I was getting ready to go shopping with Daisy when I heard the familiar drawl. Daisy lives a few doors down. It was Angelica. She was arguing with the neighbour. She had destroyed the woman's prized begonias and gardenias. Her husband was calling the police. The officer came a few minutes later and she made a scene. Daisy's mom walked out and explained that to the officer she had called her father. The man will be here in a few minutes. She was taken to the police car. The door closed as her father came into the driveway. Angelica screamed at the officer. She used some seriously bad words. Some of them were words that I have never heard of. Her father slapped her across the face and she shut up immediately. Mom gave me a debit card stating the clone had opened an account and deposited several thousand since I was accepted to attend Ravencroft academy. She gave me a kiss on the forehead. Angelica was taken home by a very infuriated father Daisy's mom. Mrs. Kwon happily drove us to the mall. She gave us a debit card and extra cash so we could go home. She works at a security firm while her husband works at a think tank. Her brother was busy staring at a medical journal. The cover says Fischer's Mastery of surgery. His tongue was out like a pumpkin stalk. We snickered as we stepped out. The Kwon waved as they drove away. I took daisy's hand as we walked into the building.
First we entered the electronics store on the ground floor. I bought a laptop, special set of screwdrivers, a soldering iron and a satellite phone. Daisy bought a new charger. She asked me why I was buying random stuff. I told her that I was constructing my own computer. That would work like a miniature supercomputer. She was amazed. I didn't tell her that it was an idea from my donor. I haven't told her that I am not human either. The donor had taken stuff from trash cans to make his. I am going to make mine from stuff I buy. I removed the package and stuffed them in my backpack. She happily did the same. We were trying on shoes when I heard a heartbeat. I looked around and I am still trying to perfect x-ray vision. But even with what little I can muster I saw it was Angelica. She was here with her aunt trying to buy a pair of shoes for their grandparents. I quietly snuck around and made sure it was her and I told daisy that we had to leave. We gave the shoes back and told them we will be here some other time. We were hungry. She explained where the food court was but daisy explained she was taking me to the Korean restaurant nearby. We walked out and kept going till we reached the elevator. Angelica didn't see us. We went two floors up. We got to the bookstore and searched for anything interesting. I found a few books on cooking, on advanced mathematics, foraging and animal behaviour.
I bought them all and walked over to the information booth to ask where I can buy a leather jacket. She blinked three times and recommended the salvation army one on the second floor. I got a black leather jacket and a hooded overcoat. Daisy got a knee length canary yellow frock and a cowboy hat. I found a pair of genuine Nile crocodile boots. The shoes were a few sizes bigger so I had to ditch them. I walked with my haul and we walked out to Angelica and her aunt was waiting for a cab. So we quietly walked in the other direction and reached the Korean restaurant. We ate bulgogi, kimchi, Ramyeon and some grilled meats. I asked if they could pack some. I am going to have it delivered to the police station so my mom could savor some and the waitress delightfully complied. I paid half while daisy paid the other half. I called Batou and he drove us home. He took the takeaway bag and grinned ear to ear. As we walked back in I saw Shaw was trying to open the door but he was shaking badly. I took the keys and opened it. He muttered a thank you before he collapsed on the foyer. I dropped my stuff and came back out to get him inside. He lay down on the couch and breathed through his nose and out of his mouth. He switched off his walkie talkie which is new but I ignored it.
