Team 1

Welcome to our choose your own adventure experience! In this game you are taking on the role of an eleven year old Hispanic boy named Levi from the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The year is 2017 and you are doing all you can to be the most successful 6th grade student you can be. This includes attending tutoring once a week after school, where you receive help with homework and learn character building lessons. It is your goal in this game to make it to tutoring. This sounds simple, but often times life can get in the way and make seemingly easy tasks more complicated. Make the best choices you can to make it to tutoring but also face as few negative consequences as possible from the opportunity costs of your decisions. Click [[here]] to begin!

You wake up and roll over to look at your alarm clock. It reads 7:15 am, there’s a good chance you’re going to be late for school. There’s a rumbling in your stomach and you should probably eat before you go to school. If you do so, however, you’re certainly going to miss your bus. You throw on your clothes and quickly brush your teeth and hair. The clock reads 7:23 now, and your bus will arrive in 2 minutes. Do you [[eat breakfast and miss your bus]] or [[skip the most important meal of the day and make it on time?]]

Your hunger is satisfied and you’re ready for the day, but you missed your usual ride on the bus. Your parents are already at work, so you’re forced to walk all the way to school. This is a drag, but you begin walking your route. To your delight you pass by Panaderia Sol De Mexico, outside of which the air smells strongly of sopapillas, your favorite pastry. You walk over near Panaderia Sol De Mexico to "inspect" the sopapillas and you hear a distressed squeaking a few feet away. As it is you're surely going to be late for school, do you [[investigate the squeaking]] or leave it be and go to [[school]]?

Still hungry, you grab your backpack and run out the door, barely making it to your bus stop on [[time]].

You arrive at school after first period has already ended. You check in at the office and receive a detention to be served after school for your unexcused absence that morning. Frustrated, you make your way to second period. You realize in your rush to leave after eating, you forgot to grab your homework that was due this period. Defeated, you sink low in your seat as the teacher comes around to collect papers and you [[set your sights on lunch time.]]

You arrive to school on time but you’re irritable from skipping breakfast. You walk into your class and see that a classmate is sitting in your seat. What a cherry on top of your morning. With your hunger making you slightly irrational, do you [[attack the person that has taken your seat]] or [[walk on by and find a different one for the class]]?

The last two classes before lunch went smoothly and finally you have a break. Since you were running late this morning you didn’t have time to pack your lunch, so you take the two dollars you have in your pocket and approach the lunch line. You only have enough money to buy one item, do you purchase a [[salad with lots of vegetables]] or [[french fries]]?

You step up to your classmate and push his desk over onto the floor and he falls along with it. He looks up hurt and you immediately look over to your teacher. You know there is no getting out of this. Your teacher sends you to the principal’s office and you’re given 3 days of suspension. They call for your parents and you [[wait to be picked by your mom.]]

Your mother arrives, and she is visibly very angry. She thanks the administration for calling her and gives you a harsh look with narrowed eyes that tells you to take your butt to the car. Once you’re both seated and alone, she begins to scold you. “What were you thinking Levi!? I had to leave work to come and get you, I can’t get that time back. You know better than to behave like this. You’re grounded. No television or hanging out with friends for a week.” You’re upset by this decision. Do you [[argue with your mother and try to get her to see your side of the story]] or [[accept your punishment and ride the whole way home in silence]]?

You quickly eat your salad and immediately your stomach stops hurting. You talk happily with your friends, now full of energy, until class starts [[again]].

The irresistible smell of the french fried potatoes is too much for you handle, so you grab a tray of them and head into the lunchroom. Immediately satisfied from the crunchy goodness, you start running around and messing with your friends. Unfortunately, as soon as the bell sounds for next period, you start to feel just as lethargic as you were before lunch started as the short burst of energy from the french fries is now being overshadowed by the heavy greasy feeling in your stomach. [[You sluggishly make your way to your next class->again]].

