When we got home Carson told me about his Biology teacher at Riverview.

“What’s wrong with her, Carson?”

“She assumes that we know things that haven’t been covered in class or in our homework. Because there was stuff that I didn’t know I was mostly getting B’s. So I figured that I have to spend time to read at least one chapter ahead in the book. I’m getting A’s on all of my quizzes now. Maybe that’s what she wants, but she’s never said that’s what we’re supposed to do. It’s not a good way to teach, in my opinion, making a big mystery out of things.”

“I hope you find that the Biology teacher here is better,” I said. “Unfortunately, I had Ms. Larencor when I took Biology last year. I didn’t like her attitude. I think she’s getting ready to retire.”

“I see you're taking AP Spanish 3. I’ll be taking Spanish 2. I didn’t take Spanish in middle school. I took Russian.”

“Russian? How was that?” I asked.

“Interesting. First we had to learn the Cyrillic alphabet. Then we learned to read and write Russian in the first semester, then conversation and composition the second semester. They don’t offer Russian at Riverview, so I switched to Spanish. I think Spanish is a lot harder to learn than Russian, at least it is for me.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding, Carson.”

“No, I’m serious. I got A’s in Russian. I had a lot of problems in Spanish 1 last year, mainly the grammar. I only got a C both semesters. This year I’m doing better, I’ll have a B this semester. How's your Spanish 3 teacher?”

“Mr. Rodriquez is very good. He also teachers Spanish 2. What I like is that I can tell he enjoys teaching Spanish and it makes it easier to learn. Maybe you’ll do better taking Spanish from him than whoever you have at Riverview.”

“That was Mrs. Wallis. She might have been my problem. I also had her last year.”

“So let’s get going on your schedule for this semester. Show me what classes you were taking at Riverview this semester.”

Carson pulled out a 3x5 card and handed it to me. Carson had wrtten them down for me.

The list had Algebra 2, English 2, Spanish 2, Biology, California History and Government, Chorus, and Tennis.

I giggled. “Do you call California History and Government ‘cal-hag’ at Riverview?”

Carson totally lost it laughing, and after what seemed to be about a minute he finally was able to talk.

“That’s totally ridiculous. I love it. And no, we never called it that at Riverview. Usually we’d call it ‘Cal History’. Who started that at Hillcrest?”

“It was listed as ‘CalH&G’ pronounced ‘cal-h-and-g’. Someone, I don’t know who or when, decided it should be pronounced ‘cal-hag’. You have to agree that it’s easier to say.”

“That it is, but now every time I hear someone say ‘cal-hag’ I’ll bust up laughing.” 

“You’ll get used to it. Let’s get back to your schedule. Mom said you’re going to be signed up for exactly the same classes this semester at Hillcrest that you were taking at Riverview. Let’s start with my class schedule for this semester. That way we can figure out your schedule, and we can sign you up for the same periods and teachers I have where we’re taking the same class.”

“That’s a good idea. It will help me a lot when I’m studying for midterms if I can get in the same classes that you’re taking. That way we can study together.”

I pulled out my copy of the “Hillcrest High School Course Catalog 2010-2011 School Year” and my class schedule for this semester that I’d entered into a spreadsheet.

	David’s Classes - First Semester Sophomore Year, Hillcrest High
	Period	Homeroom				Mrs. Huynh
	1	Chemistry 1A				Mr. Benjamin
		Morning Break
	2	Algebra 2				Mr. Glendon
	3	Physical Education				Mr. Rosen
	4	Computer Applications				Mr. Hammond
		Lunch
	5	California History & Govt				Mrs. Layton
	6	AP Spanish 3A				Mr. Rodriquez
	7	American Literature (Honors)				Mr. Gibbs

“Okay, let’s start by assuming that you’re going to take exactly the same classes as me, and see how we have to switch things around. First, Homeroom is assigned by last name. Even though your last name is still Evans and mine is Dempsey, we’ll be in the same homeroom with Mrs. Huynh because sophomores who have last names starting with A through E are in the same homeroom. You’re going to take PE with the Tennis option seventh period. I have AmLit that period and PE third period, so you can take English 2 with Mr. Trenor third period. Cool. He’s a great teacher. Okay, so far we’ve scheduled your Homeroom and two of your classes.

