"Today is a very special day, students! In conjunction with our new unit, When Genetics Goes Awry: Mutations, we'll be visiting a special farm for relocated, mutant animals!"
Jen squawked. Her thoughts raced in her head, anxiety filling her chest. "Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no ohnoohnonononononono..." her thoughts went on, worry consuming her of what she would become.
"I-I-"
"Yes, Jennifer?" her teacher responded.
"I-can I be excused?"
"Well, no, Jennifer, since you signed the permission slip, your attendance is required!" her teacher beamed, Jen frozen in fear.
Soon the students shuffled out, Jen going last to get a word in with Mrs. Callan.
"Mrs Callan, I... can I be excused?"
"Well, why, Ms. Smith?"
"I-I've been cursed!"
"Oh, phooey! I'd expect better of you, Jennifer. Curses aren't real!"
Jen was then shooed out the door, and followed her fellow students out to the bus. They shuffled in one by one, Jen managing a spot near the back. She buried her head in her knees, terrified to look out the window.
Thunk. Thump. Thump. The bus bounded over railroad tracks and pavement cracks, but her heart added to the cacophony as it continued speeding up, Jen's anxiety building. A particularly large toss of the bus caused her to, for a fleeting moment, see out the window on accident. She saw the gate to the farm, the dirt road tossing her around, and looked only long enough to see...