Chapter 2

           Ritahadoftenwonderedwhattheworldwouldbelikeiftherewereamachinethatcoulddefinitivelymeasurethesumofaperson’spotential.

           IfDNAdeterminedaperson’sheightortheshapeoftheirface,whynottheirlessobvioustraitstoo?Ourfathersandmothers,grandfathersandgrandmothers-ultimatelyeveryindividualwastheproductofthebloodthatflowedintheveinsofthosewhocamebefore.Animpartialmachinecouldreadthatinformationandassignavaluetoit,assimpleasmeasuringheightorweight.

           Whatifsomeonewhohadthepotentialtodiscoveraformulatounlockthemysteriesoftheuniversewantedtobecomeapulpfictionwriter?Whatifsomeonewhohadthepotentialtocreateunparalleledgastronomicdelicacieshadhisheartsetoncivilengineering?Thereiswhatwedesiretodo,andwhatweareabletodo.Whenthosetwothingsdon’tcoincide,whichpathshouldwepursuetofindhappiness?

           WhenRitawasyoung,shehadagiftfortwothings:playinghorseshoesandpretendingtocry.ThethoughtthatherDNAcontainedthepotentialtobecomeagreatwarriorcouldn’thavebeenfurtherfromhermind.

           Beforeshelostherparentswhenshewasfifteen,shewasanordinarykidwhodidn’tlikehercarrot-tophair.Shewasn’tparticularlygoodatsports,andhergradesinjuniorhighschoolwereaverage.Therewasnothingaboutherdislikeofbellpeppersandcelerythatsetherapart.Onlyherabilitytofeigncryingwastrulyexceptional.