Ambush at Ridgeview

Hannah entered the kitchen, still preoccupied with her work from the upstairs office where she had been reviewing documents for hours. When the kitchen's sensors detected her presence, a projection beamed above the island countertop. It was a 3D holographic message notifying her that she had one new message from the school.

"Computer, read aloud the new message!" She commanded the home's central system as she prepped another espresso from the machine nearby.

"Ari's weekly report card is now available for review. His latest exam in Algebra 1 was completed with a score of 97%." The soft computerized voice spoke.

When Hannah finally comprehended the news, she was so shocked that she almost spit out her coffee. She swiftly turned to check the monitor on the refrigerator behind her to confirm if there was a mistake, but to her surprise, there wasn't. Hannah's son had achieved the highest exam score she had ever witnessed. The surprise prompted her to thoroughly review his academic progress. Upon logging into the Ridgeview Middle School system, a platform used by parents to meticulously track their child's classroom performance, she discovered that Ari had nearly doubled his grade points in every class.

"How could this be?", she reflected. Her son, not known for his academic prowess and often struggling with his studies, had never been particularly enthusiastic about school. Despite her persistent efforts to encourage him to stay on top of his homework and prepare for exams, she eventually had to let go. Now, to her amazement, his academic performance had remarkably improved, reaching its highest level since the accident that nearly took his life. As she contemplated this unexpected turn of events, she couldn't help but wonder about the reasons behind this sudden change.

When Ari returned home from another long day at school, he opened the front door to find his mother, Hannah, reclining comfortably on the living room couch. Her face was lit up with an oversized grin that nearly hurt to look at, undoubtedly a ploy to cover the fact that she was ready to embark on an impromptu investigation targeting her son. With his backpack still slung over his shoulder, Ari met Hannah's intense gaze as she patted the empty space next to her on the sofa. He cautiously made his way towards the couch, drawing in a big gulp of air as if he were a character in a suspenseful movie, unsure of what awaited him.

"Wanna tell me how you're suddenly a math wiz?" Hannah grimaced, batting her eyelashes as she tilted a weary head at Ari.

"What do you mean?"

"You scored a 97% on your last math exam. How did you manage to pull that off?"

"I don't know." Ari whimpered through a bashful, shrinking tone.

Hannah didn't detect the faintest hint of a lie, but she didn't know what to say to pry the truth out of him. Her son was such a quiet and sensitive kid who was either easy to read, or a complete mystery, and nothing in between. Given the latter, there'd be no way to push without upsetting him.

"Can I go upstairs and play video games?"

She stared at him for a moment before gesturing him away, freeing him from her parental magnifying lens. Away he went, disappearing into his bedroom upstairs where Hannah wouldn't see much more of him unless she crept towards the crack at his door to check on him. Every time, he'd be exactly where he was before, melting away his brain as he sat only inches from his TV screen for hours at a time. She supposed there were worse fates for a kid his age, and after everything he'd been through, Hannah had little desire to push him to help out around the house.

Before the accident, Ari was a cheerful and curious child, brimming with extroverted energy. He was reserved around strangers but would chat endlessly with those he knew well. He cherished spending time with his family and was dedicated to his studies, constantly questioning what he was taught while infinitely eager to learn. However, after the accident, Ari underwent a significant transformation. He became withdrawn and introverted, losing interest in the things that once brought him joy. Although he was fortunate to have survived, his experiences had left a profound impact on him. Despite the changes, his mother found comfort in having him home and safe, understanding that his well-being was of paramount importance.

It was a big day. Hannah dropped off her son at Ridgeview Middle School, and as he hesitated to leave the comfort of his mom's car, she handed him his backpack across the center console, making sure he didn't shy away. As he tugged at it, he realized she wasn't letting it go without giving him "the look." It was her way of ensuring that he was going to do well on the school's upcoming standardized test, which covered every subject he had been taught.

