It started raining a little as I stepped outside. I should have brought my umbrella. But I was so sure that the weather bot on the news was wrong. It wasn't usually wrong but it didn't look like it was going to rain when I left this morning, so I was sure that the bot needed a good service.

Not to worry! It's only a little rain and everyone needs a little rain in their lives. But if I get too wet before I get home, mom will probably yell at me for ruining the carpets.

Stupid carpets. They aren't that pretty anyway.

During the entire train ride I couldn't help but remember how soft the baby was, he looked so innocent and adorable. Why the heck did nobody want to babysit the cutie-pie? Especially for that much money!

And of course principal Miller gave me homework to do, and a uniform to wear tomorrow. I was hoping to sleep early and now I had to study!!!

"Hey, mom!"I called out as I entered the apartment. I could hear them in the kitchen. Great, she invited Dr. and Dr. Short for dinner today. This is going to be so fun (not!).

My sister probably came to make sure that I actually found a job and not maybe go out for a few hours to pretend I was doing a job. Ugh, she is the worst.

She was ten years older than me, cause mom only got approval for a second child after that long. Yeah, it's a bit complicated. I wouldn't probably be able to tell you guys everything now cause I'm hungry, but long story short, aliens made us go through population control. We are sterilized at birth and need to submit a request to reverse the process when we want to have a child. They said 50 years ago, there were too many of us. So none of us could just pop out a baby now unless they say we can.

"Go change and come help me set the table. And don't stand on the carpets for so long. You'll ruin them"

Stupid carpets. I will have my day.

I went into my room to change. A shower really did help me relax after a long day. Not that the job was all that difficult today. But this is my first job so cut me some slack!

I put on a pair of pale pink shorts and my really really worn out teddy shirt that really needed to be thrown away. But it was too comfy and now that I look at it, it reminds me of Bear.

I set the table and sat down in front of my dear sister. Oh great! I'm on the direct line of fire! This should be fun. My sister smiled. Uh oh! She is about to ask whether my job is real!

"Do you actually have a job now? Or did you walk around the town for a while before coming back?"

From the moment I was born until I failed the third grade special placement test, I was my sister's mini-me. Population control meant that most of her friends didn't have siblings themselves. So when I came Erine must have imagined I would be someone that would carry on her legacy at school. That was a lot of expectations for little eight year old me though, I even sneaked out of the school bus and walked my way home so I wouldn't have to sit through another one of Erine's tutoring sessions. From then on though, nothing I did was ever up to her standard. I wouldn't be surprised if she though my job was crap. Well, not everyone wants to spend the rest of their lives in a lab trying to find out what part of an alien's brain makes their second left leg twitch when they see a predator!

I could hear dad snicker and my sister-in-law slapping her hand. She was a surgeon. They met each other in the gifted program at school. My mom was so happy when Erine first brought Clara home. She was the daughter I never was. So in the end, mom got the two super-smart daughters she could brag about in yoga, like she always wanted.

I stuck out my tongue at my sister which of course made my mom says, "Madeline Short! Behave yourself."

I rolled my eyes. Right, my sister was behaving just fine. It was me who was wrong. Again.

"Yes Dr.Short, it's a real job with dental and everything"

Clara, on the other hand, smiled, and said,

"I think it's great you found a job Shortie. You had to get out of the house. Maybe with experience, you'll find a better job."

"And what job would that be? Babysitter Supreme?!"

Okay now, this is starting to hurt.

"Enough about her, let's talk about you two!" But we barely started on me! Mom and Dad didn't even congratulate me on my new job!!

"I submitted my research proposal to the grants committee. Even Professor Dudley said my chances are good. So if all goes well, I should be getting the funds any day now"

See this is why I could never be her. For her studying alien brains and anatomy is fascinating. I rolled my eyes every time the seventh grade biology textbook said that the skin of a giant lizard from Andromeda was blue because it was a herbivore eating blue leaves. What was I supposed to do with that information?

"Aww babe that's great!"Clara reached over and kissed my sister. Ack! Can't they be cute and loving somewhere else!

"That's really good to hear Erine, you worked hard. You deserve this" said dad.

Well, hello!! I was here too! Where's my 'good job'?

"And of course there is the other news" Clara clasped my sister's hand on the table. "We submitted another request for a baby. Our donor candidate is really good this time"

"Yep the guy is from a minority race who doesn't want more kids, so I think this time we will get lucky"

See this is what I told you before. Having a child is much more difficult now. They consider a lot of things from the birth rate that year to the background of the parents and what race the parents are. If the baby is from one of the ethnic groups on the decline, there is a better chance.

It's hard enough for straight couples to get a kid, but even more so for non-traditional couples like my sister. This was their 3rd time trying.

"You'll get approved this time honey," my mom said reaching over the table to gently pat their hands.

As much as I don't like my sister. I wanted them to have a baby. I know that the baby will be loved so much. Clara really wanted a child for so long and she deserves to have one. Even Erine.

After I finished helping mom clean up (without even being asked) I went straight back to my room to study. I usually watched 'A day in the life of a gecko breeder' on a day like today but I was too afraid that if I didn't study Mrs.Miller will punish me.

As I loaded up the guidebook on my tab, I thought how Bear needed a mom but didn't have one and how my sisters wanted a child but couldn't get one.

What a sad, sad world we live in.