Perfect Child

Shandi and Avery are just entering their teenage years. They are fraternal twins that just barely turned thirteen. Their parents are now allowed to decide if they will keep their children the way they are or if they will take them into The Company to be conditioned to be the "The Perfect Child." This avoids the usual teenage hormone rage filled years. You skip right ahead to the more mature years without aging. Many parents have done this and have had amazing results.

Shandi was a troubled teen. He was usually caught stealing, sneaking out, vaping and getting high. His parents were at a loss. Avery was an agreeable child and rarely got in trouble.

How do you parent the right way? What's the right decision? What are we doing wrong? These were the thoughts that plagued his parents, Dean and Lisa, all the time. They honestly had no clue what their next move would be when a commercial was heard in the distant background…

"…Do they run the roost? Do you just want your child to behave? We can help give you back your Perfect Child. We are here for struggling and desperate families 24/7. Call The Company for a free consultation now at (517) 555–2345!"

Lisa was talking over the commercial while Dean had his ear glued to the tv so he could write down the number. He hadn't heard one word out of her mouth because he was going to get his sweet loving son back, if it were the last thing he was going to do. He was tired of the angry outbursts, the backtalk and especially tired of Shandi thinking he was more like 18 instead of 13.

Lisa was tired of it too, but she was about to give up on this whole parenting thing altogether if they couldn't figure this one out. Running away to Jamaica or Hawaii or somewhere awesome without the kids sounds amazing! Anywhere but here, right?!

Dean abruptly interrupted Lisa, "That's it, baby. I have the answer. I'm going to give The Company a call and we will just see what they can do for us. I just know this is the answer." He was willing to try anything. That had Lisa a bit worried.

"Dean, do you really think it's such a good idea? I heard Jeanie called The Company and her daughter was never the same."

"Sophia is such a nice and respectful adolescent now. I'm happy Jeanie called because that girl was out of control too. Always partying and sneaking out. Now she goes to church and volunteers. Why didn't you tell me this sooner? I would've tried this months ago."

"You know I just cannot trust these kinds of things. It's too good to be true. I don't like it and would rather figure something else out. Don't you dare call The Company!"

"Fine, but you had better figure something out quick. We can't be tortured anymore."

The night was winding down and Dean poured some merlot for Lisa while he enjoyed his ale. Lisa was exhausted from the day and grateful for the good wine. Little did she know that Dean had put something a little extra in her drink. Something he had never done before, but he was struggling and desperate. She passed out at the table. He drug her to the bed and ran out to the living room. He needed to call The Company NOW.

His fingers fumbled as he tried to dial the numbers. The phone began to ring seemingly too loud.

"The Company, this is Denise. How may we assist you?"

"Ah, hello, Denise. I am Dean and I need your services."

"Yes, we know. We will be there soon."

The click at the end of the call was shocking, to say the least. Dean was confused. How did they know I needed help? How did they know me and where I live? How do they know which kid? Maybe Lisa was right, maybe not though. He couldn't spend another day fighting with Shandi. He just wanted some love and peace between him and his son. He wanted a relationship with him again. It had been a long while.

Dean waited as long as he could for The Company to show up. He didn't want Lisa to find out what he had done. But, he became too drowsy and fell asleep in his chair.

In the morning he woke up jarringly in his bed next to Lisa, who was still sleeping. Wow, that sleeping pill really got to her. He went to immediately check on Shandi. Shandi wasn't in his room and Dean assumed he had snuck out. He then went further down the hall to his daughter's room to check on her as well. Avery was gone. What have I done?

There was a loud knock on the door. It made Dean jump. He ran to answer the door thinking maybe his children were locked out and were just finding their way in. It was a delivery person with two very large boxes in tow. "Where do you want 'em," he asked matter of fact.

Distraught and confused, Dean answered with, "Where do I want what?"

"Your kids, dude."

Still confused, "I guess in their rooms."

"Okay, first sign here."

Dean signed and went to unpack his children.

He went to see Shandi first. His firstborn, his heart. Shandi looked a little grey at first, but the rosy quickly came and filled his cheeks. He hadn't seen Shandi happy in a long time. He quickly laid Shandi into bed and gave him a huge kiss on the forehead. Immediately Shandi arose. "Hey dad, how can I help?"

Dean was startled, but so happy to hear Shandi's kind and loving voice instead of the screaming that had been going on lately.

"Hey bud, wanna help me with your sister before your mom wakes up?"

"Of course, I do papa."