As he entered the designated testing room, he nonchalantly flung his backpack aside and settled into the ergonomic chair. With a swift movement, he placed his hand on the sleek, computerized desk, activating its digital features. Engrossed in the task at hand, he delved into a series of intricate questions from complex math problems to challenging science questions, methodically working through each one. Employing a systematic process of elimination, he meticulously narrowed down his choices in pursuit of the most accurate answers.

He started strong, completing 43 questions in a short period, but as the test began taking its toll, exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he grew tired. It wasn't until he was awoken by a testing monitor that he realized he had fallen asleep, and when he quickly glanced up to see what time it was, he was shocked to discover there were only minutes left to answer 157 questions.

200 multiple-choice questions now stood between him and the freedom to do whatever he wanted for the remainder of the day. He started strong, swiftly tackling 43 questions in a short period.

However, the relentless test began to exact its toll, and weariness gradually enveloped him. Unbeknownst to him, he succumbed to exhaustion and drifted into a deep slumber, only to be roused by the proctor. Startled, he glanced up and was dismayed to discover that a mere few minutes remained to address 157 questions.

He panicked. His heart began racing as he tried to work out every possible route to completing the test successfully, but none would result in the kind of grade his mother would approve of. He had only enough time to make his best guess on the remaining questions; otherwise, he'd end up submitting it with a ghastly amount of unanswered ones. One by one, he did the best he could before the bell went off, and when he walked away, he knew with absolute certainty that he would eventually face the wrath of a disappointed mother.

Before Ari returned home, Hannah received a message from the school informing her about his test results. Anxious and eager, she awaited his arrival while diligently working through the mound of tasks she had fallen behind on in the cozy downstairs home office. As the front door creaked open, Ari tip-toed through the living room, trying to make his way unnoticed towards the stairs leading to his bedroom. However, as he reached the middle of the room, the lights automatically brightened, casting a spotlight on him and freezing him in his tracks. Startled, Hannah emerged from her dimly lit office, curious to see who had made it home first, her son or her husband.

"May I have a word with you?"

'There it is', he thought to himself, a thinly disguised demeanor used to trap him into a confrontation about his test results. He gently nodded, readying himself for another parental inquisition.

"How do you think you did on your test?" Asked Hannah, wearing an oversized smirk, causing him to shrug.

"You scored a 93%!" She exclaimed through a sharp, elated tone, causing him to flinch.

His results surprised him so much that he couldn't believe he had achieved that score. He was convinced that there must have been some kind of error in the school's system. However, he didn't want to draw attention to it. After being dismissed by his mom, he retreated upstairs to immerse himself in his video games.

Later that night, Hannah received a phone call that finally put to rest her suspicions. It was Ari's math teacher, accusing him of cheating on his math exam.

"Are you telling me the only way my son could've achieved the grade he has was by cheating?" Hannah's rising tone echoed down the hallway and into Ari's bedroom, pulling his attention from his nightly ritual of sketching meaningless drawings before bedtime.

Ari hurriedly made his way up to the crack of the doorway leading to his bedroom, where he stealthily eavesdropped on his mother's conversation. His curiosity was piqued when he heard his name being mentioned. As he strained to listen, he couldn't help but wonder what had his mother so agitated down the hallway. His musings were abruptly interrupted by the sound of her determined footsteps approaching his room. In a flustered rush, Ari darted back to his desk as swiftly as he could, pretending to be engrossed in his drawing before Hannah could catch onto his clandestine behavior. Familiar with the sound of her footsteps, he knew all too well the consequences of underestimating her authority, a mistake he was determined not to repeat.1

"Ari, we need to talk," said Hannah as she swung open his door without warning. She appeared tense as she seated herself at the edge of his bed, her eyes fixed on him. Ari, on the other hand, feigned ignorance, but his racing heart betrayed his unease. "I'm going to ask you once, and you'd better tell me the truth. Did you cheat on your exam at school?"

"No. Why?" He settled himself into a chair that sat in front of his desk, trying to maintain a composed facade while bracing himself for a conversation as grim as her tone.

