Chapter One

Daniel Fenton and his friends, Samantha Manson and Tucker Foley, were stuck in an assembly at their school, Casper High. Their teacher and Vice Principal, Mr. Lancer, was giving a lecture on the up-coming CAT testing that was meant to decide their futures. Danny was nervous.

"Your future is not carved in stone, people," Mr. Lancer began. "But it may be carved with a number two pencil!"

"Oh please!" Tuck and Sam chimed.

"Quiet!" Danny scolded, annoyed. "This is important!"

Tucker and Sam just raised their eyebrows as Mr. Lancer continued.

"As most of you have probably forgotten, you will be taking the Career Aptitude Test on Saturday," Mr. Lancer said as the letters C.A.T appeared on the board behind him.

"Do well, like Mrs. Fenton, here," he said pointing to Danny's sister, Jazz.

"Who got the highest score in the history of the CAT," Danny said along with Lancer. He was tired of hearing it.

"And a successful future will be assured!" Mr. Lancer continued.

"Fail, like Irving "Third degree" Burns, here," he said as he pointed to the man next to him. "Who got the lowest score in the history of the CAT, and you will be doomed to a career at the Nasty Burger."

As he said so, a picture of the local fast food joint, the Nasty Burger, appeared on the board behind him.

"Hey!" Irving piped up. "Working at the Nasty Burger takes brains, ya know! If those 42 Nasty secret herbs and spices in our Nasty Sauce are overheated, it can cause an explosion that could take out a whole city block!"

Irving looked around. No one seemed to care.

"Oh, who am I kidding?" he said, depressed. "My life is over."

Irving walked off stage with a glum look on his face. Mr. Lancer continued.

"These aren't just the answers to the test," Lancer said holding up a pamphlet. "They're the answers to your future. So study!

He put the answers in a locked suitcase and handcuffed the case to his wrist.

"And remember: It's your future! Do you want fries with it?" Lancer finished ominously, walking off stage.

Danny was petrified. He was convinced that if he failed, he would end up like Irving, whose life was "over." Even worse, Danny never had time to study and didn't do good on tests. He didn't even get good homework grades anymore. Danny didn't want his life to end at the Nasty Burger. What would his friends and family think?

"Dude, are you okay?" Tuck asked Danny. Danny didn't respond; he was lost in his thoughts.

The kids at school thought he was a loser, now, just because Danny was a bit of a klutz. Danny was bullied as it was, but what if he grew up destined to work at the Nasty Burger forever? What if Danny ended up a laughing stock for the rest of his life?

"Danny?"