'Saving Professor' is currently thirty-seven pages long!
Which means that if it's a book it would be about 49 pages... only! Oh, writing is such a long process!
Well, I'm not planning to get this published, anyway, so it doesn't really even matter.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 18)
Collier was two minutes late to Alexander’s house. Professor had dropped him off at the front door.
Collier walked through the familiar doors and into the blank room. He started down the staircase and entered the cluttered office.
Alexander was nowhere to be found.
I’ll just wait until he gets here, Collier thought. He sat in a swivel chair and spun around and around.
Then he had an idea. He eyed the chair that Alexander always sat in.
“This is my chair. My chair. Mine, not yours. That means that you can’t sit in it. Understand?” Alexander had once said. He had enforced that rule more than once.
Making sure no one was around, he crept up to the chair.
“Why am I tiptoeing?” he whispered. “Why am I even whispering? There’s no one even around.”
He stood above the blue leather office chair. Then, in one swift motion, he sat down. Air swished out of the seams under him.
“Ha. See that, Alexander? So much for your rules. If you ever find out what I’m doing—“
“I would kill you.”
Collier spun around. Alexander rose out of an empty tin trash can, a slow grin spreading across his face.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Collier, did I scare you?”
Collier didn’t answer.
“Yes, on a regular basis I would probably do something to you. But I plan to share something very important with you today. And, besides, if I did kill you, then there wouldn’t be anyone to carry on my plan, now would there?”
Collier shook his head, but he was thinking about Petra. She would be there. But Alexander wouldn’t know that.
“Anyway, we can’t waste any time. Let’s get on with my plan.” Alexander peered curiously at Collier.
“Haven’t said anything yet today, have you? Cat got your tongue?” Alexander laughed hysterically. Finally, when the humor apparently faded, he was left gasping for air. “Anyways—that was so funny, wasn’t it? Oh, but you wouldn’t know why. The reason why that was funny is because…”
Alexander ran across the room and hovered over a box. He turned around, put a hand up to signal Collier to wait, and then turned back around with his hands cupped.
He ran over to Collier, hands still cupped, with his grin larger than ever. Slowly, he uncapped his hands. In his hands lay a kitten. It had soft, white fur with a bushy tail. It stirred and twisted its head upside down against Alexander’s thumb. It lifted its eyelids and revealed the purest blue eyes.
“His name is Frisky,” Alexander whispered softly.
Frisky attempted to stand up, so Alexander gently lay him on the table. Frisky stood up, arched his back, and began to purr. He rubbed his head against a nearby chair in pure delight. Then he looked straight up at Collier and meowed a soft, high-pitched meow.
“He’s so cute!” Collier exclaimed.
Alexander smiled.
“You finally said something!”
Collier ignored him and scooped the kitten up.
“Why’s he so small?” he asked.
“He’s a kitten. Why else would he be so small?”
“Well, kittens aren’t usually this small.”
“Then he’s a baby kitten.”
Collier was about to point out that a ‘baby kitten’ didn’t make any sense, but he decided against it.
“Why’d you get him?” he asked, instead.
“I found him on the side of the road. He was a lot dirtier. I washed him up nice and clean.” Then he took Frisky back up and walked him over to the box. “You stay in there, little Frisky. I’ll get you back out later.” Then he turned back to Collier. “Time to get to work,” he announced.
“What was the important thing you had to tell me?” Collier asked.
Alexander’s face turned a lighter shade of red.
“Oh. That was the cat. There’s really nothing that much more important.” Then his face lit up again. “I did figure out more on the project, though!”
Collier nodded.
“Let’s see it, then!”
Alexander dug through a large stack of paper, and then pulled out blueprints, which he excitedly began showing to Collier.
He pointed to a basket of lemons scrawled on the graphed paper.
“See? Here are the balloons.”
He showed Collier a sketch of some sort of a stick with half a lemon at the end.
“This is the air pump.”
He traced an arrow that led to a drawing of a cup piled high with lemons.
“So I’ll put the balloons in here, and—“
Then Alexander seemed to notice his drawings for the first time. He lowered them and started scrutinizing them.
“Huh. This is the wrong paper. This is my diagram of how to make lemonade. Why didn’t you tell me, Collier?”
Collier was speechless.
What would I tell him? he thought. That he’s crazy?
But Alexander was already busy looking for the right diagram. Finally, he held it up and proudly handed it to Collier.
Apparently, Alexander was going to use a swimming pool cleaning machine to blow up the millions of balloons.
“It’s a reasonable choice,” Alexander was saying.
“But… how would that work? Do you even know what one of these machines does?”
“Well, I can at least find out, can’t I?” Alexander snapped back. Then he regained his calmness. “It will do as I say.”
“It’s a machine.”
“And I’m Alexander!”
Collier raised his eyebrows.
Alexander picked a piece of kitten fur off his vest.
“Alexander the Great, if you please,” he added. Then, still intrigued with the fur, he said, “Go home.”
“Go…”
“You heard me. Go home. You have a big day tomorrow.”
Knowing better than to argue or question, Collier made his way to the old-fashioned telephone in the corner of the room to call Alexander.
Collier walked through the familiar doors and into the blank room. He started down the staircase and entered the cluttered office.
Alexander was nowhere to be found.
I’ll just wait until he gets here, Collier thought. He sat in a swivel chair and spun around and around.
Then he had an idea. He eyed the chair that Alexander always sat in.
“This is my chair. My chair. Mine, not yours. That means that you can’t sit in it. Understand?” Alexander had once said. He had enforced that rule more than once.
Making sure no one was around, he crept up to the chair.
“Why am I tiptoeing?” he whispered. “Why am I even whispering? There’s no one even around.”
He stood above the blue leather office chair. Then, in one swift motion, he sat down. Air swished out of the seams under him.
“Ha. See that, Alexander? So much for your rules. If you ever find out what I’m doing—“
“I would kill you.”
Collier spun around. Alexander rose out of an empty tin trash can, a slow grin spreading across his face.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Collier, did I scare you?”
Collier didn’t answer.
“Yes, on a regular basis I would probably do something to you. But I plan to share something very important with you today. And, besides, if I did kill you, then there wouldn’t be anyone to carry on my plan, now would there?”
Collier shook his head, but he was thinking about Petra. She would be there. But Alexander wouldn’t know that.
“Anyway, we can’t waste any time. Let’s get on with my plan.” Alexander peered curiously at Collier.
“Haven’t said anything yet today, have you? Cat got your tongue?” Alexander laughed hysterically. Finally, when the humor apparently faded, he was left gasping for air. “Anyways—that was so funny, wasn’t it? Oh, but you wouldn’t know why. The reason why that was funny is because…”
Alexander ran across the room and hovered over a box. He turned around, put a hand up to signal Collier to wait, and then turned back around with his hands cupped.
He ran over to Collier, hands still cupped, with his grin larger than ever. Slowly, he uncapped his hands. In his hands lay a kitten. It had soft, white fur with a bushy tail. It stirred and twisted its head upside down against Alexander’s thumb. It lifted its eyelids and revealed the purest blue eyes.
“His name is Frisky,” Alexander whispered softly.
Frisky attempted to stand up, so Alexander gently lay him on the table. Frisky stood up, arched his back, and began to purr. He rubbed his head against a nearby chair in pure delight. Then he looked straight up at Collier and meowed a soft, high-pitched meow.
“He’s so cute!” Collier exclaimed.
Alexander smiled.
“You finally said something!”
Collier ignored him and scooped the kitten up.
“Why’s he so small?” he asked.
“He’s a kitten. Why else would he be so small?”
“Well, kittens aren’t usually this small.”
“Then he’s a baby kitten.”
Collier was about to point out that a ‘baby kitten’ didn’t make any sense, but he decided against it.
“Why’d you get him?” he asked, instead.
“I found him on the side of the road. He was a lot dirtier. I washed him up nice and clean.” Then he took Frisky back up and walked him over to the box. “You stay in there, little Frisky. I’ll get you back out later.” Then he turned back to Collier. “Time to get to work,” he announced.
“What was the important thing you had to tell me?” Collier asked.
Alexander’s face turned a lighter shade of red.
“Oh. That was the cat. There’s really nothing that much more important.” Then his face lit up again. “I did figure out more on the project, though!”
Collier nodded.
“Let’s see it, then!”
Alexander dug through a large stack of paper, and then pulled out blueprints, which he excitedly began showing to Collier.
He pointed to a basket of lemons scrawled on the graphed paper.
“See? Here are the balloons.”
He showed Collier a sketch of some sort of a stick with half a lemon at the end.
“This is the air pump.”
He traced an arrow that led to a drawing of a cup piled high with lemons.
“So I’ll put the balloons in here, and—“
Then Alexander seemed to notice his drawings for the first time. He lowered them and started scrutinizing them.
“Huh. This is the wrong paper. This is my diagram of how to make lemonade. Why didn’t you tell me, Collier?”
Collier was speechless.
What would I tell him? he thought. That he’s crazy?
But Alexander was already busy looking for the right diagram. Finally, he held it up and proudly handed it to Collier.
Apparently, Alexander was going to use a swimming pool cleaning machine to blow up the millions of balloons.
“It’s a reasonable choice,” Alexander was saying.
“But… how would that work? Do you even know what one of these machines does?”
“Well, I can at least find out, can’t I?” Alexander snapped back. Then he regained his calmness. “It will do as I say.”
“It’s a machine.”
“And I’m Alexander!”
Collier raised his eyebrows.
Alexander picked a piece of kitten fur off his vest.
“Alexander the Great, if you please,” he added. Then, still intrigued with the fur, he said, “Go home.”
“Go…”
“You heard me. Go home. You have a big day tomorrow.”
Knowing better than to argue or question, Collier made his way to the old-fashioned telephone in the corner of the room to call Alexander.