"Then why did I just get a call from one of your teachers saying you did? I'm not trying to accuse you of something you probably didn't do, I'm just trying to understand how your GPA shot up by almost 2 points."

"I didn't cheat."

"Then how did you get such a good score on your test? No matter what the truth is, I promise I won't be upset with you." She lied, and Ari knew it.

"I don't know."

Hannah stared into his eyes, once again not detecting any hint of dishonesty. At the same time, she couldn't understand how to reconcile his most significant improvement in performance with the boy she knew who never studied for his exams. It was a mystery she couldn't solve, and she was forced to put it on a shelf along with other puzzling matters involving Ari. She accepted her 12-year-old son's word, whatever it was worth, and decided to put the matter to rest, at least for the time being.

Hannah awoke to the sound of a blaring alarm, the noise reverberating through the house. It was the first time she had experienced a good night's rest all week. As she emerged from under the comforter, she was greeted by the soft glow of overcast light flooding her bedroom, causing her to squint. With her natty blonde hair and sleepy eyes, she slipped into her slippers and made her way downstairs. As she passed each room, the curtains automatically opened, letting in more of the ambient light.

In the living room, a projection of her day's agenda scrolled across the walls, displaying virtual meetings and upcoming work deadlines. It was a reminder of the tasks she had been meticulously trying to catch up on. Just before she reached the kitchen, she noticed glowing orange words above the mantle of her fireplace, sparking her curiosity.

Parent Teacher Conference 4:30 PM

As if her day weren't already hectic enough, she knew that those words meant she had to have everything done by 3:30 PM, just in time for her to traverse the congested roads that etched along the outskirts of town. 3 cups of coffee and one migraine later, she completed the work she needed before getting dressed and ready for her son's quarterly review.

As her car drove her along winding suburban highways, she sorted through an endless string of emails and to-do lists. She made sure to review Ari's performance files, and as they scrolled across the windshield in front of her, she was reminded of a confounding mystery that had her scratching her head. A flurry of blissful confidence overcame her, and she tried to imagine how happy she would be when Ari's teachers delivered the good news in person.

When she arrived, she was beaming with pride among the parents, she had finally felt the same way she imagined many of the other parents of successful kids felt. The feeling had her floating through the school's front doors, down hallways lined with lockers, and past numerous classrooms filled with teachers and parents. As she peeked through the nearby windows, she double-checked her phone to confirm the room where she and the other parents assigned to her group would be.

Hannah loathed obligatory gatherings with fellow parents, where insincere pleasantries and superficial conversations about their children's achievements filled the air. Their acrid smiles would plaster an egregious truth, quietly wondering how their child measures up to the rest. She prepared a fake smile of her own, but as soon as she stepped through the door, her facade crumbled.1

"Mrs. Emerson, we're glad you could make it. Please have a seat," one of the teachers said warmly, gesturing towards the empty chairs at the table. Hannah carefully selected a seat at a table where several teachers sat on one side, leaving her on the other side by herself.

"Where is everyone? I hope I'm not late," she inquired, feeling her heart rate increase as she settled into her seat.

"No, you're right on time," one of the teachers replied with a chilling smile, while the others exchanged concerned glances. Hannah couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into an ambush, and she was completely unprepared for what was about to unfold.

"We scheduled today's meeting with you because we wanted to discuss your son, Ari's performance with our school." A different voice announced. "First of all, we'd like to congratulate you on Ari's grades. His overall GPA has increased by about 1.4 points, he secured a 93% on the state's standardized examination, and he managed to score 100% on his last three assignments."

"But?" Hannah asked with a deeply troubled look as she glanced around at the serious faces that surrounded her.

"Look Hannah, while we're elated for your son's recent accomplishments, we're concerned as well. Upon reviewing his history here at Ridgeview Middle School, his last month with us isn't exactly tenable. His teachers have submitted numerous reports of ambivalence in his work, several bouts of tardiness, and frankly, quite abysmal grades over the last 2 years. That lengthy pattern somehow ended a month ago, and now he ranks among the highest-scoring students in our school."

