"You don't look too happy, Amaranth.  Can I call you Ama?" the president said.

"No."

"Well, Ama, I know just the thing to cheer you up.  As the doctor says, laughter is the best medicine!" President Bromeliad said and chuckled.

"So here's the first joke: Why doesn't the Sun go to college?"  the president looked at me anticipatingly.  When I didn't say anything, he said, "Because it has a million degrees!"  The president laughed hysterically at his own joke.  

"Ha ha ha," I muttered.

"See?" the president said gleefully.  "I made you laugh!  How about you give me a joke now?"

I thought for a moment and said softly, "If laughter's the best medicine, your face is curing the world."  The president gave me a surprised face that he probably thought looked funny.  

"Oh?" he said, "I'm glad to hear that, but you must try harder Ama!  Here's another joke that will cheer you up," He leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand.  

"So the other day," the president stated, "I wanted to buy some camo pants, but I couldn't find any."  Again, he started to laugh.  I was starting to wonder how he ever became president.

"Now it's your turn again, Ama! Make me laugh!" He sat back and waited for my joke.

"President Bromeliad, why have you called me to come here?  I know it wasn't to have a joke war," I said.

"Well, I have you here because I don't want you to take the test.  You see, I already know you are a smart and strong girl.  We have been watching you ever since your parents died."

"You have?  Why?" I asked.

"You see, we didn't want you to die.  That would make us look bad for not taking you in and we wanted to see what would happen to an orphaned child on the streets, all alone so we could maybe kill the parents of the other children so we could have a toughened society!"

I stared at the president.  

"No," I whispered.  "You are not doing this.  You shouldn't be doing this.  You can't do this."

"Oh yes, I can," the president said happily.  "I love killing people!"  

"NO!" I screamed.  I stormed out of the room and sat on the floor outside, my knees drawn to my chest.  Visions of my parents with my sister heading to the test filled my mind.  Screams echoed in my ears.  I covered my ears tightly and shut my eyes tight.

"NO!"