"Attention students...over the Spring Break, we have replaced and upgraded the district computer system. We have migrated all of your records, but we will need all of you to come in to receive your new IDs and get your new logins. The new IDs have a chip in them with your school records on them. Teachers will be able to scan for attendance, the same way you pay with your phones. We have tried to stagger this so it does not take up too much class time."
The announcement went over how their name would dictate when and which room they'd come to, and there were signs up directing them.
This was how, about twenty minutes later, she found herself waiting when Sarah McMillan slid down next to her and proceeded steadfastly ignored them. An aide came out. "We're ready for the next two. Just enter in your student number and it will spit out your card. Then hit the confirm button."
The two entered the room and each went to a kiosk. There were others nearby doing the same. It looked like a polling station.
Sarah entered in her student number. "That isn't right," she said. It said Sarah Taylor, instead of Sarah McMillan. They must have messed up the records. There were only two options. "Confirm" or "Update". She hit update. The machine whirred for a moment and spit out an ID card that said Sarah Taylor.
Meanwhile, in the adjoining booth, Karyn was having a similar problem. The machine kept freezing. She banged the machine lightly, trying to get it to show her information. It finally spit out an ID card for her. It said, "Karyn Taylor."
She exited to see Sarah walking over to the aide. "This is wrong."
"Mine too." Karyn said.
The aide picked up the phone and dialed IT. "Jim...the Taylor Twins are here...they say the machine messed up their IDs. Oh...okay..." She looked up. "They'll check. But I guess even the computers have trouble telling you two apart. Why don't you come back at the end of the day and we'll see what we can do?"
"We're not..." Karyn said. She shook her head. "Never mind..." She headed out of the room, Sarah on her hells.
"If I find out this had something to do with your little copycat act..." Sarah said.
"What copycat act?" Karyn asked.
"Letting your hair grow out so it looked llke mine."
"The last thing in the world I want is to look like you," Karyn said.
Sarah scowled at her and headed off.
The IT person pulled up the two affected records. "So, I mixed up the records of two identical twins..." he muttered. "That's an honest mistake. I can fix that." Little did he know he was making the problem worse. He applied his fix and restarted the system.
Meanwhile, Sarah and Jennifer Taylor were heading toward their own ID pickup when...