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"We're not trying to tell you anything. We were hoping you could tell us what's going on?"

Hannah carefully positioned her phone on the sleek, computerized desk, its surface coming to life with a soft glow as it displayed a wealth of personal information, emails, and files. She quickly rummaged through them to catch up to the information that was being thrown at her, attempting to leverage an even playing field for the meeting.

"Which one of you is James Ellington, Ari's mathematics instructor?"

Suddenly an ominous look fell onto everyone's face, and Hannah's stomach began to twist into knots.

"Mrs. Emerson, Ari's teachers are with the other parents in the conference room next door. We are the faculty heads that run the school."

Hannah couldn't believe it. She was being singled out by the rest of the parents and thrust into a situation that she didn't fully comprehend. She was left to advocate for her son on her own, amid the school's most prominent faculty, and without the support of her husband. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if it was too late to call him for backup.

"Mrs. Emerson, we take cheating very seriously at this school."

Hannah's heart raced as the principal's stern voice echoed through the room. The accusation hit her like a slap in the face, and she couldn't hold back her immediate response.

"Cheating? My son isn't a cheater!" Her words tumbled out, fueled by a mixture of shock and indignation. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she grappled with the overwhelming sense of judgment emanating from the room. Every pair of eyes seemed to glare at her, amplifying her discomfort.

"Then perhaps you can explain how your son's essays are suddenly on par with an IQ level far above his age, or how he was able to solve math problems using college-level formulas?" A stern voice cut in from her left, joining the others through a well-mannered assault. "We've taken a closer look at some of his latest work, and quite frankly, we've never seen anything like it before. The notion that someone hasn't been helping him with these assignments is... how do I put it..."

"It's impossible," another voice added, joining a chorus of worrisome faces who remained fixed on Hannah as if she were the one in trouble. Suddenly her anger had sparked, and she shifted herself upright to prepare for a battle she'd face alone.

"In other words, you're telling me my son isn't intellectually capable of scoring as high as he did. Are you trying to tell me my son is lazy, or just stupid?"

"Neither. We're simply telling you that there's more to the story."

Overcome with frustration, Hannah could no longer contain her emotions. She abruptly rose from her seat, accidentally bumping into the table in front of her, and swiftly made her way towards the exit door.

"I want to make it clear that if he achieved such a high score, it's because he worked hard for it. My son is not a cheater, and the idea that any of you would even consider such a thing is ridiculous." Hannah burst through the door, slamming it behind her before she stormed through the school's hallways, the sound of her heels reverberating off the walls. While some parents may take kindly to a surprise attack, she certainly wasn't one of them.

As she took each step, her frustration mounted, drowned out only by the insistent thoughts in her head, wondering if her son was cheating. The whole situation was beyond embarrassing, and she almost didn't want to uncover the truth. Then, just for a moment, she considered the possibility that he wasn't cheating. If that were true, how on earth did he manage to achieve such an incredible score?

It was an ordinary day when Ari entered his classroom at the last minute. As he sat down at his desk, he discovered the dreaded words that every student at Ridgeview Middle School fears, written on the digital board at the front of the class.

POP QUIZ

The room erupted into an uproar, and when Ari placed his hand on a green circle at the corner of his desk, it illuminated with a multitude of complex mathematical problems meant to test him at a moment's notice. His heart sank as he watched the other kids around him begin meticulously working through equations that lay in front of them, and he slowly began working on his own.

His ominously grinning teacher glanced around the room to keep watch over the class, but he discreetly paid special attention to Ari, who worked through each question much slower than those around him. After 30 minutes went by, he'd completed 4 out of the 27 in front of him, and out of the corner of his eyes, he could tell that everyone else had quadrupled him in speed. After 45 minutes, he only had 6 of 27 questions completed. A few moments later, he glanced up at the digits on the classroom board behind the teacher and realized there were only 10 minutes left, and one by one, each student around him was permitted to leave early, as long as their quiz had been completed.