“But he was in my seat!” you exclaim, “We have assigned seats and he knows that’s my spot! You’re being totally unfair, Mom, you weren’t even there. I hate you!!!” Your mother’s eyes widen at these words as she shakes her head. “Now it’s two weeks, mijo. Do you wanna make it three or are you going to apologize for speaking to your mother like that?” You take the hint and quietly mumble “I’m sorry, Mami,” under your breath and [[ride the rest of the way home in silence->accept your punishment and ride the whole way home in silence]].

When you get home you immediately go to your room, do you [[sulk around]] or [[work on your homework]]?

You’ve made it to the end of your day. You’re tired and ready to go home, but then you remember that you have to serve a detention. Reluctantly, you take your detention slip from your backpack and head to the basement where it is held. You hand your slip to the supervisor and make your way to a chair in the back to sit quietly for an hour. You find yourself dozing off during detention, doing nothing sure is boring. You’re so bored that you just have to do something for the next hour, you have a pencil on your desk and that’s it. You come up with a few ideas on what to do but you can’t decide, do you [[take the pencil apart]] or [[scribble on your desk?]]

At this moment things couldn’t get any worse; you’re grounded, you’ve had a long day even though it was cut short, and you feel like nothing is going your way . You lay face down on top of your bed and accept your defeat. After a while you become more and more comfortable. Five hours later you wake up and roll over to your alarm clock, the clock reads 6:34. [[You’ve missed your tutoring.]]

Shaking off as much of your rough day as possible, you pull out your assignments and begin to work. You get about halfway through them when you look over at the clock and realize it’s 4:30, time to go. You gather your things and wait outside for your friend’s mom who is your usual ride. She pulls up shortly after with your friend in the back seat and you climb in next to him, do your special handshake, buckle in and [[head to tutoring.]]

Today has been long. In fact, it has felt like two days mushed into one. You toss your backpack on the floor and don't give it another glance. Instead, you turn on your clock radio and lay on your bed and listen to music. Your eyes slowly drift closed and before you know it, you've fallen asleep. That is, untill your alarm blares at 4:30. You jolt awake and jump out of bed. You grab your back pack off of the ground, all your homework completely unfinished, and you run outside where your friend's mom, who is also your ride to tutoring, is waiting to pick you up. Heart pumping from rushing, you slide into the back seat next to your friend. You buckle up and [[head to tutoring.]]

You walk in to the Center and run up the stairs with Carlos to meet up with the other boys. You quickly notice a few familiar faces and say hello to your tutor, Jake, before everyone gets in line to head down to the gym. Dodgeball is set up. Captains are chosen and teams are picked; you and Carlos are on separate teams. Do you [[challenge Carlos to a one on one duel]] or [[run around and protest this wonderful organized activity?]]

Game Over. [[Click here to start over->here ]]

You quickly eat your salad and immediately your stomach stops hurting. You talk happily with your friends, now full of energy, until class starts [[once more]].

You've made it to the end of your day at last. You're tired and ready to relax, so you make your way to the bus and sit down next to your friend Carlos. He asks if you're going to tutoring tonight, as he attends as well and his mom usually gives you a ride. You sigh deeply, momentarily contemplating saying no so you can lay around for the rest of the evening. Even so, you nod your head yes. "Awesome," Carlos says, "I found a little animal skull in my back yard yesterday. I have it in my room I'll bring it with me tonight so I can show you. It still has all its teeth! In fact, why don't you just come to my house? We can look for more bones!" Do you [[go home with Carlos and play]], ensuring non of your homework will be done before tutoring, or do you [[tell him you can't]] and go home to do your work until he picks you up at 5:00?

You scurry off the bus when you get to Carlos' stop and race to his house. When you get there, you both grab a juice from the kitchen and head to Carlos' bedroom where he has all his archeology equipment, including a small shovel and a magnifying glass. The two of you head to the back yard and begin digging around where Carlos had previously found the animal bones. After a half an hour of digging around and finding nothing, you decide it's time to give up. Both you and Carlos are covered in dirt now, so you go inside to wash up. You still have some time before tutoring, so Carlos asks if you want to [[play a boardgame]] or [[play a video game]].