“Now, let’s see what other classes you can take the same as mine. Algebra 2 second period, CalHaG fifth period. That leaves Chorus and Spanish 2 that we have to schedule for you. I have AP Spanish 3 sixth period, and there’s no Spanish 2 sixth period. There is a Spanish 2 with Mr. Rodriquez first period so we’d switch your Biology to... let’s see... hey, Mr. Voisard teaches Biology sixth period and I’ve heard he’s really funny and a good teacher, and that way you’ll avoid having Ms. Larencor. That leaves Chorus, and the only time that it’s on the class schedule is fourth period and you have fourth period open. I think we have your schedule finished. Oh, I forgot, we have lunch together, too. There’s only one lunch period at Hillcrest.”

“I’m totally confused. Can you print out my schedule?”

“Sure. It’ll be simpler if I put your schedule into a spreadsheet like I did with mine.”

	Carson’s Classes – First Semester Sophomore Year, Hillcrest High
	Period	Homeroom				Mrs. Huynh
	1	Spanish 2A				Mr. Rodriquez
		Morning Break
	2	Algebra 2				Mr. Glendon
	3	English 2A				Mr. Trenor
	4	Chorus				Ms. Lovell
		Lunch
	5	California History & Govt				Mrs. Layton
	6	Biology 1A				Mr. Voisard
	7	Physical Education - Tennis				Mr. Kim

When I was finished Carson sat next to me and we compared our schedules.

“Carson, I’m disappointed that we only have Homeroom and two classes together, Algebra 2 and CalHaG. Oh, well. Nothing we can do about it.”

“I guess it’s because you’re taking some more advanced classes. Like, you’re not taking English 2. How did you get out of that?”

“I tested out of English 1 and took English 2 when I was a freshman. That made me eligible for English 3 this year, and instead of taking that class I would have been able to substitute AmLit or European Literature this semester and Creative Writing or Public Speaking next semester. I picked AmLit and Creative Writing. I’ll also take AP English 3 next year.”

“You tested out? How’d you do that?”

“I took the midterm and final exams for English 1 and passed them. So I got credit for that class without ever having to actually take it.”

“I wonder if I could test out of any of my classes. I wonder if I should even try.”

“Since you’re transferring in so late in the semester, I don’t know if they’d allow you to test out of any class. You could ask once you start at Hillcrest. Hmm... if you could test out of English 2 maybe they’d let you take Creative Writing. Let’s see... yeah, they’re both third period, so that would be cool. Assuming you want to take Creative Writing.”

“I’m not sure I want to do the studying to test out of English 2. I’ll think about it. What about next semester? Have you decided what you’re taking?”

“Two of my classes are continuing, AP Spanish 3 and Chemistry, and three are one semester classes and I’ll have something else the second semester. Those are Trig in place of Algebra 2, Creative Writing in place of AmLit, and AP Human Geography in place of CalHaG. You'll also have to pick a class in place of CalHaG. I’m taking Computer Applications fourth period this semester as my elective, and I’ll take Digital Design for my elective that same period next semester. Digital Design is a digital photography and Photoshop class and it should be a slam dunk for me. That’s my first six periods. For my seventh period I’m being dragged kicking and screaming to go out for the tennis team by someone,” I glared at Carson and he smiled sweetly, “so that’s what I’m taking seventh period, PE with the Tennis option, same as you.”

Carson looked at my spring semester schedule. “David, why doesn’t your schedule have you swapping your third period PE with your seventh period Creative Writing class? Remember, Coach Kim said would you’d need to do that since you’re going out for tennis.”

“I forgot about that. You’re right. I’ll have to go to the office and make that change. So here’s what my schedule will look like.”

	David’s Classes – Second Semester Sophomore Year, Hillcrest High
	Period	Homeroom				Mrs. Huynh
	1	Chemistry 1B				Mr. Benjamin
		Morning Break
	2	Trigonometry				Mr. Glendon
	3	Creative Writing				Mrs. Hindsen
	4	Digital Design				Mr. Hammond
		Lunch
	5	AP Human Geography				Mrs. Tibbets
	6	AP Spanish 3B				Mr. Rodriquez
	7	Physical Education - Tennis				Mr. Kim

	Carson’s Classes – Second Semester Sophomore Year, Hillcrest High
	Period	Homeroom				Mrs. Huynh
	1	Spanish 2B				Mr. Rodriquez
		Morning Break
	2	Trigonometry				Mr. Glendon
	3	English 2B				Mr. Trenor
	4	Communications Studies				Mrs. Wilkes
		Lunch
	5	AP Human Geography				Mrs. Tibbets
	6	Biology 1B				Mr. Voisard
	7	Physical Education - Tennis				Mr. Kim

“This whole scheduling thing sure gets complicated, doesn’t it,” Carson said.

