Little Lost Ones

Cody's face lit up like a sun, he was elated, the most happy this smart, reserved little boy had ever been. He clapped loud and fast, probably more excited than most other kids in the room, and when he noticed that he quieted down, face flushing red from embarrassment.

"Now," Connus Lee continued smiling, "all of you have the opportunity to sign up. We have a testing process, and anyone who is interested will have a chance to take a general placement test. Anyone with a passing score will move into the next level. We will choose the five highest-placing students here who want to go. Testing will begin this afternoon, and will finish by the end of this week. We will announce our winners and start making arrangements, and those lucky five of you will be ready to go to Rescenta!"

Lee gestured to a little table that he had set up beside him. It had a clipboard with a sign-up sheet, a registration application, and a bunch of little brochures and information pamphlets specifically designed for youngsters who were interested in the program.

"You can sign up here as soon as we're finished, please take an application and fill it out so you can be admitted to the test today. Any questions, anybody?"

Cody's raised his little hand high up to ask a question as soon as Lee said something. He wanted to know what was on the placement test.

"Yes?" He pointed at Cody's rapid question.

"W-what will exactly be on the placement t-test?" He asked with a slight nervous stutter. He was an intelligent little kid, some may call him a prodigy, but he was also rather inept in social situations especially speaking in groups.

"It'll be a general placement test," Connus answered thoughtfully. "Very similar to a college entrance exam, except a little more age-appropriate for you guys. It'll have a lot of different topics - reading and writing, mathematics, history, and some specialized questions. If you don't know an answer, you should still guess. It will tell us what areas you're best in."

Cody nodded and smiled "A-alright! I can do t-that." He was very excited, he had a determined gleam in his big youthful eyes.

"Awesome!" He smiled back. "Anybody else? Any questions?"