Saving Professor (Part 17)
Collier pushed the glass doors open and rushed into the building.
“Where is she?” he asked Professor, who was trying to catch up.
“She’s still in the doctor’s room. She fell asleep, and hasn’t woken up since.”
Collier started into the hall.
“She isn’t in a coma, is she?”
Professor ran a hand through his hair.
“No,” he finally responded. “I don’t think so.” Then, after a pause, he turned to a door and said, “It’s this room.”
Collier turned around and ran to the door. He knocked Professor’s hand off the knob and twisted it open.
The room was small, and looked just like a doctor’s office. There was a sink with a light teal cabinet. On the wall hung a photograph of a herd of elephants, and the air trailed a light scent of rubber gloves.
Almost immediately after he walked in, Collier stopped in front of the bed. It had a leather covering, the same shade of teal as the cabinet. Over the leather was a sheet of what looked like wax paper, something for the doctor to change every time a new patient came in.
On the bed was Petra, propped up on pillows. Her hand was up near her mouth, and she seemed to be sucking on her forefinger. On her forehead was a band-aid. Other than that, she looked perfectly fine, like she was just in a comfortable sleep.
Collier dropped down next to the bed, and whispered, “Petra.”
Professor rolled his eyes; Collier was taking this way too seriously.
Petra blinked and opened her eyes. Her eyes glanced across the ceiling, confused, before looking down and spotting Collier.
“Hey, Collier. How was Alexander?” she asked.
“How was Alexander? How are you?”
“I’m fine. My forehead doesn’t even hurt that much anymore.” She sat up even higher. “Did I sleep through the night or is it still today?”
“It’s still today,” Professor answered. “Speaking of today, it was Collier’s turn. Tomorrow’s supposed to be your turn. Can you go or do you think you need Collier to go for you?”
Petra looked over at Collier.
“I’ll go for her,” Collier offered.
“Are you sure?” Petra asked thankfully.
“Yeah. I’m sure. It’s fine, really.” Then, with a spreading grin, Collier joked, “But whenever you get better, you’re going twice in a row for me!”
“Sure,” Petra answered, shrugging. “That seems fair enough.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’m hungry. Is it dinnertime?”
With that, Petra jumped off the doctor bed and walked out the door.
As the three sat down for dinner last night, Collier asked Petra what exactly had happened.
“Collier, I already told you what happened,” Professor scolded. “She probably doesn’t even know.”
Collier threw a hopeful glance at Petra.
“Well, actually,” Petra started slowly, “Professor’s right—I don’t even really know what happened.”
Then, after watching Collier’s face fall, she offered, “But I can tell you what I do remember!
“So I got done with my studies with Mr. Murphy—“
“How’d that go?”
“Um… good, I guess. But, anyways, I asked Mrs. Sheralton where Professor was, and she told me he was out back loading stuff away. Then she asked if I was a snack, so she got some lime sorbet—“
“We have lime sorbet?”
“Well… yeah… So anyways she got some for me and put it in a glass cup, and I went out the back door to find him. I watched him for awhile then he asked if I wanted to help, so I said yes. I finished my lime sorbet—“
“I can’t even believe you didn’t tell me we had that!”
“Okay, okay, well now you now! As I was saying, I helped load cardboard into the recycle bin, then when that was done, I was throwing away those long light bulbs when they hit the side and exploded everywhere. One piece landed on my forehead, so that’s how I got a cut.”
“That’s all?”
“Yeah, that’s all. And I had a heat stroke, but I’m over that now.”
“I thought there was more.”
“No. Who told you that?”
Petra’s gaze slid over to Professor, who put his hands up and said, “Hey, I told you, Collier, I told you all that happened.”
Collier, looking disappointed, raised his eyebrows, nodded, and shoved another forkful of green bean casserole into his mouth.
The rest of the table conversation was just small talk. They didn’t mention the ‘accident’ anymore that night.
“Where is she?” he asked Professor, who was trying to catch up.
“She’s still in the doctor’s room. She fell asleep, and hasn’t woken up since.”
Collier started into the hall.
“She isn’t in a coma, is she?”
Professor ran a hand through his hair.
“No,” he finally responded. “I don’t think so.” Then, after a pause, he turned to a door and said, “It’s this room.”
Collier turned around and ran to the door. He knocked Professor’s hand off the knob and twisted it open.
The room was small, and looked just like a doctor’s office. There was a sink with a light teal cabinet. On the wall hung a photograph of a herd of elephants, and the air trailed a light scent of rubber gloves.
Almost immediately after he walked in, Collier stopped in front of the bed. It had a leather covering, the same shade of teal as the cabinet. Over the leather was a sheet of what looked like wax paper, something for the doctor to change every time a new patient came in.
On the bed was Petra, propped up on pillows. Her hand was up near her mouth, and she seemed to be sucking on her forefinger. On her forehead was a band-aid. Other than that, she looked perfectly fine, like she was just in a comfortable sleep.
Collier dropped down next to the bed, and whispered, “Petra.”
Professor rolled his eyes; Collier was taking this way too seriously.
Petra blinked and opened her eyes. Her eyes glanced across the ceiling, confused, before looking down and spotting Collier.
“Hey, Collier. How was Alexander?” she asked.
“How was Alexander? How are you?”
“I’m fine. My forehead doesn’t even hurt that much anymore.” She sat up even higher. “Did I sleep through the night or is it still today?”
“It’s still today,” Professor answered. “Speaking of today, it was Collier’s turn. Tomorrow’s supposed to be your turn. Can you go or do you think you need Collier to go for you?”
Petra looked over at Collier.
“I’ll go for her,” Collier offered.
“Are you sure?” Petra asked thankfully.
“Yeah. I’m sure. It’s fine, really.” Then, with a spreading grin, Collier joked, “But whenever you get better, you’re going twice in a row for me!”
“Sure,” Petra answered, shrugging. “That seems fair enough.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’m hungry. Is it dinnertime?”
With that, Petra jumped off the doctor bed and walked out the door.
As the three sat down for dinner last night, Collier asked Petra what exactly had happened.
“Collier, I already told you what happened,” Professor scolded. “She probably doesn’t even know.”
Collier threw a hopeful glance at Petra.
“Well, actually,” Petra started slowly, “Professor’s right—I don’t even really know what happened.”
Then, after watching Collier’s face fall, she offered, “But I can tell you what I do remember!
“So I got done with my studies with Mr. Murphy—“
“How’d that go?”
“Um… good, I guess. But, anyways, I asked Mrs. Sheralton where Professor was, and she told me he was out back loading stuff away. Then she asked if I was a snack, so she got some lime sorbet—“
“We have lime sorbet?”
“Well… yeah… So anyways she got some for me and put it in a glass cup, and I went out the back door to find him. I watched him for awhile then he asked if I wanted to help, so I said yes. I finished my lime sorbet—“
“I can’t even believe you didn’t tell me we had that!”
“Okay, okay, well now you now! As I was saying, I helped load cardboard into the recycle bin, then when that was done, I was throwing away those long light bulbs when they hit the side and exploded everywhere. One piece landed on my forehead, so that’s how I got a cut.”
“That’s all?”
“Yeah, that’s all. And I had a heat stroke, but I’m over that now.”
“I thought there was more.”
“No. Who told you that?”
Petra’s gaze slid over to Professor, who put his hands up and said, “Hey, I told you, Collier, I told you all that happened.”
Collier, looking disappointed, raised his eyebrows, nodded, and shoved another forkful of green bean casserole into his mouth.
The rest of the table conversation was just small talk. They didn’t mention the ‘accident’ anymore that night.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 16)
After her lessons, Petra ran off to find Professor. She found Mrs. Sheralton at the front desk and asked where Professor was.
“He’s out back sorting junk,” she answered. “Do you need a snack? I have time on my hands, so I’d be more than happy to make something for you.”
“Oh—well, I’d love to, but I really would like to find him.”
“On a hurry?”
“Not really… You know what? Actually, a snack would be nice right now. What do we have?”
“Do you want something like crackers, or some fruit? What kind of a snack are you up to.”
“Is there any chance we have ice cream?” Petra asked, a childish grin spreading across her face.
Mrs. Sheralton rose up from her chair and began walking towards the kitchen.
“Well, Petra, how would you like some lime sorbet? I just got some yesterday. It’s Professor Stein’s favorite.”
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t want it if it’s his.”
“The thing is, he’s on an allergy medicine where he can’t have anything cold.”
“I didn’t know that cold things could affect allergy medicine.”
“Neither did I.”
“So he can’t have ice drinks?”
“No, he can’t.”
Mrs. Sheralton and Petra reached the kitchen. Petra leaned on the polished granite countertop as she watched Mrs. Sheralton take out a tall glass and a long spoon. She counted each of the three scoops of soft green lime sorbet Mrs. Sheralton plopped down into the cup.
Then Mrs. Sheralton took a bottle of ginger ale out of the cupboard.
She noticed the inquisitive look on Petra’s face, so she stopped mid-pour.
“Would you like any ginger ale in your sorbet?”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Sheralton, I’m good.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Sheralton sighed. “Professor Stein likes it that way.”
“Well, I’m really okay with this. Thank you, though!”
Petra took the glass off the counter and followed Mrs. Sheralton out the kitchen door. About halfway down the hall, Mrs. Sheralton pointed to a heavy door and said, “That’s where outside is. Professor Stein’s out there.”
Quickly thanking her, Petra opened the door and stepped out. The bright light of the sun surprised her. She squinted and could barely make out Professor lifting oversized pieces of cardboard into the recycling bin.
When her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw that Professor was walking over to her.
“Petra, are you finished with your studies already?” he asked.
“Yeah, I am. It’s already 3:54.”
Professor checked his watch.
“Yes, you’re right, it is.” He wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. “I’ve been working out here way too long. I need to go inside sometime soon.”