“Yup. But I think we’ve both done okay with our schedules for next semester. I just wish we had more classes together.”

“That would be nice, but having two this semester and three next semester, plus homeroom and lunch, isn’t bad. I’ll check with Mom when she gets back and see about getting me registered for these classes tomorrow morning.”

“Okay. I’ve got homework and I want to get to it right now. And Carson, you can help me with it. That way as soon as Dad gets home we can talk to him and see what he found out.”

“Fortunately, I don’t have any homework,” Carson replied. “Unfortunately, I don’t have any school to go to or classes to take right now. So, I think what I’ll do is go downstairs and watch TV instead of watching you do your homework.”

“Come on, give me a hand with my homework. You’ll benefit if you do,” I pleaded.

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Ah, and exactly how would I benefit? Money, perhaps?”

“Oh, something much more of value than money. You’ll gain an insight to what you need to know for your classes at Hillcrest.”

“But most of my classes are different than yours, David.”

“But two of them are the same, CalHaG and Algebra 2. So let’s get started on Algebra 2. If I remember right, you were a bit ahead of where we were so this should be a piece of cake.”

“Alright, but what about CalHaG?”

“I have to write a paper on the new way redistricting is going to be done in California and how that could impact the political makeup of the State Senate and Assembly.”

“And how long does it have to be and when is it due?”

“Only one thousand words minimum to two thousand words maximum. It’s due Friday.”

“Only? And it’s due on Friday? You have got to be kidding!”

I couldn’t keep a serious expression on my face. Finally, I started laughing. Carson looked at me with an expression of his own, one that showed that he was more or less disgusted with me. Until he started laughing too.

“Alright, dufus, fess up. Tell me how long this paper has to be and when it’s going to be due.”

“The part about how long it has to be is true. And it’s due Friday, not just this Friday. It’s due two weeks from this Friday.”

“So why do you need to work on it now?”

“I always like to get a head start on projects like this. I’ve always hated waiting until the last minute to complete anything that I had a lot of time to finish. The reason is, if I left it to the last minute, then I’d screw around and wouldn’t get it done. The first time I did that and ended up having to work until midnight to finish something due the next day, I learned my lesson.”

“Well, that makes sense, I guess. When do you have to turn in your Algebra 2 homework?”

“Tomorrow. As usual, it’s always due the next school day.”

“Tell you what, let’s do your Algebra 2 homework first. Then if we have time we can work on your paper.”

“Okay. We have to do problems two through ten on page 67 in the workbook. Did you get to those in your Algebra 2 class?”

Carson opened my workbook to page 67.

“Yeah. That’s where we were as of the day before Thanksgiving. That was our last assignment.” I did the problems, but I don’t know if my answers are right or not. I think you should go through each one and then we’ll compare your answer to the answer I got.”

“Then you didn’t turn in your homework today?”

“No, there was no need because today was my last day at Riverview High. I didn’t have to turn in any of my homework.”

Carson pulled out his homework, and I began working on problem number two. We compared our answers and when they agreed I went to the next problem and worked on that one. When our answers didn’t agree we went back in the chapter and tried to figure out what was wrong. By the time we were finished I was hungry.

“I want a snack.” I looked at the clock. It was almost six thirty. “Damn. Too late for a snack.”

“I’m hungry too. When will Mom have dinner ready?” Carson asked.

“Should be about now. I didn’t hear Dad come home, though.”

“You can hear him when he comes home from work?”

“Yeah. My bedroom is over the garage, so I can hear when the garage door opens and closes. Let’s go downstairs and ask Mom when Dad will be home and when we’re going to eat.”

Mom was in the family room watching the news.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, David. Hi, Carson.”

“Hi, Mom. Dad’s not home yet?”

“No. He called and said he’ll be late. So we’re having pizza and salad for dinner. He’s picking up some pizzas on his way home. He should be here by seven fifteen.”

“Do you know if he found out anything about….”

I stopped when Mom started shaking her head. “I haven’t heard anything, Carson. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for Dad to get home.” She looked at the clock. “He should be home in about forty-five minutes give or take a few.”

Carson turned and looked at me. “I guess we can work on that paper we have for CalHaG, David.”

“Yup. Let’s get back to it.”

We went back to my bedroom and I showed Carson the outline for my paper.

