t shaking her mama’s hand.

  The unlucky schoolers laugh then boo, hiss, boot stomp, and toss fists, being annoying.

  The mayor scoots closely to her daughter then wraps her arm around Nephella, smiling and nodding. “Quiet, please! Congratulations, to my daughter Nephella. I am so pleased with your academic performan
ce, child. You have answered, correctly…”

  The schoolers loudly boo, hiss, stomp boots, tossing fists into the air, being annoyed and mad.

  The mayor shouts. “Be quiet, here! What is your dream job, living and working in the posh lovely city of Colfax?”

  Nephella exhales then says, staring into the faces of the unlucky schoolers. “An administrator technician, like you, mommie dearest…”

  The unlucky schoolers laugh then start to boo, hiss, stomp boots, and toss fist, during the announcement.

  Duchie and I clap and smile for Nephella.

  The mayor nods and shouts. “Quiet, here! Please, meet the new administrator technician, who will be joining my staff, within the mayor’s office, too. Thank you, daughter! Please, move along the platform for the next introduction of the golden colored schooler.”

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, stomp boots, tossing fists.

  The mayor frowns with annoyance and shouts then reads her note cards. “Be quiet! The fourth golden colored schooler is Ketona. She answered the single most difficult academic question in 2.6 seconds, after the posed question.”

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, boot stomp, and toss their fists, being annoying.

  I exhale then stand from my me-chee chair in the second row. I walk around Rincon’s me-chee chair then slowly stroll towards to the mayor.

  The unlucky schoolers loudly boo, hiss, boot stomp, tossing their fists, being upset.

  I giggle and smile, being so happy, finally advancing into the golden color tone. And, I am going to pick out my dream job. I jump into the platform, shaking the mayor’s hand. Then, I scoot beside her, grinning and nodding with excitement.

  This is the final activity of Citizenship Day.

  The mayor wraps her arm around Ketona, smiling and nodding. “Quiet, please! Congratulations Ketona. You have answered, correctly…”

  The schoolers loudly boo, hiss, stomp boots, tossing fists into the air, being annoyed and mad.

  I giggle and smile at the funny actions of the unlucky schoolers, who are destined to live and love, inside one of the outer townships. I scan the auditorium, seeing many colored me-chee chairs, along with the upright colored cat suits from the standing schoolers.

  Then, I see Buffo.

  He wears a bright orange color tone cat suit.

  My heart sinks, being correct inside my mind.

  Buffo didn’t advance out of the orange color tone, ever, during the battle of heated completion, within the Cubby Hole. He is destined to be a crop farmer for his remaining days of life, inside the outer township of Burrville. He will never be allowed to visit the city of Colfax, since he will be employed as a farmer on a farm, raising cows and corn, foreverly.

  Buffo stares at Ketona on top of the golden platform, feeling many emotions. But, the most dominate is both happiness and joy for her. Ketona had studied for decades and decades to achieve, this moment of her dream job. He doesn’t envy her, or her status, instead, Buffo is proud of Ketona.

  Ketona smiles, slightly nods to Buffo.

  Buffo nods back, raising his arms in victory, for her impossible accomplishment and respecting her wish, to earn a dream job, within Colfax.

  I swing my face to Rincon, smiling.

  Rincon stands at the opposite end of the golden platform, glittering in his golden cat suit, like Ketona’s. He views the schoolers then swings and views Ketona. He smiles and winks at her, not displaying a vile showmanship form, like Marsilla, winning his dream job. Rincon always acts, like a southern gentleman, in both manners and actions, as taught by his BPs.

  The schoolers loudly boo, hiss, stomp boots, tossing fists into the air, being annoyed and mad

  The mayor shouts. “Quiet! What is your dream job, living and working in the posh lovely city of Colfax?”

  I rub my dirty hands down my cat suit, viewing the matching soft boots of gold. I exhale with a quiet and quick decision. There are only five dream jobs. Three have been snatched, both fair and square, when the three other teens answered, correctly, the single most difficult question, before me, by a few freaking milliseconds.

  I smile and view Buffo then wink at Rincon, and finally grin at the mayor, shouting. “I wanna be a farmer in Burrville…”

  My cat suit turns, immediately, into orange.

  The unlucky schoolers gasp in surprise then clap, cheer, whistle, boot stomp with joy.

  “What!?” The female voice shouts in the far distance corner wall.

  I giggle then dash through the rows of colored me-chee chairs, sorta leaping into Buffo’s arms.

  He is not allowed to move from his orange tinted me-chee chair, crouching at his kneecaps with his arms open.

  I hug and kiss his dirty face, giggling with happiness.

  He gasps. “You give up your dream job…”

  “Naw. I give into my dream man…”

  Buffo smiles. “I love you, Ketona.”