Then he noticed Petra’s lime sorbet.
“That’s my favorite summer treat, you know,” he informed Petra.
“Yeah, I know. Mrs. Sheralton told me.”
“Oh, did she?”
Petra nodded.
“She’s been making snacks for me ever since I began working here. She was originally going to be a hotel restaurant chef, but she probably figured that she’s get a better pay working at the front desk here.”
Petra scooped out the last bit of sorbet. She was planning on getting more the next day. She wouldn’t tell Collier about it. He never enjoyed sweets, after all. But that wasn’t fair. She would tell him.
Only when she looked back up, she noticed that Professor had asked her a question.
“Oh… what? Sorry. I was thinking.”
“I asked if you’d like to help me with this loading.”
“Sure!”
Petra set her glass down on the steps and jumped down onto the asphalt.
“Put your arms out.”
Professor loaded cardboard onto her arms. She dumped it into the recycle bin.
That went on until the tall pile of cardboard had been successfully piled into the bin.
Petra wiped sweat off the back of her neck.
“Are you tired already?” Professor asked.
“No, not really,” Petra replied, holding her arms back out.
“Here’s something you’ll need to be more careful with. These are burnt out light bulbs, the kind that go in the tile ceiling. You’ll need to be very careful throwing them away, because—“
But Petra obviously hadn’t listened enough, because as soon as the lights struck the top of the trash can, they shattered and flew in all different directions.
Standing there, shocked, Petra could only stare ahead at the forest green paint peeling off of the garbage bin. Her heart pounded as she wondered what Professor may do.
She heard his voice behind her.
“Petra. Petra, it’s okay. You’re lucky we’re outside. This happens all the time. That’s why I was warning you—oh, no. Petra, there’s a cut on your forehead… Wait. Stay there. Don’t move.”
Petra stared, horrified, at the green paint. She stared harder and harder. Her vision swam, and a deep red mixed into the green—
She shut her eyes.
“Professor.” Her voice was hoarse. She cleared her throat. “Professor. I think there’s blood getting into my eye.”
“No, Petra, there’s not. You’re just imagining that. You were probably staring too hard at that green color. Now don’t move. I’m trying to get this glass out of your forehead.”
In the blackness, Petra stood still. She didn’t really know why, but she wasn’t ready to open her eyes up again.
I’ll just keep my eyes closed until I’m calm, she thought.
Suddenly, a sharp pain blasted through her head, starting from right above her left eyebrow.
“There, I got it out,” Professor mumbled from behind her. “Okay, Petra, I’m going to need you to open your eyes. Put your hand right here to block the blood from coming through.” He took Petra’s hand and placed her finger over the cut.
Petra slowly opened her eyes.
“Come back with me,” Professor commanded.
Petra trailed behind Professor. When the door opened, the swish of air conditioned air felt good, but turned cold as soon as it touched her sweat.
Black fuzziness crept in from the corners of her vision.
Professor stopped her in the hall.
“Stay here, Petra,” he commanded.
She sank to the ground, keeping her hand over her eyebrow.
Grey pinpricks began making their way into her vision.
Soon enough, an unfamiliar voice asked, “When did this happen? Just recently?”
Then Professor’s voice answered, “Yes, just about three minutes ago.”
A door closed, and then the unfamiliar voice spoke again.
“Petra, let’s go. Come on, get up.”
Petra felt strong arms lift her up and carry her. She would usually have been embarrassed to still have someone carry her, but she was so dizzy that she didn’t really mind it. She could hear whoever it was huffing and puffing as they reached their destination.
She felt herself being lowered onto a soft bed.
“Take your hand off the cut, Petra,” the voice ordered.
She slid her hand off her head.
“I’ve seen worse,” was the only comment Petra heard.
Her eyes adjusted to the light and she could see the doctor. He was a middle-aged man with short brown hair, and he wasn’t exactly what you would call “in shape.”
He opened a cabinet and took out a piece of cotton and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. He talked to Professor as he squirted alcohol onto the cotton ball.
“How’d she get the cut?”
“One of those long light bulbs exploded and hit her.”
The doctor nodded.
“That’s happened before.”
Then he turned around and began to rub the cotton ball onto Petra’s forehead. A sharp pain spread around the area, but she was too tired to react with much more than a jolt. Then the pain went away as the doctor rubbed on a yellowish ointment and placed a band-aid over it.
“You’re good to go, Petra. Come back to me tomorrow afternoon so I can change your bandage.”
Petra raised her head in an effort to nod, but her head fell back and the blackness returned.
“Is she okay?” she heard Professor ask.
“Well, how long was she out there?” A hint of worry showed through the doctor’s voice.
“About twenty minutes. It wasn’t that long, but it’s really hot outside today.”
“Did she have a drink before or during that time?”
“I really don’t know. She was eating a lime sorbet when she came out.”
There was a pause. Petra felt a shadow come over her, as if the doctor was leaning over to get a better look at her.
“I think she had a heat stroke,” he said. “You’d better get her some water.”
The door opened and closed. Petra kept her eyes closed as the doctor situated her back against pillows so that she was sitting up.
“Petra, you’ll have to open your eyes to drink water,” the doctor ordered in a low whisper. “Just for a second. You only need to get hydrated again.”
Then the door opened again and Professor walked in with a cup of water. Petra opened her eyes and took the cup. She lifted it to her lips. It was freezing cold. Because she was covered in tight blankets, the cool liquid was welcome. When she was done, she sucked on an ice cube.
After the ice cube melted, she closed her eyes again and fell asleep.
“He’s out back sorting junk,” she answered. “Do you need a snack? I have time on my hands, so I’d be more than happy to make something for you.”
“Oh—well, I’d love to, but I really would like to find him.”
“On a hurry?”
“Not really… You know what? Actually, a snack would be nice right now. What do we have?”
“Do you want something like crackers, or some fruit? What kind of a snack are you up to.”
“Is there any chance we have ice cream?” Petra asked, a childish grin spreading across her face.
Mrs. Sheralton rose up from her chair and began walking towards the kitchen.
“Well, Petra, how would you like some lime sorbet? I just got some yesterday. It’s Professor Stein’s favorite.”
“Oh, well, I wouldn’t want it if it’s his.”
“The thing is, he’s on an allergy medicine where he can’t have anything cold.”
“I didn’t know that cold things could affect allergy medicine.”
“Neither did I.”
“So he can’t have ice drinks?”
“No, he can’t.”
Mrs. Sheralton and Petra reached the kitchen. Petra leaned on the polished granite countertop as she watched Mrs. Sheralton take out a tall glass and a long spoon. She counted each of the three scoops of soft green lime sorbet Mrs. Sheralton plopped down into the cup.
Then Mrs. Sheralton took a bottle of ginger ale out of the cupboard.
She noticed the inquisitive look on Petra’s face, so she stopped mid-pour.
“Would you like any ginger ale in your sorbet?”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Sheralton, I’m good.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Sheralton sighed. “Professor Stein likes it that way.”
“Well, I’m really okay with this. Thank you, though!”
Petra took the glass off the counter and followed Mrs. Sheralton out the kitchen door. About halfway down the hall, Mrs. Sheralton pointed to a heavy door and said, “That’s where outside is. Professor Stein’s out there.”
Quickly thanking her, Petra opened the door and stepped out. The bright light of the sun surprised her. She squinted and could barely make out Professor lifting oversized pieces of cardboard into the recycling bin.
When her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw that Professor was walking over to her.
“Petra, are you finished with your studies already?” he asked.
“Yeah, I am. It’s already 3:54.”
Professor checked his watch.
“Yes, you’re right, it is.” He wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. “I’ve been working out here way too long. I need to go inside sometime soon.”
Then he noticed Petra’s lime sorbet.
“That’s my favorite summer treat, you know,” he informed Petra.
“Yeah, I know. Mrs. Sheralton told me.”
“Oh, did she?”
Petra nodded.
“She’s been making snacks for me ever since I began working here. She was originally going to be a hotel restaurant chef, but she probably figured that she’s get a better pay working at the front desk here.”
Petra scooped out the last bit of sorbet. She was planning on getting more the next day. She wouldn’t tell Collier about it. He never enjoyed sweets, after all. But that wasn’t fair. She would tell him.
Only when she looked back up, she noticed that Professor had asked her a question.
“Oh… what? Sorry. I was thinking.”
“I asked if you’d like to help me with this loading.”
“Sure!”
Petra set her glass down on the steps and jumped down onto the asphalt.
“Put your arms out.”
Professor loaded cardboard onto her arms. She dumped it into the recycle bin.
That went on until the tall pile of cardboard had been successfully piled into the bin.
Petra wiped sweat off the back of her neck.
“Are you tired already?” Professor asked.
“No, not really,” Petra replied, holding her arms back out.
“Here’s something you’ll need to be more careful with. These are burnt out light bulbs, the kind that go in the tile ceiling. You’ll need to be very careful throwing them away, because—“
But Petra obviously hadn’t listened enough, because as soon as the lights struck the top of the trash can, they shattered and flew in all different directions.
Standing there, shocked, Petra could only stare ahead at the forest green paint peeling off of the garbage bin. Her heart pounded as she wondered what Professor may do.
She heard his voice behind her.
“Petra. Petra, it’s okay. You’re lucky we’re outside. This happens all the time. That’s why I was warning you—oh, no. Petra, there’s a cut on your forehead… Wait. Stay there. Don’t move.”
Petra stared, horrified, at the green paint. She stared harder and harder. Her vision swam, and a deep red mixed into the green—
She shut her eyes.
“Professor.” Her voice was hoarse. She cleared her throat. “Professor. I think there’s blood getting into my eye.”
“No, Petra, there’s not. You’re just imagining that. You were probably staring too hard at that green color. Now don’t move. I’m trying to get this glass out of your forehead.”