“One of the things I want to write about the new Citizens Redistricting Commission is how it ties in with the proposition 14 top two primaries law.”

We started to outline how I could write my paper, and were totally focused on that when I heard the garage door opening.

“Hey, Dad’s home.”

I looked at the time on my computer task bar and it was seven thirty.

“Come on, Carson. Dad’s here with our pizza.”

We hurried downstairs.

“Hi, Dad! You’ve got pizza?”

“I have three pizzas. Let me get changed and we’ll eat.”

“Uh, Dad,” Carson asked, “did you find out anything today?”

“Yes, I did. I’ll tell you all about it at dinner.”

Carson and I sat down at the table. Mom called Lynn and Barb to come down to dinner. She cut the pizzas, then put them in the oven to keep them hot. The few minutes it took Dad to change and come downstairs seemed to be hours. I was so nervous I was bouncing my legs.

“David, stop that. Stay still until Dad gets here.” Mom ordered.

Finally, Dad came downstairs and sat down at the table. He looked around, and it was funny because all five of us were staring at him. He shook his head and grinned.

“I guess I don’t get any pizza until I talk, right?”

“Yes, Bob,” Mom answered. “You have everyone on pins and needles, especially Carson and David. So, what did you find out today.”

“Unfortunately, not all that much.”

Oh my god, all this waiting and there’s nothing much to tell us?

“Let me tell you what I didn’t find out yet, then I’ll tell you what I did find out. I don’t know if Carson and David are twins. That’s going to take some more investigation. So that means it can’t be ruled out.”

It seemed everyone started asking questions and Dad held up his hands palm-out meaning ‘stop’ and so we stopped.

“Let me finish. Then I’ll answer questions, but I probably won’t be able to tell you much more than what I’m about to tell you that I do know. Don’t interrupt, please, no matter how much you want to do that. Does everyone agree?”

We all said ‘yes’ or nodded.

“First, Carson was adopted shortly after he was born. That’s why there’s a birth certificate for him at Kettering Hospital.” Dad held up his hand to stop anyone from interrupting him. “That birth certificate lists his adoptive mother as Bethany Evans. There’s no information about why Carson Evans was adopted. His original birth certificate was sealed by the court. Second, we can’t access the birth certificate at Redwood Hospital. It is sealed under court order. Now I know that is certainly a coincidence and this might be the same Carson Evans in both hospitals.

“There’s something very strange about these two birth certificates. First, the one at Redwood Hospital we haven’t seen and the database at Redwood Hospital that lists a Carson Ryan Evans. Second, the adoptive birth certificate at Kettering Hospital lists a Carson Ryan Evans. What’s strange is his name is the same on both birth certificates, the one we can access from Kettering Hospital and the one we think we know about from Redwood Hospital. Usually when a baby is adopted the last name is changed. In this case the last name is the same. I talked to Wayne Hagen and he thinks Carson was adopted by a relative with the same last name.

“I talked to Judith Wilkes, she’s the fingerprint specialist at the County Sheriff’s office, and she said what they look for is the ridge detail, the part of a footprint or fingerprint that can be compared. In the case of an infant footprint the ridge detail that’s from the big toe on each foot might be comparable with Carson’s current footprint. However, she said the footprint on a birth certificate is a copy and may not be clear enough for the comparison. The best thing would be to get the birth record from the hospital which would include the original footprint. Unfortunately, to get it will take a court order.

“Judith had an idea that would let us get a quick answer to this twins question. She said there are services that will compare the DNA from two people and report if they are siblings and others that will test for identical or fraternal twins. The tests are reasonable, under two hundred dollars each. I say we get both the sibling and twins test kits and follow the instructions and send them in for analysis. We’ll get the results back in a couple of weeks.”

Now everyone had questions, almost none of which Dad could answer.

“Look,” he said, “if the DNA test shows that Carson and David are twins, then that gives us the ability to go to court and have the birth certificates unsealed. It gives us enough information to follow this through so we can complete Carson’s adoption. At this time Wayne feels that the birth certificate at Kettering Hospital could delay our adoption proceedings because it implies that there might be an adoptive family already.

“There’s another open question. If David and Carson are twins, why doesn’t David’s original birth certificate list his last name as Evans? Instead it's listed as Camford, the name of his mother who was killed in the accident. That’s something else we have to investigate.”

Oh, my god! And here I thought all of this was going to be easy so Carson would become my brother. Now what?