  “I love ya, Buffo. We will always, be together, from this moment forward, until our lives end, here, on this planet.” I smile then hug him.

  The mayor drops her mouth then closes it. She waves her arms, shouting. “Quiet, be quiet here! Every schooler, please, remain next to your me-chee chair. Citizenship Day has not completed. The same command holds true for the parents of the golden colored schoolers. Your parents are, currently, waiting outside, along the manicured lawn grass for their child to exit the Cubby Hole. However, once the schooler had turned into gold. I invited the golden colored pair of parents to join us, inside the Cubby Hole.” She fingers the side of the golden wall. “The parents of the golden colored schooler line the side wall, enjoying the show, except for one pair. With shock and total surprise, today, you have met one of the newest farmers, who will live and work in Burrville…”

  The unlucky schoolers laugh, clap, cheer, boot stomp, and whistle.

  The mayor shouts. “Quite, please quiet! I have one more golden colored schooler. She answered the question in 2.9 seconds. Congratulations, Duchie!”

  Duchie stands, dashing around the other me-chee chairs then runs into the mayor, literally. She back steps, giggling with embarrassment. “Sorry, Ms. Mayor, I’m just excited and thrilled to be here, with you and my new friends, and the schoolers, and my parents, and here, within the Cubby Hole. And, I wanna be a me-chee technician, too, living, here, in Colfax, too.” She stands, nodding, smiling, and bouncing side to side with happiness.

  The unlucky schoolers boo, hiss, and boot stomp with annoyance.

  The mayor raises her hands. “The Cubby Hole has completed for the graduating schoolers. You are officially graduated, permanently assigned to your work job, and honestly earned your citizenship to your respective color, which is represented by one of the outer townships. Good bye, new citizens!”

  The hand slaps Ketona on the collar bone then says in female fury. “What have you done, Ketona?”

  I swing with a smile to my mama, saying. “What has been done? I’m living and working with Buffo, my boyfriend, who will be my husband, soon. I guess, you could come to the wedding. I guess, ya need to get permission from the mayor, or something…”

  Buffo cuddles Ketona, snarling at her parents for his love and protection.

  Ketona’s mama exhales then frowns with worry. “You made it into the golden color tone, after your struggles through each color tone. Then, you…you select a permanent job as a farmer. What is wrong with you, dear?”

  I sneer at my parents out of angry. “You made me study math formulas, geometric equations, and calculus theorems for decades, without warning me, of the horrible and dangerous park places. I almost got killed…”

  Ketona’s daddy frowns with annoyance. “The park places, overall, represent a mental and psychology conditioning of your mental mind. The park place will never harm a teen…”

  I slap my face with the knife cut then show my hand with the first knife cut. “I bleed. I hurt. I am mad…”

  Ketona’s daddy frowns with annoyance. “You passed, like
we did, also. I am so disappointed in you, Ketona. Now, we are going to train Rincon, instead of you, as a medical technician.”

  I frown with disgust. “Rincon beat me, fair and square, first with the final answer. He selected the medical technician, first, for his job. He will be a great medical technician, too. Please, show him the respect you would have shown me.”

  Ketona’s mama frowns with worry. “How are you planning to survive the country farm life, with the cows, the corn, the cotton, the clothes, and the cooking? I don’t think you fully understand the consequences of your impromptu decision, here, within the Cubby Hole. We can’t send your clothes, or any type of personal items, from Colfax into any of the outer townships. You are, literally, leaving Colfax with the clothes on your back, the cat suit of orange color.”

  I gasp then fake a smile. “I…can make do, until I can purchase more clothes…”

  Ketona’s mama shakes her curls. “You should do not comprehensive your impromptu decision. You are living on a farm. There are not any fashion shops, or flower shops, or candy stores, like here, within Colfax. I really don’t know what types of stores exist in the outer townships…”

  I sneer. “I…we will make do, living like the rest of the farmers, too.”

  Ketona’s mama exhales. “You are not educated, or trained to work on a crop field…”

  I smile, nodding to Buffo. “We, both, will be learning about farm life. We, both, will be living a farm life. We, both, are staying there, forever. I guess, you can come and visit, one day, but ya gotta call me, first,” she giggles, hugging on Buffo.

  Ketona’s mama frowns with annoyance, exhaling. “Yes, I await that one day, too. Good luck, daughter.” She hugs her daughter.

  Ketona’s daddy hugs his daughter then says. “Good luck, Ketona. We can’t help you, with anything, living out in the country. You are truly on your own…”

  “I am with Buffo. He loves and protects me.”

  Buffo nods. “Yes, dear,” smiling.

  Her parents frown then swing around, exiting through the individual labeled locked rooms, which is the only pathway in and out of the Cubby Hole.