"Sorry man, I can't, my mom wants me home right after school. I'll just see you at 5:00," you tell Carlos. He shrugs his shoulders. "Whatever, your loss," he declares. You really do feel like it's your loss but you know you should go home. You get to your bus stop about 10 minutes later, and wave goodbye to your friends. You get home and go to your room, when you realize it's a big mess. You know your mom will be upset if she comes home from work and sees your room is a pig sty. Do you [[work on your homework before tutoring]] or [[spend this time cleaning up]]?

You push the dirty clothes off of your bed, take out your assignment notebook, and begin working. You finish about half of your work by the time your alarm clock goes off to let you know it's time to go outside and wait for Carlos' mom. You gather your things and run outside. Carlos' mom's car is outside so you head over and climb in the back next to Carlos. He pulls out the animal skull and, careful to keep it out of the view of his mom, you two inspect it as you [[head to tutoring.]]

You’ve succumbed to your mother’s demands and you’re tackling the mounds of junk spread throughout your room. You look under your bed to find the living room TV remote that’s been missing for weeks, a few piles of discarded old homework, and tons of clothing that once fit you years ago. You’ve only dented the mess so far but it’s a start, the clock reads 4:35 so you wait for Carlos’ mom to pick you up for tutoring. You gather your things and run outside. Carlos' mom's car is outside so you head over and climb in the back next to Carlos. He pulls out the animal skull and, careful to keep it out of the view of his mom, you two inspect it as you [[head to tutoring.]]

You tell Carlos you'd rather play a board game and he pulls "Sorry" from the shelf. The two of you begin the game, but quickly realize that it's mroe fun with more people. When Carlos' Mom tells you it's time to go to tutoring, neither of you make a fuss about not finishing the game. You and Carlos grab your things and pile into Carlos' Mom's car and [[head to tutoring.]]

You ask Carlos if he has the new "Zombies" game. He pulls it from his shelf and you get very excited! He puts the game in and immediately you're both hooked. Before you feel it's been more than a minute of gorey, wonderful zombie killing, Carlos' mom is already knocking on the door telling you it's time for tutoring. Do you and Carlos [[lie and say tutoring was cancelled today]] or stop playing your game and [[head to tutoring.]]

In an effort to keep playing the game, as it is so so much fun, Carlos lies to his mother and tells her tutoring was cancelled today. Since Carlos' mom was your ride, this means you'll miss tutoring. Click [[here ]] to start over.

As the teams go to their respective corners you point across at Carlos to get his attention. Once he notices, you flex and shout “You’re going down!”. Carlos laughs at you and points out an orange ball in the middle of the room, a classic challenge, and you get down in a sprinter’s stance knowing you will beat him to it. Stan (the director of the tutoring program) yells “Dodgeball!” and you take off in a full sprint, beating Carlos by three steps to the orange ball. You pick up your weapon, cock back your arm and launch that ball as hard as you have ever thrown anything in your life, drilling Carlos right between the eyes. Do you [[rub your physical superiority in Carlos’s now bruising face]] or [[help your good buddy up and laugh it off?]]

As the teams line up on their designated sides, you grab one of the balls and start shooting baskets in the basket ball hoops and dribbling all over. One of the tutors tells you to stop that and get on a team. You ignore them and keep having your own fun. Suddenly you feel a tap on your shoulder. Stan, the head of the program, is standing behind you with is arms crossed. “Levi,” he says sternly, “this isn’t the time for that. You need to either [[participate like everyone else]] or [[sit out]].”

You celebrate and let out a wild, primal yell and run over to your defeated friend, laughing all the way. After making a few crude jokes relating Carlos’s face to a magnet for dodgeballs, you help him up and the two of you rejoin your respective teams, the rivalry renewed and reenergized for the [[remainder of the game]].