I called the grocery store to have stuff delivered. I will start cooking dinner once the stuff arrived. Shaw sat down to watch me clean the stove and dining table. He just stared without a word. I gave him a can of cherry soda. After that I went upstairs to take a shower and a change of clothes. I made sure the bedroom door was locked. I started building my laptop. I had to take everything apart first. Then I recalled the donor's plan to build the laptop. It took him a month to construct the laptop physically. It took me an hour to do it. I found a computer programmer a few days ago. I accidentally caused him to trip and cut himself. I used the bloody napkin to learn everything. The programming took me two hours to complete. I made sure it can only be opened with my face and my fingerprints. I still needed a few more components to make it safer. It was only possible if I could find a hacker or someone who sells these items. After double checking for any flaws I hid it under my pillow. I came downstairs when I heard the doorbell. Mom walked in with the groceries. The delivery man had met her by the front door. She gave me the goods and I sorted everything and pulled out a cookbook from America's test kitchen. I started with roast chicken before making the dinner rolls. Then boiled some potatoes while making a mix of citrus juices. A combo of grapefruit, blood orange and lime. I added Sprite just for the heck of it. I added baking powder to the potatoes and gave them a good shake before adding it to a tray with melted beef tallow. After the fat incorporated I baked those too.
I cleaned the work surface and set up the dinner table. Then I put everything else in the pantry or the fridge or the freezer. Then I went up to use the bathroom and tried to extend my senses to find a person who would sell the missing parts. The search lasted twenty minutes before I found the perfect one. I came downstairs to see mom and Shaw was accompanied by two others. One worked for Shaw. The other was mom's boss. I came downstairs and mom gave me a smile. She asked me how I was. I explained the gene therapy meds have systematically altered my body so the gene responsible for my illness is becoming dormant. She gave me a smile as her boss stared without a hint of shame. The soldier asked me if I had figured out what I wanted to do in the next ten years. I smiled, "I am not sure what I am going to do in the next ten minutes. As far as interest is concerned I am learning how my laptop operates so I can fix it without hassle. The repairmen are changing obscene amounts these days. I am certainly not joining the military. I am certain it is a death cult. If I am going to do anything for the good of society I will learn to be a doctor. Anyone can take a life but a few can save them. After I graduate I will travel the length and breadth of this country and before I apply for medical school or maybe a tour of Europe. I mean my dad's Eastern European. I won't mind checking it out. My uncle said he will bankroll my entire trip."
While both soldiers were looking upset my mom gave me an appreciative look. The chief asked me where I learned how to cook. I showed him the cookbook I had purchased. He gave me a thumbs up before he and mom stepped aside to talk. I wanted to eavesdrop but my brother's companion had to distract me. He asked me to change my mind since there were fewer and fewer people who were interested in enlisting. I explained that I am not interested in PTSD or being a cold blooded killer. I am interested in saving my consciousness from bashing me about past offences. They both wanted to say something but knew better since mom walked over and ordered them to mind their own business. The elder soldier wished a safe evening as he walked out with Shaw in tow. I could hear them trying to find a way to recruit me. I was excused from doing the dishes. So I asked permission to see daisy since we were going to collect money to help a few people in need come sunrise. She waved me away so I walked out to see Angelica had her nose pressed against the window trying to find out what we were up to she can gatecrash. I asked mom if I could borrow her phone to call Angelica's mom. She answered in the third ring and promised to handle it. I walked out the back door.
I knocked on the front door and a stern faced woman opened the door. I explained why I was here. She looked at me from head to toe and ushered me in. Daisy was eating dinner with a few stern faced old ladies who were talking about something. I saw a dozen pamphlets about weddings and asked if I could wait in the living room so I would not be disturbing the family. Her expression softened slightly and I was introduced to everyone before I was asked to sit. The entire family was discussing what dress should look like, the venue and also what will be served. Then they moved on to who has a license to marry them. Afterwards I was served barley tea and escorted to the living room where daisy and I talked about how we will raise money. I was going to mow the lawn and wash cars. She was going to sell lemonade and cookies. At night we were going to babysit. At the end of the month we will donate half the amount to charity and the other half goes to our college fund. We looked up to see smiling adults with approving nods. They explained they need girls who can deliver goods. One was a tailor and the other was a butcher. So they can pay for our services. We can babysit at night for extra income. I had applied for driving lessons until then I can use my bike to deliver things. She seemed content. Daisy already has her driver's license so she can borrow her aunt's car. We wrote the rules and signed the contract before heading home.