In the blackness, Petra stood still. She didn’t really know why, but she wasn’t ready to open her eyes up again.
I’ll just keep my eyes closed until I’m calm, she thought.
Suddenly, a sharp pain blasted through her head, starting from right above her left eyebrow.
“There, I got it out,” Professor mumbled from behind her. “Okay, Petra, I’m going to need you to open your eyes. Put your hand right here to block the blood from coming through.” He took Petra’s hand and placed her finger over the cut.
Petra slowly opened her eyes.
“Come back with me,” Professor commanded.
Petra trailed behind Professor. When the door opened, the swish of air conditioned air felt good, but turned cold as soon as it touched her sweat.
Black fuzziness crept in from the corners of her vision.
Professor stopped her in the hall.
“Stay here, Petra,” he commanded.
She sank to the ground, keeping her hand over her eyebrow.
Grey pinpricks began making their way into her vision.
Soon enough, an unfamiliar voice asked, “When did this happen? Just recently?”
Then Professor’s voice answered, “Yes, just about three minutes ago.”
A door closed, and then the unfamiliar voice spoke again.
“Petra, let’s go. Come on, get up.”
Petra felt strong arms lift her up and carry her. She would usually have been embarrassed to still have someone carry her, but she was so dizzy that she didn’t really mind it. She could hear whoever it was huffing and puffing as they reached their destination.
She felt herself being lowered onto a soft bed.
“Take your hand off the cut, Petra,” the voice ordered.
She slid her hand off her head.
“I’ve seen worse,” was the only comment Petra heard.
Her eyes adjusted to the light and she could see the doctor. He was a middle-aged man with short brown hair, and he wasn’t exactly what you would call “in shape.”
He opened a cabinet and took out a piece of cotton and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. He talked to Professor as he squirted alcohol onto the cotton ball.
“How’d she get the cut?”
“One of those long light bulbs exploded and hit her.”
The doctor nodded.
“That’s happened before.”
Then he turned around and began to rub the cotton ball onto Petra’s forehead. A sharp pain spread around the area, but she was too tired to react with much more than a jolt. Then the pain went away as the doctor rubbed on a yellowish ointment and placed a band-aid over it.
“You’re good to go, Petra. Come back to me tomorrow afternoon so I can change your bandage.”
Petra raised her head in an effort to nod, but her head fell back and the blackness returned.
“Is she okay?” she heard Professor ask.
“Well, how long was she out there?” A hint of worry showed through the doctor’s voice.
“About twenty minutes. It wasn’t that long, but it’s really hot outside today.”
“Did she have a drink before or during that time?”
“I really don’t know. She was eating a lime sorbet when she came out.”
There was a pause. Petra felt a shadow come over her, as if the doctor was leaning over to get a better look at her.
“I think she had a heat stroke,” he said. “You’d better get her some water.”
The door opened and closed. Petra kept her eyes closed as the doctor situated her back against pillows so that she was sitting up.
“Petra, you’ll have to open your eyes to drink water,” the doctor ordered in a low whisper. “Just for a second. You only need to get hydrated again.”
Then the door opened again and Professor walked in with a cup of water. Petra opened her eyes and took the cup. She lifted it to her lips. It was freezing cold. Because she was covered in tight blankets, the cool liquid was welcome. When she was done, she sucked on an ice cube.
After the ice cube melted, she closed her eyes again and fell asleep.
Saving Professor (Part 15)
Petra came back that night tired and annoyed.
“That Alexander guy is so weird!” she exclaimed, slumping into the couch. “So weird!”
“Yeah,” Collier replied. “Just have to get used to it.”
“What do you know? You’ve only been there one time.”
“Well, I had to get used to it. You know, Petra, we’re going to have to act the same. We’re pretty close already, but we’ll have to be like the same person.”
“Do you seriously think that Alexander guy’s going to notice?”
Professor walked into the room.
“Petra, you need to stop referring to him as ‘that Alexander guy.’ He was a very highly acclaimed student back at the boarding school, and you should respect him.” Professor glanced at Collier over his glasses. “You, too, Collier. You both have to respect him.”
Petra looked at Collier and sighed. Her mind was still stuck on having to act the same way as him.
“Well, anyways, it’s time for dinner,” Professor announced, before walking out of the room.
“Do I have to go? I’m really tired,” Petra whined to Collier.
“Petra. You know that dinnertime is the only time we have together.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like Professor’s our dad. He’s acting like he is.”
“Well, technically, he’s our guardian. For now. He got the papers signed today.”
Petra sat upright.
“What? So now he’s our dad?”
“No, I said he’s our guardian. He didn’t adopt us!”
“Why don’t I ever know any of this stuff?”
Collier shrugged.
“I didn’t know, either, until today. Hey, you know what’s weird?”
“Alexander?”
“Petra! No! Well… yes, Alexander is weird, but that’s not what I was going to say.”
“Okay, then what?”
“Professor has kids.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Kids.”
“How would you know?”
“I saw one today. He came to the office.”
“Again, another thing I don’t know!”
“Calm down, I only found out today, too!”
“Big day for us, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Hey, Petra, let’s go get some dinner. I bet Professor’s waiting.”
“Even you’re talking about him like he’s our dad,” Petra grumbled. Even so, she followed him out.
Early the next morning, Petra woke up long after Collier had left. In fact, she had woken up so late that she found Mr. Murphy standing at the door.
Jumping out of bed, she quickly began to apologize.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Murphy, I was staying up late reading last night, and I lost track of time and I fell asleep way too late, and I didn’t notice Collier leave this morning and—“
“It’s fine, Petra, really. I got here early. We actually start in fifteen minutes.” Then, with a hopeful look, he suggested, “Or we could start now.”
Petra could see his excitement, so she shrugged.
“Sure. Will do.”
“Which subject first? History?”
“Whatever you like.”
“You know, it really doesn’t matter. What do you want to do first?”
“I don’t know, but you seem to want to do History—“
“Oh, no, no, no, it’s okay if you want to do something else!”
“No! Seriously, Mr. Murphy, we can start with History.”
Mr. Murphy grinned.
“Okay!”
Petra pulled out her history book and flipped to the page where they left off. She took her white satin ribbon bookmark out of the book and began to stroke it.
As Mr. Murphy went off in a detailed description about the Battle of Bunker Hill, Petra compared him with Asher Alexander.
They were both kind of strange, but they looked nothing alike. They both had an extreme passion for what they did, but they showed it in different ways.
There were a lot of things in common about Alexander and Mr. Murphy, but for some reason, Petra just liked Mr. Murphy a lot better.
“That Alexander guy is so weird!” she exclaimed, slumping into the couch. “So weird!”
“Yeah,” Collier replied. “Just have to get used to it.”
“What do you know? You’ve only been there one time.”
“Well, I had to get used to it. You know, Petra, we’re going to have to act the same. We’re pretty close already, but we’ll have to be like the same person.”
“Do you seriously think that Alexander guy’s going to notice?”
Professor walked into the room.
“Petra, you need to stop referring to him as ‘that Alexander guy.’ He was a very highly acclaimed student back at the boarding school, and you should respect him.” Professor glanced at Collier over his glasses. “You, too, Collier. You both have to respect him.”
Petra looked at Collier and sighed. Her mind was still stuck on having to act the same way as him.
“Well, anyways, it’s time for dinner,” Professor announced, before walking out of the room.
“Do I have to go? I’m really tired,” Petra whined to Collier.
“Petra. You know that dinnertime is the only time we have together.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like Professor’s our dad. He’s acting like he is.”
“Well, technically, he’s our guardian. For now. He got the papers signed today.”
Petra sat upright.
“What? So now he’s our dad?”
“No, I said he’s our guardian. He didn’t adopt us!”
“Why don’t I ever know any of this stuff?”
Collier shrugged.
“I didn’t know, either, until today. Hey, you know what’s weird?”
“Alexander?”
“Petra! No! Well… yes, Alexander is weird, but that’s not what I was going to say.”
“Okay, then what?”
“Professor has kids.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Kids.”
“How would you know?”
“I saw one today. He came to the office.”
“Again, another thing I don’t know!”
“Calm down, I only found out today, too!”
“Big day for us, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Hey, Petra, let’s go get some dinner. I bet Professor’s waiting.”
“Even you’re talking about him like he’s our dad,” Petra grumbled. Even so, she followed him out.
Early the next morning, Petra woke up long after Collier had left. In fact, she had woken up so late that she found Mr. Murphy standing at the door.
Jumping out of bed, she quickly began to apologize.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Murphy, I was staying up late reading last night, and I lost track of time and I fell asleep way too late, and I didn’t notice Collier leave this morning and—“
“It’s fine, Petra, really. I got here early. We actually start in fifteen minutes.” Then, with a hopeful look, he suggested, “Or we could start now.”
Petra could see his excitement, so she shrugged.
“Sure. Will do.”
“Which subject first? History?”
“Whatever you like.”
“You know, it really doesn’t matter. What do you want to do first?”
“I don’t know, but you seem to want to do History—“
“Oh, no, no, no, it’s okay if you want to do something else!”
“No! Seriously, Mr. Murphy, we can start with History.”
Mr. Murphy grinned.
“Okay!”
Petra pulled out her history book and flipped to the page where they left off. She took her white satin ribbon bookmark out of the book and began to stroke it.
As Mr. Murphy went off in a detailed description about the Battle of Bunker Hill, Petra compared him with Asher Alexander.
They were both kind of strange, but they looked nothing alike. They both had an extreme passion for what they did, but they showed it in different ways.
There were a lot of things in common about Alexander and Mr. Murphy, but for some reason, Petra just liked Mr. Murphy a lot better.
New Story Idea
I'm really sorry I haven't posted in a really long time... I haven't had the time to type up more of Saving Professor. I think I know what's going to happen next... I'll try to get that up tonight.
Anyway, I have an idea for a new story.
