Now we are ready to start.

Fred: Cordelia! Hi! Long time no see!

Cordelia: Oh! Hi, Fred! Good to see you! How’s your first day of school?

Fred: I wish it was still summer!

Cordelia: Me too! Are you on your way to the cafeteria?

Fred: Yes! It’s my lunchtime.

Cordelia: Good! So, we’ll catch up on all our news while eating.

Fred: Hey, I was really surprised not to see you in any of my morning classes. I thought you changed schools or something.

Cordelia: No, I’m still here. And I think we’ll have a class or two together after lunch. Who’s your US History teacher?

Fred: Mrs. Wyatt.

Cordelia: Same here. What about English 3?

Fred: Mrs. Mitchell, I think.

Cordelia: Yes! We will have two classes together, then.

Fred: Just two? Last year we had four classes together. What are you taking in the morning?

Cordelia: Government, Statistics and English 4.

Fred: Wait a second! These are all Senior classes. We are only Juniors!

Cordelia: Fred, I have something to tell you. I decided to graduate a year early. I

took all the obligatory classes in the first two years of high school. I had very few left. So, why spend another year at school? I’d rather have a gap year before university.

Fred: Wow! I didn’t know this was even a possibility. But… even if I did… I don’t mind school. Besides, you know me. I’m not the university type. Cars are my passion. All I want is to become a good auto mechanic. If I pass all my Automotive Technology class exams while I’m in high school, I will get an industry certificate, and I won’t have to study in college for too long. School is free, college is not. I don’t have much money to pay for college.

Cordelia: You have a great plan! I’m all for it! Hack the system while you can, get the most out of it. Did you choose any fun classes besides Automotive Technology?

Fred: Promise not to laugh?

Cordelia: Don’t scare me.

Fred: I took golf.

Cordelia: What?

Fred: I had to choose a PE class. I chose golf.

Cordelia: I don’t believe it. You are a superb baseball player! Did you forget?

Fred: I play baseball anyway. I’m part of the school team. But I wanted to try golf.

Cordelia: Why? Didn’t you call it a silly game for rich people?

Fred: I did. So, it’s very unlikely that I will ever play it in real life. Have you ever seen a rich mechanic? But here at school  — it’s free. And they even teach you! It’s the same hack-⁠the-⁠system technique. I was just curious.

Cordelia: That’s so funny! But good for you!

Fred: I don’t think you have any fun classes if you are graduating a year early.

Cordelia: No, unfortunately, not a single one. Hard work and no play. But it’s worth it.

Fred: Sure is. Oh! The bell is in two minutes. Off to English 3?

Cordelia: Off to English 3!