After texting his mother the results from the test, she began making Sullivan's favorite dinner: meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. That night at dinner Sullivan's test scores were the central topic.

  "Does that mean Sully's gonna become an awakener then?" His five-year-old sister innocently asked.

  "Now princess," His father started, "the academic test and the aptitude test are very different. If you pass the academic test then, and only then, do you get to take the aptitude test. If it turns out that Herb has a high aptitude, then he can make being an awakener his profession."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "Sully," His sister asked him, "are you gonna become an awakener and fight monsters if you get a high aptitude?"

  "No, it all sounds like too much work for me—not unless it's really high like in B+ range. I'm not one of those die-hards that would become an awakener if I had C, or even D, aptitude."

  "Die-hards?" His sister parroted in confusion.