It'll be called either 'Rescuing Mr. Conrad' or 'Mr. Conrad is Back!' The first one sounds too much like 'Saving Professor,' but I probably will rename 'Saving Professor' sometime else when I finish the story and know what it'll be all about.
Anyway, 'Mr. Conrad is Back!' (I'll just call it that for now) will be about an Algebra II teacher at Rocky Coast High. He is a very eccentric teacher who dresses in wacky clothes every day. His classroom is nowhere near ordinary. Even so, he is a very good teacher. One day, he sang and danced randomly in class, and a student suggested jokingly that he should go on 'iHave Talent', a TV program showcasing talents. Mr. Conrad takes this offer very seriously and auditions for the show on live TV with a whimsical, disastrous dance in which he accidentally pulled down the thousand-dollar curtain and caused the lights to crash onto the stage. Back at the school, Mr. Conrad is called into a meeting with the entire school board, where they discuss his television antics. They tell him that it was a close call, but he would be able to still keep his job, only as long as he promises not to do it again. A couple of days later, Mr. Conrad is informed that his performance was the highest rated, bringing the most laughs out of the audience. He is asked if he wants to continue on the show. Mr. Conrad knows that he promised not to, but he decides to risk losing his job and go disguised as an Italian comedian with a thick accent. He makes it to the second round, but not without being unnoticed againt by the school board. Once he gets back to school, he finds that his job has been given to someone else and he is fired. This news upsets many students who loved him and described him as their favorite teacher. Allison McLeery and Jessica Keist team up with the new kid, Trevor "Blue" Calypso, to get Mr. Conrad back to Rocky Coast High.
Anyway, I have an idea for a new story.
It'll be called either 'Rescuing Mr. Conrad' or 'Mr. Conrad is Back!' The first one sounds too much like 'Saving Professor,' but I probably will rename 'Saving Professor' sometime else when I finish the story and know what it'll be all about.
Anyway, 'Mr. Conrad is Back!' (I'll just call it that for now) will be about an Algebra II teacher at Rocky Coast High. He is a very eccentric teacher who dresses in wacky clothes every day. His classroom is nowhere near ordinary. Even so, he is a very good teacher. One day, he sang and danced randomly in class, and a student suggested jokingly that he should go on 'iHave Talent', a TV program showcasing talents. Mr. Conrad takes this offer very seriously and auditions for the show on live TV with a whimsical, disastrous dance in which he accidentally pulled down the thousand-dollar curtain and caused the lights to crash onto the stage. Back at the school, Mr. Conrad is called into a meeting with the entire school board, where they discuss his television antics. They tell him that it was a close call, but he would be able to still keep his job, only as long as he promises not to do it again. A couple of days later, Mr. Conrad is informed that his performance was the highest rated, bringing the most laughs out of the audience. He is asked if he wants to continue on the show. Mr. Conrad knows that he promised not to, but he decides to risk losing his job and go disguised as an Italian comedian with a thick accent. He makes it to the second round, but not without being unnoticed againt by the school board. Once he gets back to school, he finds that his job has been given to someone else and he is fired. This news upsets many students who loved him and described him as their favorite teacher. Allison McLeery and Jessica Keist team up with the new kid, Trevor "Blue" Calypso, to get Mr. Conrad back to Rocky Coast High.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
New Script Idea
I have a new idea for a script.
There's a little boy and girl, brother/sisters, who, when they were young, were taken away from their teen parents. They were put into their grandparent's care, but after six months were put back with their parents.
About twelve years pass, and they have no memory of this.
On a visit to their grandparent's house, their grandparents feel that it is time to tell them the truth. They show the kids videos of themselves from twelve years ago, and they get angry at their grandparents, blaming them for leaving them in such a horrible household.
After listening patiently to their grandkids yell, the grandparents finally tell them that it's not the way it happened... and tell the kids the real truth.
Right then, in that moment of silence, the parents call and tell them that they won't be coming to pick up the kids.
I don't really know how the end will work out... I don't really know how any of this story is going to work out. It'll just be a dramatic one-act play. I think great ideas will come to me...
There's a little boy and girl, brother/sisters, who, when they were young, were taken away from their teen parents. They were put into their grandparent's care, but after six months were put back with their parents.
About twelve years pass, and they have no memory of this.
On a visit to their grandparent's house, their grandparents feel that it is time to tell them the truth. They show the kids videos of themselves from twelve years ago, and they get angry at their grandparents, blaming them for leaving them in such a horrible household.
After listening patiently to their grandkids yell, the grandparents finally tell them that it's not the way it happened... and tell the kids the real truth.
Right then, in that moment of silence, the parents call and tell them that they won't be coming to pick up the kids.
I don't really know how the end will work out... I don't really know how any of this story is going to work out. It'll just be a dramatic one-act play. I think great ideas will come to me...
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 14)
Petra woke up early in the morning. She rolled over to look at the clock.
4:26 am.
She sighed and stared into the blackness.
She hadn’t been able to sleep; the thought of visiting Asher Alexander for the first time was nagging on her mind.
It was like the night before her first day at school.
In her picture albums at home she had found a picture of her standing in her boarding school uniform, with tears streaming down her cheeks and her eyes smudged with red.
She had only been going to kindergarten then.
That was different than what she was going to face now.
Petra turned over and stared up at the ceiling.
If she could go back to herself right before she started kindergarten, she would have told herself that there wasn’t anything to worry about, that she would love boarding school more than anything.
Then, a thought came to Petra. It was like her own voice from the future.
“Don’t be scared. There’s nothing to worry about.”
This thought assured Petra. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
“Petra! You’re still asleep? I’ve already told you to get up three times! Now you only have ten minutes to get ready!” Professor stood in the doorway, already dressed and ready to go.
Petra sprung out of bed and immediately stumbled over Collier.
Collier moaned and grumbled as Petra regained balance and skittered out the room. She closed herself in the bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face in record time.
She threw on a blue polo khaki shorts, then flew back out the door and found Professor waiting.
“Let’s go,” he said. They rushed outside and jumped into the truck.
As he drove, Professor asked Petra, “Are you ready?”
Petra licked her lips. Was she? She shrugged.
“It’s fine. You’ll do great. Did you say bye to Collier?”
“Oh… no. I stumbled over him, though. But that’s not quite the same.”
“No, it’s not.”
The rest of the ride was in silence.
When they finally reached the office, Petra trailed behind Professor.
He threw open the front door, and she slid in behind him just as the door was beginning to swing shut. She gazed around the bland room. There was nothing in it at all. Gray concrete stared up at her from below her feet. The walls were an old cream hue, and a hint of a sawdust scent trailed around the room.
“Ah. Professor Stein. Collier. Welcome.”
Petra snapped around just in time to see a man coming out of a hole in the ground. His frazzled hair was a tone lighter than his sun-tanned skin. He was an unusual sight. Nevertheless, he was the average man.
When he reached the top run of the ladder he had been climbing up, he grunted and heaved himself up all the way. Then he walked straight towards Petra. She took a step back.
“Collier. You’re back. Ready for more work? You do remember what I taught you yesterday, don’t you?”
Petra nodded. She was safe—Collier had told her everything Alexander had said.
Alexander motioned with his hand for Petra to follow him. He brushed past Professor, without even giving him a second glance.
Before she started descending on the ladder, she took a look back at Professor and gave him a tight smile and a tiny wave.
Then she disappeared into the ground after Alexander.
4:26 am.
She sighed and stared into the blackness.
She hadn’t been able to sleep; the thought of visiting Asher Alexander for the first time was nagging on her mind.
It was like the night before her first day at school.
In her picture albums at home she had found a picture of her standing in her boarding school uniform, with tears streaming down her cheeks and her eyes smudged with red.
She had only been going to kindergarten then.
That was different than what she was going to face now.
Petra turned over and stared up at the ceiling.
If she could go back to herself right before she started kindergarten, she would have told herself that there wasn’t anything to worry about, that she would love boarding school more than anything.
Then, a thought came to Petra. It was like her own voice from the future.
“Don’t be scared. There’s nothing to worry about.”
This thought assured Petra. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
“Petra! You’re still asleep? I’ve already told you to get up three times! Now you only have ten minutes to get ready!” Professor stood in the doorway, already dressed and ready to go.
Petra sprung out of bed and immediately stumbled over Collier.
Collier moaned and grumbled as Petra regained balance and skittered out the room. She closed herself in the bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face in record time.
She threw on a blue polo khaki shorts, then flew back out the door and found Professor waiting.
“Let’s go,” he said. They rushed outside and jumped into the truck.
As he drove, Professor asked Petra, “Are you ready?”
Petra licked her lips. Was she? She shrugged.
“It’s fine. You’ll do great. Did you say bye to Collier?”
“Oh… no. I stumbled over him, though. But that’s not quite the same.”
“No, it’s not.”
The rest of the ride was in silence.
When they finally reached the office, Petra trailed behind Professor.
He threw open the front door, and she slid in behind him just as the door was beginning to swing shut. She gazed around the bland room. There was nothing in it at all. Gray concrete stared up at her from below her feet. The walls were an old cream hue, and a hint of a sawdust scent trailed around the room.
“Ah. Professor Stein. Collier. Welcome.”
Petra snapped around just in time to see a man coming out of a hole in the ground. His frazzled hair was a tone lighter than his sun-tanned skin. He was an unusual sight. Nevertheless, he was the average man.
When he reached the top run of the ladder he had been climbing up, he grunted and heaved himself up all the way. Then he walked straight towards Petra. She took a step back.
“Collier. You’re back. Ready for more work? You do remember what I taught you yesterday, don’t you?”
Petra nodded. She was safe—Collier had told her everything Alexander had said.
Alexander motioned with his hand for Petra to follow him. He brushed past Professor, without even giving him a second glance.
