Chapter Text
“You have 21,076 Parent Points between the two of you,” the receptionist informed Rowan and Luna. “Don’t worry—that’s the typical Point range of a middle-class couple such as yourselves, though typically such high Point marks aren’t seen in couples as recently married as yours. It usually takes a few years of marriage and joint parenting classes to get that high. Your pairing and parenting skills alike must be particularly strong. Congratulations!”
She gave the two of them a genial smile before continuing. “Depending on how many children you wish to have—though you can always earn more Parent Points!—I would recommend getting a child worth a few thousand to somewhere in the mid-ten thousands. Since the cost of what a child needs can add up quickly, you also have the option to buy supplies like toys, car seats, school supplies, books for both you and your child, clothes, and car seats here using your Parent Points. Now, can I assume that you two have spent some time looking through our Viewing Windows? Do you perhaps already have a child in mind?”
Rowan and Luna shared a glance. They did indeed walk through and look in the Viewing Windows, and they had a few concerns about the lower-value children—specifically, the 100-point children. The problem was, they had no idea if they should ask. There was so much shame surrounding 100-point children that they worried their question would be waved away—or, used to deduct Parent Points, something much worse. People didn’t want to be caught dead losing Parent Points. Usually the people who lost Parent Points were the ones who broke laws or used neglectful practices on the children they already had.
“Uh, yes, we do,” Rowan hesitantly said, glancing at Luna one more time. “But we were actually wondering about the lower-value children.”
The receptionist started wrinkling her nose before she put a pleasant smile back on her face. “We get asked that question a lot. The children never interact outside their Point Values, don’t worry. Your child won’t be tainted by a lower-value child, and won’t have the expectations of living the life of a higher-value child.”
“No, no, no,” Rowan quickly said. “The, uh, living conditions don’t appear to be…the greatest. Luna and I are just concerned about their well-being, that's all. It didn’t look like they had a lot.”
“Don’t worry, they’re used to the facilities they’re provided with. Born for it, really. Now, do you have a child in mind?”
“Could you maybe give us a moment? We do, but there’s other choices we are thinking about too. We just need to decide beforehand, you know? Or else we’ll be there forever!” Rowan forced out a laugh, hoping it sounded convincing to the receptionist.
The receptionist chuckled and waved her hand. “Take your time! It’s a big decision! Many couples usually have a little decision-making session at this time, so don’t worry!”
Rowan nodded and pulled Luna into another room. “Those kids…” Luna murmured as they got out of the receptionist’s earshot.
“I know. Do you want to?” Rowan asks, looking into Luna’s eyes knowingly. Rowan was better at thinking on her feet than Luna was, which is why they took over creating a diversion.
“Yes,” Luna whispered. “We could start with the little girl that was crying…the littlest one in there? Maybe the disruptive behavior they talk about is just how she cries?”
Rowan nodded and took Luna’s hand in their own, pulling her back to the reception desk. “We’ve made a decision.”
The receptionist smiled happily and stepped out from behind the desk. “Wonderful! Do you remember the tag ID? They all have a big tag ID on the front and back of their clothes to identify them.”
Rowan returned the receptionist’s beaming grin with a nervous, strained smile. “No, we don’t. Could we go back and check?”
“Of course!” The receptionist said. “That would actually work best, because…” She motioned her head behind Rowan and Luna and they both turned to see another couple entering the facility. They nodded and stepped away from the desk, working their way down to the front of the facility where the 100-Point kids are. Luna peered through the glass and scanned the room for the little girl she had in mind, finally finding her. She was the smallest, youngest, thinnest child in the room, so even though she wasn’t the only one crying her eyes out, she was still easy for Luna to spot. She quickly memorized the girl’s ID tag and turned back to Rowan. “100-SCFTYQ289.”
Rowan nodded and they glanced in the window to get a look at the child in question. She wanted to know what their daughter was going to look like. Inside, the little girl, looking no more than four or five, was crying and holding her pillow like one would hold a stuffed animal, except there were no toys in sight. Other kids would shout at her to quiet down and some even slapped her, but she kept crying and crying. Rowan could see why Luna would choose her.
