In Spanish css that day their teacher, Senorita Navarro, announces a once in a lifetime opportunity for several lucky students. She motions to a man sitting to her right. He’s dressed in a suit, almost looking like a federal agent. He has a pleasant smile across his face, though. His name is Mr. Neville.

  She goes on to tell them, that several students across the country, in select schools will get a chance to go to Spain for two weeks as a part of their curriculum. She turns the css over to him cpping. The students appud him.

  He stands up and thanks Navarro. “Hello, everyone. Thank you. I am Trevor Neville and I represent a schostic organization called, AccuLearn.” He even rights it on the board. “I’m here today to offer ten lucky students a chance to travel to Spain as a part of their curriculum. All expenses will be paid. The only expense to the students will be what they want for souvenirs and such.”

  Whoa! Chris thinks. A mild murmur resounds throughout the css room.

  “You will learn, and take in, the Spanish culture first hand. From the sights and sounds. To the people and pces. The ten students chosen from this school will join four other schools from across the country.” Trevor pulls out a piece of paper. “The other cities on the list are: New York City, Las Vegas, Charleston and Columbus.”

  Chris just sits back and takes it in, a trip to Spain? Shit.

  “Mr. Neville?” One of the students raises their hand. Trevor acknowledges him. “Those other cities are major cities. How did Tailorton get in with them?”

  “Good question. We take the names of all cities with a popution of fifty thousand or higher, put them into a computer program. We simply take the five that are chosen randomly.”

  Seems fair enough. Though, Chris didn’t think Tailorton even had fifty-thousand.

  “Now, how do we choose which students will be going? I know some of you are thinking that.”

  Well, duh.

  “Next Wednesday, Senorita Navarro will hand out a fifty question test. Those with the best score as well as the best overall GPA in css, will be chosen. And also, the test is completely optional. You may decline to take it if you wish. But I encourage everyone to, at least, give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

  “The trip itself will be next month. The winners will be leaving here on Thursday, December sixteenth. First css.” He pauses a moment to let the students take that one in. “That’s right, first css all the way. You should arrive in Spain by Friday evening. You will be staying in several hotels throughout your stay and all arrangements have been made.”

  Damn! Chris says to himself.

  Mr. Neville takes a stack of pamphlets from a box next to Navarro’s desk and hands them out. It details a little about the program, what contests they’ve offered in the past and the goals of AccuLearn. Chris looks it over. It says, ‘…to go beyond the css room.’ Guess so. Some of the other countries they’ve sent students to; Australia, United Kingdom, France, China and Japan. Awesome.

  Mr. Neville then has the css ask any question they like. Many ask about what they will be seeing. Mr. Neville names a few things of interest. One of them thought catches Chris’ attention, authentic Fmenco dancing. Elle was going to squeal big time when she gets to hear that, he’ll have to keep an elemental ear out for that one.

  At the end of css he thanks them all and wishes them good luck.

  Well, Chris was sure gonna study for this test. Hell yeah. He had to tell Elle between csses. Her, Paul and Ivy had Spanish css next. Or maybe he’ll just get them anxious to get to css. He lets out a snicker, yeah.

  After css, Chris senses Elle out and pys coy.

  “What?” Elle pokes him in the stomach.

  “Oh, just something about Spanish css. Something…cool.”

  “What? Did you make Navarro fart during css?”

  He py shoves her. “No! Just something I think we’ll both enjoy…ter on.”

  “You convince Navarro to join you two in a threesome?” Paul says coming into the conversation from their fnk.

  Chris and Elle give him a disgusted look.

  “Eww! Paul, I’m telling Faith and Ivy?” Elle tells him, then smacks him.

  Paul grabs his arm and ughs.

  “Come on Chris, what is it?” Elle pleads.

  Chris just smiles and walks on to css.

  “Hey, it better be good.” Elle tells him in air speak.

  He just ughs back. Ivy spots him from down the hall and waves him down.

  “Hey, Chris.”

  Chris just smiles wide.

  She gives him a weird look. “What’s up with you?” Snickering.

  “Hurry up to Spanish and talk to Elle.”

  “Uh-oh. What’d you do?”

  “See ya.” He walks off. After a few steps though, he turns and sees Ivy shake her head and hurry off. He can’t hold back his ughter.

  In gym css he meets up with Jackson and Jerry. He tells them of the situation.

  “Dude, you are evil. But that is so cool.” Jackson says. “Wish I took Spanish css.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Jerry adds. “Who’s sponsoring it?”

  “Some company called AccuLearn.” Showing them the pamphlet.

  “Hmm. Neat.” Jerry says. “Well, if you and Elle get to go, we’re gonna stowaway in the baggage compartment and go too.”

  “So you want to be excess baggage?” Jackson asks.

  “Earth elemental? Dead weight?” Chris makes a scale motion with hands.

  Jerry just mocks ughter.