After the game is finished you walk upstairs and immediately notice how thirsty you are. You race a younger boy to the water fountain and beat him handily, taking an extra long drink after sprinting down the hall. You then walk in the room and find Jake sitting at the table with your backpack, he smiles at you and comments that he enjoyed you and carlos’s battle during dodgeball. He then asks you what you want to work on today. Do you work on your [[English]] assignment or study for your [[Math]] test?

Participate like everyone else:Rolling your eyes slightly, you sigh and ask if after dodgeball everyone could play H.O.R.S.E. Stan agrees and so you make your way over to Carlos’ team. Since you weren’t paying attention when the teams were divided you figured you could just pick a team yourself. You only throw three balls before you’re hit and have to sit out anyway. Once the game is over, you look to Stan excitedly, ready to play the game you want to. But to your confusion, he starts a second game of dodgeball. Do you [[accept that you’re maybe not getting what you wanted when you wanted it]] or [[throw a fit to Stan?]]

You didn’t want to play stupid dodgeball anyways. You go to the far wall, away from everybody else and sit down. There’s nothing to do or play with, so you mostly just stare at the ground so you don’t have to watch the other kids playing dodgeball without you. The time is almost up, and all the other kids are helping to pick up balls. Still angry from sitting out, you decide to kick every ball that comes close to you to the other side of the gym so it takes longer to clean up. Your tutor, Jake, looks at you with a disappointed look on his face, and makes his way over to undoubtedly scold you for your behavior. Do you [[talk to him about how you’re feeling]] or [[run upstairs and avoid him until you absolutely HAVE to talk to him?]]

You play another round of dodgeball, putting out of your mind how you were wronged by Stan, and then sweatily make your way upstairs to work with your tutor, Jake. You have a [[Math]] test tomorrow as well as an [[English]] paper due. Which do you work on?

“You said we were gonna play H.O.R.S.E!” you yell at Stan. “This game is stupid and I don’t want to keep playing!” Stan tries to calm you down and explain that the rest of the kids wanted to keep playing dodgeball. “Well everyone else is stupid too then!” you shout, furious you didn’t get your way. Stan frowns at you. “Levi, that’s not true or nice. I think you need to head upstairs with your tutor and begin working now, clearly you’re not able to play with the group today.” Hot tears in your eyes from getting worked up, you drop your head low and begin to walk upstairs, your tutor following behind you. Jake, your tutor, sits down with you and asks what you want to work on. You have an English paper to work on and a Math test tomorrow, and you don’t have time to work on both. In fact, you’re too upset to want to work on either anyways. Do you [[tell Jake you have no homework and that you just want to read a book to yourself]], suck it up and decide to work on your [[English]] paper, or suck it up and decide to work on [[Math]]?

You slowly walk upstairs behind everybody else and talk about how angry you are that you had to sit out. You tell Jake about your long day, and he nods along, only talking when you look to him for an answer. You both sit down at the tutoring tables and he asks if you’re ready to begin your homework or keep talking. It felt really nice to be listened to, and you’re feeling much better now. So you decide to bend over and grab your folders out of your backpack so you can start right away on all of the work you need to get done before tomorrow. You have a test in math and a short story due in English. Do you work on your [[English]] assignment or study for your [[Math]] test?

On the way back to the tutoring room, you make a bet with Carlos that you can beat him there. You count to 3, and you both sprint as fast as you can to the tables in the tutoring room. You barely beat Carlos there because he is still so tired from playing dodgeball for so long. Once you get back to the room, you pick up a marker you found on the ground and start trying to make it in the trash bins. You miss almost every time, as basketball is clearly not your sport of choice. The last time you throw it, you’re convinced it’s going to go in, when instead it hits Stan directly in the face. At first he’s shocked, but after a few seconds he looks as if he’s going to yell. He doesn’t, but instead he says in a stern voice, “Levi, sit down with Jake and start on your homework while I call your mother.” You walk with your head down to the table Jake is sitting at. You sit down silently, everybody still staring at you, and pull out your homework. Do you work on your [[English]] assignment or study for your [[Math]] test.