The two of them made their way back to the receptionist right as the other couple made their decision. “10,000-FLGOWR341, please and thank you.”
The receptionist typed in their choice and smiled at the couple. “Congratulations on your new child! You’ll receive them in two hours! While you wait for the preparations, please feel free to continue browsing the Viewing Windows or to take a look at our Present Parents supply shop!”
They beamed back at the receptionist and made their way to what must have been the shop, because Rowan and Luna hadn’t been there yet. Once they’re gone, the receptionist turned back to the couple. “Have you made your choice? Do you have the ID tag?”
Rowan nodded. “100-SCFTYQ289, please.”
The receptionist's eyes widened. “100? I’m sure you must have read that wrong, let me check the system for our other SCFTYQ289’s.” She typed something into her computer before Rowan or Luna could protest and frowned. “There isn’t…” She looked up at Rowan and Luna with a flabbergasted look. “Do you really want a 100-point child?”
Rowan and Luna just silently nodded in response. The receptionist sighed and typed something into her computer. “Congratulations on your new child. While you wait for the preparations please feel free to continue browsing the Viewing Windows or to take a look at our Present Parents supply shop. Oh, and you will have six months to return your child before they will be yours to take care of unless you somehow become unable or unfit to care for them. Being on the unruly side, they will be sedated for transit, but you can still take them home yourself if you so desire. The wait will be about two hours.”
Rowan and Luna nodded again and made their way to the shop, with Luna informing the receptionist that they wanted to bring her home themselves as they walked away. They waited out the two hours buying new things for their soon-to-be daughter, including an array of plush toys, a car seat, and a new set of clothes. The clothing worn in the 100-point room looked grimy. Everything in the 100-point room looked dirty, including the children. Their daughter was going to need a change of clothes and a bath.
Finally, they paid with their Parent Points—they were now at 19,864 Points—and took the packet of information about their daughter, though they both decided not to ready it yet. Instead, they made their way back through the facility to the parking lot to put it all away and get the car seat set up. After that, they waited out the rest of their time in the waiting room, trying not to regret or doubt their decision. Luna definitely didn’t, but Rowan was having second thoughts. What if they chose wrong? What if they got a bratty little kid and that’s who they’re stuck with?
They then remembered that they had a return period and calmed down considerably after that. Together, they watched the couple that made their decision before them receive a sleeping little boy, his ID tag labeled 10,000-FLOWGR341. His age tag was labeled with a 2, indicating he was two years old. It must have been pinned to his clothes, which were considerably cleaner than the ones in the 100-Point room.
Finally, one of the workers came out with their new daughter—though she looked a little different than Rowan and Luna both remembered her to be. She looked more like a mix of the couple’s features.
That’s when they realized that she is. They both stood up and made their way over to the worker carrying their daughter. Rowan caught a glimpse of her age tag, emblazoned with a 4, as they approached. “She looks…different,” Luna said carefully.
“Yes,” the worker replied. “We alter their appearance, and if need be genetically engineer them, after purchase to look more like their parents, to be easier identified as their own and to easier integrate them into their new families.”
They nodded, accepting the worker’s answer. It made sense. Luna took their daughter from the worker and cradled her gently, staring down at the little sleeping face in her arms. Rowan could see how attached Luna was already becoming, how much she loved their daughter already, and she knew that no matter how bratty this little girl turned out to be, Luna would never regret purchasing her, ever.
“Let’s take her to the car,” Rowan said, putting an arm around Luna’s waist and guiding her out to the parking lot and away from the judging eyes of the adoption facility workers watching the purchase. The child’s 100-Point ID tag gave them away easily as the lowest of the low, the worst parents purchasing the worst child—so they thought, at least.
“Do remember you can return her within six months,” the receptionist called out behind them before the doors closed.
Luna shook her head at Rowan. “How could we not love this little sweetie to pieces?” She bounced the little girl gently in her arms to prove her point. Rowan gave Luna a small kiss on her forehead and smiled softly. “We couldn’t possibly.”