Before she started descending on the ladder, she took a look back at Professor and gave him a tight smile and a tiny wave.
Then she disappeared into the ground after Alexander.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 13)
“Hey, hey, Petra.”
Petra spun around at the sound of her brother’s voice.
“Oh. Hey, Collier. How was Asher Alexander?”
“He was okay. He’s kinda…”
“What?”
“He’s sort of… weird.”
“Like how?”
“I don’t know, really. He’s overly dramatic and thinks too highly of himself.”
“Fun stuff.”
“You know, you’re going to go there tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Collier sat on the couch. Petra sat beside him.
“How was Mr. Murphy?” Collier asked.
“He was awesome. We got through a lot today! I can’t believe how much I learned! And it only took a few hours.”
“Lucky. Alexander took forever. Oh, yeah, another thing—call him Alexander, not Asher or not Mr. Alexander. He went into great detail telling me why.”
“Why shouldn’t I call him Asher or Mr. Alexander?”
“Don’t even get me started. Well, now that I think about it, I can’t really remember it, anyway.”
“What else should I know?”
Collier told Petra everything that he had learned that day. Then Petra told him about her adventure in Professor’s office.
As soon as Petra had finished telling the story, Professor walked in.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Professor,” Petra apologized. “Were you waiting outside?”
“It’s fine, it wasn’t that big a deal. I decided that you two needed time with each other. It’s been a long day.”
“Is there anything you need to tell us?”
“Nothing much. Dinner’s ready.”
Collier and Petra followed Professor down the hall and into a meeting room on the right. It had been set up like it was a dinner room. There was a platter or roast beef and potatoes in the middle of a table, and three plates set up.
As they sat down, Petra asked, “Professor, why don’t people come through this hall anymore?”
“I haven’t told you yet?”
The twins shook their heads.
“This is now off limits to the regular staff. All the rooms are now reserved for you two. Someone’s setting up a study where you will meet with Mr. Murphy. You also have the bathroom across the hall. We have this room for eating in. The next room over is a pantry with a refrigerator. You can have anything in there, as long as you don’t eat too much.”
Petra knew what was in the freezer. She had gone snooping in there before.
“So even the ice cream?” she asked, trying to be casual. She didn’t want him to know that she’s already been there.
“Yes, the ice cream,” Professor answered, his eyes halfway between narrowing and smiling. “But the ice cream you can only have every other day.”
“Then what are we supposed to have the other days?” Collier asked after quickly swallowing a mouthful of potatoes. “Kids run on dessert, you know.”
Professor laughed.
“Yes, I know, I know. That is why we have the fruits.”
“Come on. Fruits?”
“Fruits are a surprisingly satisfying dessert. Especially with whipped cream.”
“Hey, well, you never said anything about whipped cream before! That’s awesome!”
“Now just because I am giving you permission to eat what you like doesn’t mean that you can eat anything. Your dinner will be what Mrs. Sheralton makes and your breakfast needs to be breakfast food. And before you ask, Collier, no, whipped cream is not included.”
“What if I want eggs? Can I have that?” Petra asked. “Who would make them for me?”
“Mrs. Sheralton is a great chef. She’s the lady at the front desk. You may ask her to make breakfast for you ask long as she is not on the phone. You should learn how to cook your own food, anyway. She should be able to teach you how.”
Petra smiled. She already knew how to. She had tried out the stove while snooping around. She had successfully created an omelet. Well, her attempt was at least almost successful, with the exception of a burned pan and a spatula that was now half melted.
Petra spun around at the sound of her brother’s voice.
“Oh. Hey, Collier. How was Asher Alexander?”
“He was okay. He’s kinda…”
“What?”
“He’s sort of… weird.”
“Like how?”
“I don’t know, really. He’s overly dramatic and thinks too highly of himself.”
“Fun stuff.”
“You know, you’re going to go there tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Collier sat on the couch. Petra sat beside him.
“How was Mr. Murphy?” Collier asked.
“He was awesome. We got through a lot today! I can’t believe how much I learned! And it only took a few hours.”
“Lucky. Alexander took forever. Oh, yeah, another thing—call him Alexander, not Asher or not Mr. Alexander. He went into great detail telling me why.”
“Why shouldn’t I call him Asher or Mr. Alexander?”
“Don’t even get me started. Well, now that I think about it, I can’t really remember it, anyway.”
“What else should I know?”
Collier told Petra everything that he had learned that day. Then Petra told him about her adventure in Professor’s office.
As soon as Petra had finished telling the story, Professor walked in.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Professor,” Petra apologized. “Were you waiting outside?”
“It’s fine, it wasn’t that big a deal. I decided that you two needed time with each other. It’s been a long day.”
“Is there anything you need to tell us?”
“Nothing much. Dinner’s ready.”
Collier and Petra followed Professor down the hall and into a meeting room on the right. It had been set up like it was a dinner room. There was a platter or roast beef and potatoes in the middle of a table, and three plates set up.
As they sat down, Petra asked, “Professor, why don’t people come through this hall anymore?”
“I haven’t told you yet?”
The twins shook their heads.
“This is now off limits to the regular staff. All the rooms are now reserved for you two. Someone’s setting up a study where you will meet with Mr. Murphy. You also have the bathroom across the hall. We have this room for eating in. The next room over is a pantry with a refrigerator. You can have anything in there, as long as you don’t eat too much.”
Petra knew what was in the freezer. She had gone snooping in there before.
“So even the ice cream?” she asked, trying to be casual. She didn’t want him to know that she’s already been there.
“Yes, the ice cream,” Professor answered, his eyes halfway between narrowing and smiling. “But the ice cream you can only have every other day.”
“Then what are we supposed to have the other days?” Collier asked after quickly swallowing a mouthful of potatoes. “Kids run on dessert, you know.”
Professor laughed.
“Yes, I know, I know. That is why we have the fruits.”
“Come on. Fruits?”
“Fruits are a surprisingly satisfying dessert. Especially with whipped cream.”
“Hey, well, you never said anything about whipped cream before! That’s awesome!”
“Now just because I am giving you permission to eat what you like doesn’t mean that you can eat anything. Your dinner will be what Mrs. Sheralton makes and your breakfast needs to be breakfast food. And before you ask, Collier, no, whipped cream is not included.”
“What if I want eggs? Can I have that?” Petra asked. “Who would make them for me?”
“Mrs. Sheralton is a great chef. She’s the lady at the front desk. You may ask her to make breakfast for you ask long as she is not on the phone. You should learn how to cook your own food, anyway. She should be able to teach you how.”
Petra smiled. She already knew how to. She had tried out the stove while snooping around. She had successfully created an omelet. Well, her attempt was at least almost successful, with the exception of a burned pan and a spatula that was now half melted.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Extra!
I'm making a little change to my blog-- after I post part of 'Saving Professor' I'll post a little post about why I wrote that part. I may or may not do it after every addition to the story. It really depends on how I thought up that part. These little posts about the story will all be called 'Extra!'
'Saving Professor (Part 12)'
At the beginning of this section, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to make with it. I decided to put Petra in the only other place she could have gone-- in Professor's office.
I decided that she should find something there. I made her find the ad, but that didn't seem like enough, so I decided to have the man from the beginning come in and be a problem!
And a weird thing while I was writing-- when I had the word 'ad' in the middle of a sentence, Word didn't mark it with a red line. But when I had it at the end of the sentence, it marked it. I thought it was kinda strange.
So there ya go, your first 'Extra!'
'Saving Professor (Part 12)'
At the beginning of this section, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to make with it. I decided to put Petra in the only other place she could have gone-- in Professor's office.
I decided that she should find something there. I made her find the ad, but that didn't seem like enough, so I decided to have the man from the beginning come in and be a problem!
And a weird thing while I was writing-- when I had the word 'ad' in the middle of a sentence, Word didn't mark it with a red line. But when I had it at the end of the sentence, it marked it. I thought it was kinda strange.
So there ya go, your first 'Extra!'
Saving Professor (Part 12)
Back at the office, Petra had finished her work so fast that she finished the next day’s history assignments and Mr. Murphy had gone home three hours early.
Now that he was gone, she had nothing to do.
She tried reading the books on the shelves, but they were boring.
She then decided to explore the building again. Once she got to the elevator, she pressed the ‘close’ button twice, and the elevator shot her back up to Professor’s office.
He had given Petra and Collier permission to go there whenever they wanted, because they had been bright enough to find it on their own.
Petra wondered where she would be if they hadn’t found his office.
She knocked in his door; he didn’t open it. She peeked through the small window. A small lamp on his desk was shining a warm, glowing light. She slowly opened the door and stepped in.
Professor was nowhere to be seen. Then she remembered that he was teaching at the Boarding School.
Petra wandered over to his mini refrigerator and retrieved her grape juice bottle that she had left there on her last visit. Then she slumped down on a chair and pulled the footrest up. She selected a magazine from the coffee table.
It was titled ‘AAW—Agents Around the World.’
Petra took a sip out of the bottle and flipped to the middle of the magazine.
It was a page full of ads. She skimmed over them, uninterested. But one caught her eye— “Young child needed for special training. Must be from eight to twelve years old. Boy or girl. Contact Asher Alexander.”
Petra thought it was interesting that Alexander hadn’t put his phone number. Maybe he only wanted a kid that was in contact with someone Alexander already knew.
Petra stared at the ad.
Then she realized that she didn’t want to read a magazine at all. At least not after she had seen the ad.
The door opened. In came the man that Professor had talked to on the first day Petra and Collier came to the office.
The man that specifically told Professor not to show the kids his office.
Petra froze as the man scanned the room.
She was about to sigh of relief when his eyes landed on her.
“Well, well, well. Who do we have here?”
The man strode over to Petra.
“Could it be Professor Stein’s daughter?”
