Jack goes rabbit hunting before school, then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun stored in his pickup truck’s gun rack.
1957 – Vice principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2024 – School goes into lockdown, FBI is called in. Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in for traumatized students and teachers.
2. Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2024 – Police are called and SWAT team arrives. Both Johnny and Mark are arrested, charged with assault and expelled even though Johnny admits to starting the fight.
3. Jeffrey disrupts other students.
1957 – Jeffrey is sent to the principal’s office and given a good paddling. He returns to class and sits still.
2024 – Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie and is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra government money from SSI because Jeffrey now has a disability.
4. Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his dad gives him a paddling.
1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful, productive citizen.
2024 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse, Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she thinks she remembers being abused herself. Dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.
5. Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 – Mark shares his aspirin with the principal out on the smoking dock.
2024 – The police are called and Mark is expelled for drug violations. His car is impounded and searched for drugs and weapons.
6. Pedro fails high school English.
1957 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, and goes to college.
2024 – Pedro’s cause is taken up by the state. Newspaper articles appear explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files a class-action lawsuit against the school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English is banned from the core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway, but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
7. Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint can, and blows up a nearby ant hill.
1957 – Ants die.
2024 – ATF, Homeland Security, and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. FBI investigates his parents and all siblings are removed from the home. Computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on terror watch list and never allowed to fly again.
8. Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher who gives a hug to comfort him.
1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2024 – Teacher is charged as a sexual predator, loses her job and goes to state prison for three years. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
