"Welcome, everyone!" Mr. Johnson says as the class finished filing into the room. "I hope you all had a good weekend and are ready to learn, because we've got a very important topic to cover today."
There are some good-natured groans at this pronouncement. Johnson smirked. "Try to contain your enthusiasm, kids. Now, today's lesson is going to be awkward. That is simply an unavoidable consequence of the subject matter. But it is also very, very important, particularly to people your age. You can pretend to be embarrassed all you like, but I was your age once and I know I thought about it all the time. Today's topic is sex--we are going to cover basic male and female reproductive anatomy, the basics of sexual technique, how to have sex safely, and the manner in which procreation occurs."
There is some shocked muttering and even some awkward laughter.
"See, that is the first lesson," Johnson continues. "Sex is not, in and of itself, something to be ashamed of. It is a very natural thing to do, and it's natural to want to do it. Some of you have probably already had it, even if you don't want to admit it aloud."
"For that purpose, I have received permission from the school administration to do something very new and exciting for today's lesson," Mr. Johnson adds. "Jack Burke and Emma Winston, would you both please come to the front of the class?"
Jack, a tall and lanky guy with messy brown hair and bright green eyes, gets out of his desk chair and goes to the front of the class, feeling surprised and rather embarrassed at having been called on. He is joined a moment later by Emma, a petite, shy, quiet, and very pretty girl with long wavy auburn hair and captivating hazel eyes. The two don't know each other very well and have only spoken several times. Both of them wonder what Johnson has planned.
As they both stand in front of the class, the teacher says, very calmly, "Jack and Emma, I want you two to demonstrate sex to us. You have been chosen randomly to have intercourse during this lesson, providing us with a visual demonstration of how it works in in practice as well as in theory. More, you are to conceive a child together, which should not be difficult as the nurse has informed me that Emma is currently at the peak of her fertility cycle. We will follow the course of the pregnancy for the rest of the semester, up until the point of delivery."
There is a collective gasp from the class, which Johnson ignores. The bottom falls out of Jack's stomach and Emma can only stare, her mouth gaping in horrified disbelief.
"Wh-what?" she asks, her voice trembling. "I have to--w-we have to--"
"I believe I made myself clear the first time," Mr. Johnson says sternly. "You two are going to show us how human sexual intercourse and procreation works."
Jack and Emma cannot believe what they are hearing. Neither can the other students. How this possible? How is it even legal?
"What...what if we don't want to?" Jack asks. "What if we refuse?"
"Then you both face severe disciplinary action by the school, up to and probably including expulsion."
Jack looks at Emma, clearly scared and uncertain. Emma's eyes are wide with disbelief and horror. "But...but Jack and I don't even know each other that well!"
"That hasn't stopped people from getting pregnant in the past," Johnson says dismissively. "It will not stop the two of you, either.
Emma falls to her knees, her eyes brimming with tears. "Please, Mr. Johnson," she begs. "Please, please don't do this to me. I'm too young to be a mom, I'm only eighteen!"
Johnson glares at her. "The decision is made," he says firmly. "And there is nothing you or I can do to change it. If you persist in these theatrics I will have to send you to the office for insubordination."
Emma buries her face in her hands, weeping softly. Jack's heart lurches at the sight of it. He's not happy either, his blood is ice in his veins.
"Oh, do contain yourself, girl," Johnson snaps. "And buck up. The school will provide you with a generous stipend once you carry the child to term, should you choose not to adopt it out. You might find some peace of mind with that. But if you do not pull yourself together and do as you are told the consequences will be severe. Do you understand me?"
Emma looks up, her eyes red from crying. She nods, unable to speak. What can she do but obey? She can't be expelled! At least, if she has Jack's baby, she can go back to school at some point in the future. But if she's expelled, any chance of furthering her education is permanently gone.
Jack wants to say something, to comfort her, to try and do something to make her feel better, what can he say? He is as powerless as she is--nothing he does or says will change what he and Emma are being forced to do.
"Very well then," Mr. Johnson says. "We'll begin. We have much to cover and only two hours in which to do so. We will start, of course, by disrobing. Emma, I want you to stand up and undress Jack. Slowly, and with care, so that he doesn't feel uncomfortable. Then, I want you to guide his hands and show us how to touch and explore a woman's body. Understood?"
Emma's heart feels like it's going to explode out of her chest. She's never been so close to a boy before, let alone undressed one. But she does as she's told, meekly stepping closer to Jack, and taking a deep breath. Her hands tremble as she begins to unbutton his shirt, revealing the defined muscles of his chest. She's never been this close to anyone before, and the warmth of his skin against hers sends a shiver down her spine.
