Kano checked himself in the mirror. Damn he was looking good tonight. A quick peek at his watch: getting closer.
The bell rang, and he hurried downstairs, pausing before opening the door so he didn't seem too excited. They were a bit early, but that didn't matter. It was his day, and he wanted to start it on time - and wouldn't argue with early.
"Hey hey," Shen said as the door opened. "How's things?"
"Not bad," Kano said.
"C'mon, party time Mr. Kano. All us adults are waiting for you to join us."
Mister... Kano grinned. He had reached the age of majority and could be called that now.
"What, not stressing about tomorrow?" Kano's father stepped into the entrance hall.
"No worries," Shen said. "Everybody passes the test on the first try, even hung over. I was in pretty rough shape myself. It's just a silly formality."
"No it isn't. My uncle never did pass it."
Kano and Shen both paused. "Uncle Jeff?" Kano asked.
Kano's father nodded. "He isn't legally an adult, even though he's over 70 now. Just because you have a birthday doesn't mean you're an adult, you still have to pass the test. And you should take care if you go out partying - the bars are getting a bit cagier about letting people in when they're of age but don't have proof of adulthood."
"Dad, it's still legal for me to party, to have fun, isn't it? Or is this city turning into a no fun allowed zone?"
"Going out after curfew is an adult privilege, Kano. This whole birthday party when you turn a certain age thing doesn't mean anything. If you celebrated after your test it would make more sense. The only reason it's still allowed is because things are slow to change. Uncle Jeff was in one of the first generations that was tested. Nobody took the tests seriously at first, but the laws slowly tightened up. Now he can't hold a permanent job, can't vote, can't even live on his own. And now the laws on curfew are getting tightened up."
Kano glanced at Shen, trying to silently apologize for his father. "Yeah, but partying after a test? Bleagh. Much better to party on a day that means something, like a birthday."
"Birthdays are only markers. They don't actually mean anything."