Dean hadn't heard those words from him since Shandi was a young boy. Now that he was 13, it seemed odd, but he missed it so much.

They entered Avery's room and began to unpack her next. She was a little stiff in the box, but she relaxed as soon as they set her in the bed. Shandi placed the comforter across her sister. Dean watched as the color filled Avery's body and cheeks now. It was a bit creepy.

It finally settled in Dean's mind that Lisa would be awakening at any moment. There was no way to hide this. He just had to downright come out and tell her that he was right, and she was wrong. He knew in his heart that he had done the right thing.

He decided to wake her with her favorite hot beverage, tea. Shandi had beat him to it. Odd, but very cool.

"I'll go run this to mama," shuffled Shandi.

Dean hurried to follow him upstairs to Lisa before anything too crazy happened. He found Shandi brushing Lisa's hair while Lisa sipped her tea.

"So, I see you did the very thing I asked you not to. No, in fact, I didn't ask you, I told you not to do it. Way to go Dean!"

They both immediately looked at Shandi as the young man had started to cry.

"Look what you did Lisa. What's wrong my sweet boy?"

"I know you guys are fighting because of me. I am sorry for causing more fighting. I just wanted to be a good boy and stop the bad things I was doing. I thought that would help. I am still doing it wrong." Shandi started to hit himself, "Stupid, stupid, stupid ME!"

Lisa grabbed Shandi's arm to stop him from hurting himself and asked, "Why are you doing this darling?"

"Because I am bad Shandi. BAD, BAD, BAD!" Shandi continued to hit himself.

"No, you are not bad Shandi. As a matter of fact, you are not Shandi at…," said Lisa.

Dean cut her off, "Now you listen here. This is Shandi as much as Shandi can be Shandi. He is just more polite, caring and helpful. So, he beat himself up a little, doesn't mean he ain't right."

"That's not what I'm talking about Dean. Shandi had a heart-shaped locket around his neck always. I gave him and his sister a locket with each others' pictures in it when they were old enough. This imposter isn't wearing his. The Company stole our child and replaced him with this thing. Way to fucking go you moron!"

Dean was taken by surprise. He forgot that Avery was still asleep. He didn't want Lisa to find out that she too was replaced. He ran to Avery's bedroom to find her awake and doing chores around her room. Damn it, he thought. Not quite sure what he would've done had she been asleep. Probably nothing. Why is Lisa so mad about having two perfect children? How can she be so upset, when they are so helpful? Does she really believe they are not ours?

As Dean wondered, he heard a shriek and a slash coming from in the kitchen. He ran to find Lisa standing over Shandi with a knife.

"How could you? He was just a sweet, innocent boy until you woke up," Dean screamed.

"That's just it, Dean. He wasn't sweet and innocent. He told me the acts he was going to do us while we slept. We must get Avery and pack up and get out of here. The Company is coming for us."

"The Company already grabbed Avery too, Lisa. I am so sorry."

"You will be, but for now I need your help. Quit standing around and make yourself useful. Once The Company arrives to find out what I've done, it's over. They will kill us both. We need to leave."

"I don't think I can leave Avery," said Dean.

"That is not Avery. How did they arrive here?"

"A man delivered them in a package; I didn't want to tell you."

"They must leave in a package then," stated Lisa as she lifted her knife toward the hallway leading to Avery's room.

Dean didn't realize he married someone so dark, but he also couldn't agree more with Lisa than in this moment. He just couldn't do what she is doing. She really is the yang in this relationship, and he was grateful. In that moment, Dean realized that he woke up in bed instead of where he passed out in his chair. Was he drugged and dragged to his room when the kids were taken? Boy, was I wrong about The Company?! I need to apologize to Lisa.

Lisa ran out with of the bedroom with firearms and tossed a piece to Dean. "It's now or never. We have no more time here. We must go find OUR children."

"How will we know where to look?"

"Don't worry Dean. I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier. I gave Shandi and Avery those heart-shaped lockets when they were of age along with instructions on how to keep safe with it. The lockets are magical. They know what to do and how to get there. I somehow knew this Perfect Kid shit was too good to be true even before Sophia became Perfect. I tried to talk Jeanie out of it, or at least getting her daughter a heart-shaped locket. Anyways, grab your locket Dean, here we go."

At that moment, The Company broke into the home, just as Dean and Lisa enter the locket. There they find the real Shandi and Avery. They were where their mom had taught them years before. She was proud something important had finally gotten through to them. She was a proud mom.