Petra stared blankly at him. She didn’t know whether or not to say yes or no. Professor had told the man that they were his kids. He meant that they were his kids as in students, but he knew the man would think that they were his biological kids.
“Too afraid to answer?” the man continued. “Is that because you are in a place that you are not allowed to be in?”
“No,” Petra answered in a voice she hoped was brave. “I’m allowed in here.”
“Oh, really? And who told you that?”
“Professor.”
Then Petra caught herself. She had called Professor “Professor.” She hoped the man wouldn’t notice.
He did.
“Oh. So you call your father ‘Professor’? Now isn’t that an interesting fact?”
“Well, you see, I used to go to the Boarding School that he taught at. When I had his class I wasn’t allowed to call him “Dad” so he just told me to call him ‘Professor.’”
Petra was glad that she had so easily come up with a reasonable explanation. But another part of her felt guilty of lying.
She watched the man’s expressions. He looked like he was thinking.
“Okay,” he finally said. “That sounds respectable. But you do know that he wasn’t supposed to show you this office, did you?”
“Oh, no,” Petra cut in, trying to defend Professor. “He didn’t show it to me. I found it.”
“And why were you roaming around in the building? Why weren’t you under adult supervision?”
“I found it because I was going to go from my room to the first floor. I pushed the close button on the elevator, but it was going so slowly I decided to press it again. Then it brought me down here.”
“Then why did you come in? You know intruding on another person’s office isn’t exactly respect. And you yourself had said that you respect Professor.”
Petra was about to point out that she had never said that she showed respect for Professor. But she decided not to tell the man. It would only make him angry.
“He let me in. I didn’t come in the first time I found this floor.”
“And does he know that he wasn’t supposed to let you in?”
“It’s his office,” Petra replied, standing up. “Shouldn’t he be in charge of his own space?” Petra began walking away. “And he’s the vice president of this place, you know.” She reached the door and opened it. She stopped and turned around. “And I bet you’re not even close.”
Anger flashed in the man’s eyes. He stood up and glared at Petra menacingly.
“If you must know, little child,” he growled in a low voice. “I am the president of this company.”
Petra’s eyes grew wide with realization. Then she did the only thing she could do, the only choice she had.
She spun around and ran.
Now that he was gone, she had nothing to do.
She tried reading the books on the shelves, but they were boring.
She then decided to explore the building again. Once she got to the elevator, she pressed the ‘close’ button twice, and the elevator shot her back up to Professor’s office.
He had given Petra and Collier permission to go there whenever they wanted, because they had been bright enough to find it on their own.
Petra wondered where she would be if they hadn’t found his office.
She knocked in his door; he didn’t open it. She peeked through the small window. A small lamp on his desk was shining a warm, glowing light. She slowly opened the door and stepped in.
Professor was nowhere to be seen. Then she remembered that he was teaching at the Boarding School.
Petra wandered over to his mini refrigerator and retrieved her grape juice bottle that she had left there on her last visit. Then she slumped down on a chair and pulled the footrest up. She selected a magazine from the coffee table.
It was titled ‘AAW—Agents Around the World.’
Petra took a sip out of the bottle and flipped to the middle of the magazine.
It was a page full of ads. She skimmed over them, uninterested. But one caught her eye— “Young child needed for special training. Must be from eight to twelve years old. Boy or girl. Contact Asher Alexander.”
Petra thought it was interesting that Alexander hadn’t put his phone number. Maybe he only wanted a kid that was in contact with someone Alexander already knew.
Petra stared at the ad.
Then she realized that she didn’t want to read a magazine at all. At least not after she had seen the ad.
The door opened. In came the man that Professor had talked to on the first day Petra and Collier came to the office.
The man that specifically told Professor not to show the kids his office.
Petra froze as the man scanned the room.
She was about to sigh of relief when his eyes landed on her.
“Well, well, well. Who do we have here?”
The man strode over to Petra.
“Could it be Professor Stein’s daughter?”
Petra stared blankly at him. She didn’t know whether or not to say yes or no. Professor had told the man that they were his kids. He meant that they were his kids as in students, but he knew the man would think that they were his biological kids.
“Too afraid to answer?” the man continued. “Is that because you are in a place that you are not allowed to be in?”
“No,” Petra answered in a voice she hoped was brave. “I’m allowed in here.”
“Oh, really? And who told you that?”
“Professor.”
Then Petra caught herself. She had called Professor “Professor.” She hoped the man wouldn’t notice.
He did.
“Oh. So you call your father ‘Professor’? Now isn’t that an interesting fact?”
“Well, you see, I used to go to the Boarding School that he taught at. When I had his class I wasn’t allowed to call him “Dad” so he just told me to call him ‘Professor.’”
Petra was glad that she had so easily come up with a reasonable explanation. But another part of her felt guilty of lying.
She watched the man’s expressions. He looked like he was thinking.
“Okay,” he finally said. “That sounds respectable. But you do know that he wasn’t supposed to show you this office, did you?”
“Oh, no,” Petra cut in, trying to defend Professor. “He didn’t show it to me. I found it.”
“And why were you roaming around in the building? Why weren’t you under adult supervision?”
“I found it because I was going to go from my room to the first floor. I pushed the close button on the elevator, but it was going so slowly I decided to press it again. Then it brought me down here.”
“Then why did you come in? You know intruding on another person’s office isn’t exactly respect. And you yourself had said that you respect Professor.”
Petra was about to point out that she had never said that she showed respect for Professor. But she decided not to tell the man. It would only make him angry.
“He let me in. I didn’t come in the first time I found this floor.”
“And does he know that he wasn’t supposed to let you in?”
“It’s his office,” Petra replied, standing up. “Shouldn’t he be in charge of his own space?” Petra began walking away. “And he’s the vice president of this place, you know.” She reached the door and opened it. She stopped and turned around. “And I bet you’re not even close.”
Anger flashed in the man’s eyes. He stood up and glared at Petra menacingly.
“If you must know, little child,” he growled in a low voice. “I am the president of this company.”
Petra’s eyes grew wide with realization. Then she did the only thing she could do, the only choice she had.
She spun around and ran.
Change in Story
I'm so sorry, I've changed the story again. (Sorry-- it's a part of writing!)
I know this is the second time I've changed it, but NOW Asher Alexander is getting millions of balloons and blowing them up. He thinks that having a larger mass on Earth will expand the planet.
So, yep, keep that in mind.
Again, sorry for the confusion!
I know this is the second time I've changed it, but NOW Asher Alexander is getting millions of balloons and blowing them up. He thinks that having a larger mass on Earth will expand the planet.
So, yep, keep that in mind.
Again, sorry for the confusion!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Answer to Elizabeth
What, you want me to switch stories? Tired of 'Saving Professor'? :P
'The Only Escape' was an English assignment that I decided to post.
'The Only Escape' was an English assignment that I decided to post.
Monday, September 19, 2011
'The Only Escape' (The Next Story)
Sorry that post was kinda... long.
I just wanted to give it to you in one piece.
Hope you enjoy it!
I just wanted to give it to you in one piece.
Hope you enjoy it!
'The Only Escape'
As I lay in bed I feel someone watching me.
I look around the room, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone.
I close my eyes and pull my covers up tight.
And for a moment, everything is still.
Suddenly, I feel something grabbing at my stomach; something intangible, something unseen.
I feel like I am being choked; then I realize that I am.
I can’t breathe.
My covers fly off and I think I hear a voice whispering. I’m not even afraid of it; I just hope that it didn’t say what I think it said.
“Get her.”
I feel like I am being swallowed into a pitch black hole. It takes too much energy to resist.
I let go and let myself fall into the darkness.
Jasmine Duncan woke up to a sharp sound. She grabbed her covers and waited, wondering if she maybe had just imagined it.
But it came again.
It was a crash from somewhere in the house. It sounded like breaking glass.
Jasmine jumped out of bed and ran out of the room just quiet enough not to wake her husband up.
She ran down the hall, her feet tiptoeing against the cold tile floor.
She was about to run into the kitchen when a piece of jagged glass swept across the ground, landing inches away from her foot.
She hesitated, then flicked on the light and peeked through the doorway. It took a moment for her mind to accept what she saw.
Allison, her daughter, was standing in a pool of shattered glass. Allison rummaged through the cupboards and came up with a wine glass, which she raised above her head and dropped. Then, delighted, she jumped into it, screaming. Blood smeared the otherwise white floor.
Jasmine shrieked and ran back to her bedroom.
“Jacob! Jacob!”
Her husband slept on, as if he were a hibernating bear in the dead of winter.
“JACOB!”
He groaned, rolled around, took a look at the clock, and rolled back around.
“Jacob! Wake up! It’s Allison!”
“Allison… Allison what?”
“Allison! Our daughter! You’ve got to see what’s going on!”
Jasmine yanked Jacob up and led him to the kitchen. When he saw what Allison was doing, he froze, his eyes locked forward, forcing him to stare at what he did not want to see.
Jacob lunged forward to stop her. Jasmine grabbed his arm and held him back.
“No, Jacob, you can’t go in there,” Jasmine commanded, her voice rising in fear. “Something’s wrong. Something’s terribly wrong, can’t you see it?”
Jacob’s jaw quivered and his arm began to tremble. Jasmine let go.
“Phone. Phone. GET THE PHONE!” he yelled, running from the kitchen. Jasmine took off after him.
A figure came into the light.
“Mom?”
Aaron.
“Don’t go any further, Aaron, sweetie. Something’s wrong with Allison.”
“Mom, I’m sixteen, I think I can handle seeing whatever my thirteen-year-old sister is going through.”
“No. No, Aaron, you can’t. Go back to bed. Just go.”
Aaron met Jasmine with a stare.
“GO!” Jasmine pointed to the door, sending Aaron away. Then, after thinking, she added in a quieter voice, “You can come out when I get you. Just not now.”
Just then, Jacob entered the room with his phone.
