Broussard shook Celis’s hand with firm confidence. “We don’t expect you to be familiar with the procedures,” he said. “Orientation for new parents is standard. Don’t be shy about asking questions.”

“When Lorelai reaches my age, her parents will take all of this for granted,” Selys said with a self-deprecating smile.

Barsal nodded. “Of course. I expect our system to be much more advanced by then. Now, is your daughter, Lorelai, five years old?”

“She turns five in June,” Cerise agreed. “A normal, happy girl, we like to think.”

“Our program will help keep her that way.” Broussard motioned for Cerise to follow him.

The hall was bright and spacious, with printouts of students’ work displayed along the walls.

“Lorelai has her own private room from kindergarten through graduation,” Broussard said, gesturing toward one of the dimly lit corners of the bright hallway. “One benefit of our program is the reduction of communicable disease. However, that is not the main attraction.”

A Childhood Lived Inside a Virtual Environment

Cherries stared at the small, still figure. She felt as though she were glimpsing a strange industrial revolution in sleep. She forced a smile.

“It’s a far cry from being shown around a gym or an art room.”

Barsal pursed his lips. “Our students are actually experiencing those things. In some ways, the virtual environment is better. You and I have only seen the new gymnasium renovation once, if ever. Lorelai will never experience anything else. No matter how cutting-edge technology becomes, our experience changes with it.”

They finished the tour in silence. There was not much to see outside the infirmary, but apart from the glow of disinfectant, it looked nothing like the infirmary of Cerise’s childhood.

Satisfied, Barsal took her back to his office.

Learning Through Carefully Controlled Pain

“We used to think children had to accept whatever life threw at them,” he said with a smile, relaxing in a leather chair while leaving Cherries seated in a wooden one. “What a terrible idea: raising children with random trauma. So we reversed course and over-restricted them until their prefrontal cortex developed.”

He shook his head. “Insanity. Learning requires mistakes.”

“Of course,” Cerise, one of the companions who had taken shelter, said firmly.

But Barsal was giving his favorite speech and could not be distracted.

“Our tailored experience allows Lorelai to encounter only the right amount of error, conflict and pain. We cannot do some things. Upper-end models do that too, but within your budget, I think you’ll be happy with her educational experience.”

How the Program Handles Trauma

“What about external problems? Of course, we try not to cause any trouble,” Cerise explained hastily. “But what if Lorelai’s grandparents develop cancer or experience some other trauma?”

“It’s important that you report to us regularly. Even minor injuries, such as twisting an ankle while playing in the park, are used to customize her program. We put nurturing experiences in place of challenges there. We assess her reactions and adapt her methods for dealing with challenges, but weekly reports from her parents are very important.”

“Think about what would happen if you gave her a scenario in which her parents got divorced and she had a fight with a friend during recess.”

“We’re not getting divorced,” Cerise blurted out defensively. Then she added, “I know what you meant—for example. But in your example, can she really fight with her friends at recess? Are the children’s simulations interconnected?”

“Absolutely not!” snapped Birther. “The kids would be confused. You should let them go. Traditional schooling is what you were just looking out for in terms of her brain development.”

The Cost of an Isolated Childhood

“But doesn’t that mean she won’t share her childhood memories with anyone?” Ms. Selise recalled the time Lucy Meisner threw up on a field trip to the zoo, the time she got into trouble with Tony Azar by hiding at the end of recess, and the memory that made them laugh decades later.

“Many adults do not maintain close relationships with their traditionally schooled classmates,” Broussard said firmly. “We feel the trade-off is worth it.”

“Okay,” Selys sighed. “So I suppose the fee structure goes beyond that.”

His face closed in dissatisfaction. “I’ll show you to the department on my way back.”