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was driving. Normally it would drive me a little crazy, sitting there in traffic and not saying a word, but this time it didn't bother me. There was too much on my mind. Truth was, I hoped he wouldn't talk so that I could have some time to think. But when he pulled onto the freeway, I knew I wasn't going to get that lucky.
    It only took him a couple of seconds to connect to the traffic web. Johnnie didn't like being out of control, it was one of the things I'd found endearing in him; quaint even. This time though, he didn't even double check the connection. The steering wheel folded and collapsed into the dash, and he turned to face me. "What does that mean, exactly?" he asked. "Did the doctor say anything else?"
    I shook my head. "He said he'd have to check, but he'd never heard of the combination coming up before. "
    "He'd have to check?"
    "Yeah. "
    "Did he say anything else?"
    "I told you, he said he'd have to check. " I didn't know what to say. It was still sinking in.
    Johnnie leaned back in his seat and stared out his window. I could tell he was getting ready to turn around and go back. We'd only been married three years, but I could read some of his expressions like a book. "How's that even possible?" he asked. "I mean, is the baby okay?"
    "The baby is fine. "
    "Now I wish we didn't know. "
    I turned away from him. "You agreed we should get the test done. "
    "I know, but. . . damn . "
    "Don't you think it's better knowing?"
    "How do you get a ten and a flag?" he asked.
    "He said he'd have to check," I repeated.
    "But the baby's fine?"
    "Yes. "
    "Are you sure he said ten?"
    I nodded. "Ten. "
    Johnnie crossed his arms and chewed on his bottom lip. I think he mumbled something, but at that point I didn't want to hear it.
    We didn't talk for a while after that. I was contented to sit and watch the other transports as we cut in and out of traffic. It was like watching a school of fish swimming together, weaving at the same time. We rushed along at speeds of over two hundred kilometers with no more than a meter separating our vehicles, our safety in the control of the central traffic computer. Sometimes it was easier to let something bigger than yourself take control. It had a plan, and although you couldn't always see it, you knew you'd never wreck.
    It wasn't until we sped past our off-ramp that I began to get concerned.
    "Where we going?" I asked.
    Johnnie didn't answer. He punched up the navigation screen and sighed. "What the hell?"
    "What?"
    "We've been redirected. We have an appointment with Human Services. Now. "
    "Now?"
    "Yeah, they've even rescheduled my work-shift for this afternoon and notified the office. "
    "Do you think it's about the test results?" I had expected some reaction from Human Services, just not this quick. I folded my hands in my lap to keep from tapping my fingers. Johnnie didn't like to see me get nervous.
    "It doesn't say. "
    "Great. " there was nothing else to do but sit back and enjoy the ride. We were just passengers.
    Central had control.

    "I understand you must be apprehensive," the agent said. He was a small man, this Mr. White, and the huge, empty desk he sat behind made him look even smaller. "Results like these can cause a great deal of confusion. "
    Johnnie started to say something. I squeezed his hand before he could. The last thing we needed was to anger a government official, particularly one as high up as Mr. White seemed to be. It was best to remain compliant until he finished.
    "The important thing to remember is that your baby rated a ten. Your child will be an asset to the Nation. Only one in fifty thousand couples who go through the procedure come up with these results. It's a credit to the two of you as citizens.
    "As such, the state has raised both your rating to eight, effective immediately. Congratulations. "
    Johnnie and I stared at each other. Eights? that was two levels higher than our current rating. Eight meant ten hours of work as opposed to forty. Eight meant no