An actual paper letter, it bore the masthead of the United States Bureau of the General Standard. She hadn’t known until this moment that Lamar had been serious about altering her son’s scores, and her own. She and Mateo had been recategorized from “forward capability in key skill sets” to “advanced capability.” From middie to savvy in one fell swoop, changing their status, not only to savvy, but to felon. Now the question was, what was she doing breaking the law? And just why did Lamar Gelde think they could get by with it? She read the letter again, with its simple, bald statement of fact. Previously, the wrong records had been forwarded to the Quinn family. The present documents would confirm new standings for the Standard Test. Relief accompanied the guilt she felt. Now she wouldn’t have to sit down with Mateo and explain his scores and his future. Now she and Rob wouldn’t have to tell their son that being of forward capability instead of advanced was a fine and worthwhile status.