You and Jake work on commutative properties, Jake seems like he’s really good at math. Over the course of the hour your math skills have been resharpened and you feel confident about your test. After studying you and Jake [[work on your goal sheets]].

You tell Jake all about the ideas you have in your head for the short story that’s due tomorrow. He tells you to narrow in on one idea, maybe the one that’s the most interesting or exciting, and says he can help you make an outline. You decide on a short story about the adventures of Tweety, the bird who had it all. You and Jake make an outline and start on the requirements of what you need to include in your story. Your time is up, and you and Jake [[work on your goal sheets]].

You mumble to Jake that you just want to read, and slowly make your way over to the small library in the back corner of the room. You dejectedly read through a couple book titles but you really don’t care very much what you end up reading, so you randomly grab a book off the bottom shelf and slowly make your way back to Jake. He has started working on his own assignments now, so you slump in your seat. Half reading half staring at the clock, you don’t move again until tutoring is finally over, and you can go home. At the very least, you succeeded in getting to tutoring. Click [[here ]] to start over

This week’s virtue is honesty, Stan talks about how honesty is essential in order to build any friendships. He asks the students what honesty is. Gio, a former student, answers “Honesty is a pizza topping!”. Stan then thoroughly explains to the class that honesty is not a pizza topping, and that it’s being truthful to one another. After Stan finishes his spiel on honesty you all have to turn in your goal sheets from last week, did you [[bring your goal sheet]] or did you [[forget it at home?]]

Excitedly, you retreive your sheet from your backpack and go to put it in your folder. Upon doing so you get to pick a peice of candy. Do you pick a [[lolipop]] or a [[mini snickers]]?

You instinctively reach for your backpack, but then remember you left your sheet at home this morning. You're kicking yourself because this means you don't get any candy and it breaks your three week streak of bringing it in. Do you [[accept your mistake]] or [[steal a piece of candy to feel better]]?

You center in on the worried squawking and find a baby robin, just old enough to be sprouting feathers, it’s pretty ugly. Slightly worried about it, do you [[look around for the nest]] or [[put it in your backpack to care for later?]]

You walk around a nearby park to find some nests, looking up you find a squirrel nest, a squirrel probably wouldn’t be a suitable parent for a robin. Out of the corner of your eye you see a group of birdhouses, you walk over to them and peek inside. The first one has 3 un-open eggs and an angry mother inside and the second birdhouse has 1 small baby bird and two opened eggs. The second birdhouse seems adequate so you place the baby inside and head to [[school]].

You’ve decided the bird’s name is Tweety and you’ll keep it in an old fish tank in your garage. You gently place the bird nestled in your sweater into your backpack. Tweety’s high-pitched squeaks make it through the fabric of your backpack and you can slightly hear them. Over the course of the next fifteen minutes you hear Tweety’s calls slowly dwindle. You open your backpack to check Tweety and it’s not moving, Tweety is dead. Do you [[throw Tweety in a nearby trash]] or [[make a tiny grave?]]

Sadly you throw Tweety in trash and unsteadily make your way to [[school]].

You find a little slump in the ground and place Tweety inside, you then cover its body with some dirt and place a few wildflowers on top. Although you just lost your friend within 15 minutes of first meeting them, you’re glad you did. You realize you have to go to[[school]] now and you sadly make your way there.

Boy, that sure was exciting taking that pencil apart… You look at the clock and see that it’s time to finally go home. You gather your things and walk home in a huff. You only have a half an hour to spare before you’re supposed to leave for tutoring. Do you take this time to [[decompress]] or [[work on homework->work on your homework]]?

You take the pencil and start scribbling away on your desk. A while after Mr. Smith, the detention-holder, catches you scribbling. He tells you to erase your scribbles immediately and asks who Tweety is. Before you can answer the bell rings and immediately you dart out of the door, eyes welling up with memories of your lost friend, but you’re homefree. You only have a half an hour to spare before you’re supposed to leave for tutoring. Do you take this time to [[decompress]] or [[work on homework->work on your homework]]?