With only minutes to spare, the classroom was occupied by only him and his teacher, whose grin grew double its usual size. 'Finally' he thought to himself, as he exchanged discreet glances with a small camera in the corner of the room. It was retribution for a man who sought to prove to himself and a host of faculty on the other end of the camera that Ari was cheating all along and that there was no way for him to have completed the work he did on his own.

"5 minutes remaining Ari." Said the teacher as he paced himself closer and closer, hovering over him to confirm what he already knew. "You're almost out of time. Just make your best guess and submit it while you have the chance."

Ari looked up at his teacher with an inextricable mixture of worry and concern as he found himself in a one-on-one situation, forced to work through the problems in front of him. Time was running out, and a sense of panic started to build up within him, fueling his frustration. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to escape the overwhelming moment. After taking a deep breath, he made a conscious decision.

Instead of letting fear dictate his actions, he channeled his frustration into determination, vowing to tackle each problem to the best of his ability, regardless of the outcome.

Suddenly Ari's pen started scribbling away, working everything out in front of himself and his teacher. He was fast. Very fast, in fact, and after each one was completed, he became faster, almost as if he gave himself the encouragement his teacher didn't. It took Ari 7 minutes to complete 16 problems, and even though the bell rang and he was out of time, he continued working while his teacher cupped his hand over his mouth in disbelief.

As he leaned in closer, his eyes focused intently on each problem Ari had solved. To his amazement, every single one was completed accurately, and in fact, many of them were tackled using advanced techniques not covered in class. Meanwhile, on the other side of the camera, the faculty board observed with a mix of anticipation and surprise as Ari proved his teacher wrong.

"How is he doing that?" inquired one of the faculty heads, his puzzled expression mirrored by the others in a room yards from where Ari's classroom was. They watched in disbelief as Ari effortlessly completed the seemingly challenging work in front of him. As soon as he was finished, Ari hastily gathered his belongings and swiftly exited the room, leaving behind a math teacher who was visibly displeased at being proven wrong, secretly in front of the entire school's faculty.

When Ari arrived home, his mother was preparing dinner while his dad was comfortably seated in front of the TV, cheering loudly at a football game before flashing his son a wide grin. As Ari once again resigned himself to his bedroom to watch TV for the next few hours, Hannah received a call from the school. It was the principal, who sincerely apologized to her for the faculty's accusations that Ari was cheating on his exams and assignments. By the end of the call, the principal was almost begging Hannah to enroll her son in the school's advanced placement program, citing recommendations from all the school's most esteemed teachers.

Meanwhile, Hannah received an unexpected call from the school. It was the principal on the line, offering a sincere apology for the faculty's unfounded accusations that Ari was cheating on his exams and assignments. The principal went on to explain that after a thorough review, the school's most esteemed teachers had recommended Ari for enrollment in the advanced placement program, and the principal was practically pleading with Hannah to consider enrolling her son in the program.

After the phone call concluded, Hannah observed with a mix of bewilderment and concern as Ari absentmindedly poured a stream of milk into a bowl of crunchy cereal. Her 12-year-old son's sudden display of exceptional intelligence left her utterly perplexed. Rather than basking in pride, she found herself drowning in a tidal wave of mystery and confusion.

As the night drew to a close, Hannah confided in her husband, asking for his objective opinion when what she really wanted was for him to agree with hers. She expressed her belief that they may have overlooked his true talents, dismissing the possibility that he was truly gifted. Jordan brushed away her concerns, citing a more simplistic, rational answer to the perplexing mystery.

"Maybe he just wasn't applying himself?"

"Maybe we didn't push him hard enough?"

"Maybe we pushed him too hard?"

Each of his theories made sense, but none of them fully grasped the gravity of the intense situation from Hannah's perspective. To her, such a simple explanation did not alleviate her suspicions of a larger conspiracy at play. Little did they know that as they discussed their son's sudden success, a car parked outside their home contained executives from the medical research institute that had performed Ari's experimental surgery. These executives were eavesdropping on their conversation, gathering details that would help them uncover a much more sinister truth before Ari's parents could. A truth that would change his life forever.