Oddity Curious 1
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"I'm going crazy, Honored Ancestress," Oddity told Cosma. "It's been over a week and I still haven't heard from the university."
Cosma sighed. As soon as she'd become an elder, Oddity had started using the proper form of address. She would have much preferred remaining plain old Mom.
"Why don't you check the computer?" she asked. "That way you don't have to wait for the mail."
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Oddity's application was still pending, however.
"You think you've got problems?" his Aunt Brenna told him. "I just turned into an adult, and I'm still at level 2 of my job."
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"Not only that, but the cute policeman I met at a crime scene the other day still hasn't called me."
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Outside, his little sister -- half-sister -- Zara was working on her motor skills. "You should go to the park," she said. "That always cheers me up."
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Oddity did feel better after sliding on the water slide a few times.
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He even ran a few lines with his fellow thespian, Dion Caliente. He would have preferred working with Robin Newbida, but she had left the park almost as soon as he arrived.
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There was one cute girl hanging around -- Julia Wright. She was a student at the University of Britechester. "Maybe I'll see you around campus," she'd said.
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It wasn't exactly a date, but her suggestion put Oddity in such a good mood that he didn't mind when Dion asked him to take a head-shot of him.
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Back at home, though, Oddity's good mood evaporated. The acceptance letter had come from the university. He could attend either Britechester or Foxbury Institute, but he couldn't get a distinguished degree in Drama. Oddity had intended to enroll the minute he became a young adult, but now he wasn't sure.
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Inside, he washed his hands. After all, there was no telling who'd handled the letter, and these days you couldn't be too careful.
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A few hours later, it was time for him to grow up. Oddity still hadn't made up his mind about college. He could still major in Drama, but it would be at Foxbury Institute and a regular degree, not a distinguished one.
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The doorbell rang, and Oddity took his egg and toast with him to answer it. The young woman standing there was a knock-out, definitely more intriguing than either Julia Wright or Robin Newbida. She looked sophisticated, competent, and a little bit scary.
"I'm with the A.I. Staffing Agency, and I understand there's someone here who has recently been a member of the Desert Sims Drama Club?"
"Yes, that's me," said Oddity.
"We're looking for prey, I mean clients -- aspiring actors such as yourself to represent for commercials and other gigs. We take only 20 per cent of your pay or a pint of blood, whichever you're more comfortable with. I have a contract here..."
"Sign me up," said Oddity.