You pick the blue raspberry sucker from the bucket of candy and put it in your pocket for later. Carlos taps your shoulder and gestures for you to follow him downstairs. You grab your things and head to wait for Carlos' mom to arrive. It's been about 10 minutes now and his mom still has't come. Neither you or Carlos has a phone with which to try and call his mom. Do you [[ask one of the tutors to borrow their phone]] or [[continue to wait for his mom and hope she arrives soon.]]

You pop your snickers in your mouth right away so that it doesn't melt, then you head over to Carlos and wait while he pacls his things. Carlos taps your shoulder and gestures for you to follow him downstairs. You grab your things and head to wait for Carlos' mom to arrive. It's been about 10 minutes now and his mom still has't come. Neither you or Carlos has a phone with which to try and call his mom. Do you [[ask one of the tutors to borrow their phone]] or [[continue to wait for his mom and hope she arrives soon.]]

Slightly bummed that you won't be getting candy, you gather your things and walk over to Carlos, who is sucking on a sucker. Ignoring your irritation that he has candy and you don't, you gesture for him to follow you downstairs so you can wait for his [[mom]] .

In the bustle of people going to turn in their goal sheets and get their things together, you notice an opening in which no one will see you snag a piece of candy. You reach in the bucket quickly without looking, grab one at random, and stick it in your pocket. You take it back to where your things are, scan the room, and take it from your pants pocket. You lucked out and got a [[mini snickers]]!!

You look around the waiting area for Carlos' tutor to ask for his phone, but it looks like he left without waiting for you two to be picked up. Luckily, you spot Jake a few feet away talking to some of the other tutors. Since Jake's your tutor, Carlos insists you go ask for the phone. Slightly timid about interrupting the adults talking, you make your way over and tap on Jake's arm. He turn and looks down at you and smiles. "What can I do for you bud?" he asks you. You explain your situation to him and ask to borrow his phone if he has one. "Of course, here you go," he replies, fishing his phone from his pocket, "I noticed it was taking your ride a little longer than usual." You thank Jake and walk back to Carlos and hand him the phone. He calls his mother who appologizes and says she is stuck in traffic and will be another 30 minutes. In that time you could walk home. Do you [[wait for Carlos' mom]] or [[walk home]]?

Another 30 minutes tick by, which you spend talking with Jake and Carlos about your favorite movies and videogames and soccer players, when finally you see Carlos' mom pull up. She apologizes profusely, telling you all about how she had to get Carlos' brother early from daycare, and she thought she had enough time to go home and still be on time to get Carlos. You all assure her it's okay, then you and Carlos hop in the back seat. Congratulations! You have reached the end of your day, and you made it through tutoring! Click [[here ]] to play again!

Oops! Carlos’s mom appears to have forgotten to pick the two of you up from tutoring! Fifteen panic filled minutes have elapsed since the end of your session, and the sun is starting to set on southern Milwaukee. Do you [[ask one of the tutors to borrow their phone]] or [[continue to wait for his mom and hope she arrives soon.]]

Another 30 minutes tick by, which you spend talking with Jake and Carlos about your favorite movies and videogames and soccer players, when finally you see Carlos' mom pull up. You say goodbye to Jake and head out. Congratulations! You have reached the end of your day, and you made it through tutoring! Click [[here ]] to play again!

Just as you open the doors to start walking, Jake sees you and asks where you're going. You tell him Carlos' mom is running extra late, so you're just going to walk home. He chuckles a little and shakes his head. "It's getting dark out," he says, pointing to the dimming sky, "I'm sorry my dude, you're just gonna have to wait. But I'll wait with you guys!" For the next half an hour you, Carlos, and Jake talk about soccer and video games and your favorite movies, until finally your ride arrives. You say goodbye to Jake and head out. Congratulations! You have reached the end of your day, and you made it through tutoring! Click [[here ]] to play again!