“Doctor. Get a doctor. Now.”
Jasmine took the phone and searched through the contacts until she came to Doctor Stevens. She hit ‘Talk’ harder than she had to.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang.
Jasmine rolled her eyes.
He’s got to pick up! she thought.
“Hello, this is Doctor Stevens. I am not available…”
Jasmine pressed ‘End’ and looked over at Jacob.
“Try again,” he said.
This time, Doctor Stevens picked up.
“Hello? Doctor Stevens here,” he answered in a sleepy voice.
“Doctor? Allison needs help.”
“Excuse me? Who is this?”
“Oh, right, sorry. This is Jasmine Duncan. Out daughter, Allison seems to be going crazy. We don’t know what’s happening to her, doctor. We’re really scared and we don’t know what to do…”
“I’ll be over soon. Give me ten minutes.”
Exactly ten minutes later, an old, rusty gray car pulled up into the Duncan’s driveway. Doctor Stevens, a tall, bearded man, stepped out.
“Lead me to where Allison is,” he ordered.
Silently, he followed Jasmine and Jacob inside. He shuddered when he heard glass breaking and a high-pitched cross between a scream and laughter.
Jasmine stopped in front of the door, not bearing to look inside.
Doctor Stevens peeked in. His reaction was similar to Jacob’s.
“Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, are you religious, by any chance?”
Jasmine and Jacob exchanged glances.
“No, not particularly,” Jasmine answered.
“That explains many things,” he responded, half to himself.
“What?” Jacob spoke up. “What is it, Doctor?”
“Now, I may be wrong, but if I’m right… Well, it’s pretty hard to take. Maybe I’m not right—“
“Just tell us!”
“All right. Are you sure you want to hear this?”
“Well, if we don’t, then how are we going to help her?”
“You will never be able to help her in this circumstance.”
“Then who will?”
“Only an exorcist.”
“What?” Jasmine gasped.
“I have heard of cases like this before. And I think the only explanation to Allison’s unusual actions is that she is… is possessed.”
Jasmine grabbed her stomach and fainted.
Doctor Stevens sighed.
“She is shocked. That’s a natural reaction. Help me bring her to her bed.”
“And, what, leave Allison here?”
“Well, you left her here when you went outside to wait for me, didn’t you?”
A crash of glass broke the silence. They froze, as if listening for the devil himself walking out the door.
Jacob nodded. He took his wife’s shoulders while Doctor Stevens took her legs. Together, they carried her down the hall and set her on the bed.
In the darkness, they resumed their conversation.
“So about this… exorcist… where are we going to find one?”
“Well, I do know a friend who is a preacher. He has experience.”
“But how? Didn’t these things only happen a long time ago?”
Doctor Stevens shook his head.
“Evil is still on the planet, Mr. Duncan.”
Jacob looked down at his bare feet. He sighed heavily.
“This isn’t happening because we haven’t brought the kids to church, is it?”
“No, I don’t think so. I really can’t explain why. All we can do it get it out of her.”
“Get what out?” Jacob stared at Doctor Stevens, daring him to explain.
Doctor Stevens met Jacob’s eyes and shook his head.
“You know full well what I mean.” Then he took a wrinkled, old notepad and a pen out of his pocket. On it he wrote a phone number. He handed it to Jacob. “Call this number.”
“Now?”
“How soon do you want Allison back?”
Jacob whipped out his phone and dialed the number.
I’m engulfed in this darkness.
I can’t even see.
I feel like I’m moving—maybe I am. I’m walking.
Where am I going? How do I stop myself? What’s happening?
My feet hit the cold tile of the kitchen. Why can I still feel my feet but not be able to control them?
I feel myself open the cabinet. What am I doing? What’s controlling me?
My fingers touch a glass cup… and I pick it up.
What’s going on? Why am I picking up…
A loud sound shatters the stillness of the night.
My feet stomp onto something sharp.
Only then do I realize that I am breaking glass.
I want to cry out in pain, but I can’t. I hear myself scream, but I know that it’s not me who’s doing it.
What’s happening?
Then, in between the crashing and screeches, I hear something else.
It’s like a soft melody, but they’re only words. But it’s so hard to hear it… What are they saying?
I listen in and focus on their words, soft as a feathery wisp of cotton.
“Allison. Allison. Allison.”
“Come with us. We can put you out of your pain. We can take you out of your misery.”
“We know what’s happening. If you find us, we can tell you.”
“Allison. Allison. Allison…”
I wonder what these voices are. How do I follow them?
“Come and follow us.”
“Just relax… Just relax…”
Relax? Something’s making me break glass and I’m supposed to relax? How am I supposed to relax if I’m fighting hard to—
Wait. That’s it! I’m fighting hard. I’m fighting against whatever’s overcome me. If I just sit back, and relax…
I fall into the arms of the voices.
“Pastor Leonard?”
Jacob’s voice rang through the empty church.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
“I’m right here.”
Pastor Leonard walked into the light. He took a look at the family of four. They seemed fairly normal—average parents, an average teenage boy… and a girl.
The girl writhed in the father’s arms, foaming at the mouth. She let out a scream and flailed her arms in the air mercilessly.
“Possessed,” Pastor Leonard muttered under his breath. “Bring the girl to me.”
Jacob followed Pastor Leonard into the sanctuary. Rows and rows of blue velvet pews serenaded down the aisle.
Pastor Leonard motioned to the front row, where Jacob put Allison down. Surprisingly, she did not start at a screaming attempt to turn herself back on her feet.
Pastor Leonard met Jacob’s eyes with an unveiling stare.
“Now, if you will let me, I will try my best to heal your daughter.”
“Try?”
“I have always succeeded,” he assured Jacob. “But may I ask you and your family to please step out the door?”
Jacob nodded. He herded his wife and son out the door. Outside, they waited.
They listened as Pastor Leonard quickly mumbled words. A moment of silence followed. Then came a shriek, loud and clear. It wasn’t Allison’s voice. It screamed words in a foreign language, and then disappeared.
No one moved. The grandfather clock down the hall ticked meticulously.
Then the door opened. Pastor Leonard stepped out.
“How… how is she?” Jacob asked.
Pastor led the family back into the sanctuary, where Allison lay where they had left her, on the front pew. She looked peaceful.
A little bit too peaceful.
“Pastor?” Jasmine asked in a wavering voice. She grabbed Jacob’s arm. Aaron looked on in silence at his sister.
Pastor Leonard turned to the family.
“Your daughter is no longer possessed,” he announced. “But along the way, she has given up.”
Jasmine cried aloud and began weeping on Jacob’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry about this,” Pastor Leonard whispered. “It’s not your fault.”
No one seemed to be listening, but he continued anyway.
“She just couldn’t handle it any more… I’m so, so sorry…”
I look around the room, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone.
I close my eyes and pull my covers up tight.
And for a moment, everything is still.
Suddenly, I feel something grabbing at my stomach; something intangible, something unseen.
I feel like I am being choked; then I realize that I am.
I can’t breathe.
My covers fly off and I think I hear a voice whispering. I’m not even afraid of it; I just hope that it didn’t say what I think it said.
“Get her.”
I feel like I am being swallowed into a pitch black hole. It takes too much energy to resist.
I let go and let myself fall into the darkness.
Jasmine Duncan woke up to a sharp sound. She grabbed her covers and waited, wondering if she maybe had just imagined it.
But it came again.
It was a crash from somewhere in the house. It sounded like breaking glass.
Jasmine jumped out of bed and ran out of the room just quiet enough not to wake her husband up.
She ran down the hall, her feet tiptoeing against the cold tile floor.
She was about to run into the kitchen when a piece of jagged glass swept across the ground, landing inches away from her foot.
She hesitated, then flicked on the light and peeked through the doorway. It took a moment for her mind to accept what she saw.
Allison, her daughter, was standing in a pool of shattered glass. Allison rummaged through the cupboards and came up with a wine glass, which she raised above her head and dropped. Then, delighted, she jumped into it, screaming. Blood smeared the otherwise white floor.
Jasmine shrieked and ran back to her bedroom.
“Jacob! Jacob!”
Her husband slept on, as if he were a hibernating bear in the dead of winter.
“JACOB!”
He groaned, rolled around, took a look at the clock, and rolled back around.
“Jacob! Wake up! It’s Allison!”
“Allison… Allison what?”
“Allison! Our daughter! You’ve got to see what’s going on!”
Jasmine yanked Jacob up and led him to the kitchen. When he saw what Allison was doing, he froze, his eyes locked forward, forcing him to stare at what he did not want to see.
Jacob lunged forward to stop her. Jasmine grabbed his arm and held him back.
“No, Jacob, you can’t go in there,” Jasmine commanded, her voice rising in fear. “Something’s wrong. Something’s terribly wrong, can’t you see it?”
Jacob’s jaw quivered and his arm began to tremble. Jasmine let go.
“Phone. Phone. GET THE PHONE!” he yelled, running from the kitchen. Jasmine took off after him.
A figure came into the light.
“Mom?”
Aaron.
“Don’t go any further, Aaron, sweetie. Something’s wrong with Allison.”
“Mom, I’m sixteen, I think I can handle seeing whatever my thirteen-year-old sister is going through.”
“No. No, Aaron, you can’t. Go back to bed. Just go.”
Aaron met Jasmine with a stare.
“GO!” Jasmine pointed to the door, sending Aaron away. Then, after thinking, she added in a quieter voice, “You can come out when I get you. Just not now.”
Just then, Jacob entered the room with his phone.
“Doctor. Get a doctor. Now.”
Jasmine took the phone and searched through the contacts until she came to Doctor Stevens. She hit ‘Talk’ harder than she had to.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang.
Jasmine rolled her eyes.
He’s got to pick up! she thought.
“Hello, this is Doctor Stevens. I am not available…”
Jasmine pressed ‘End’ and looked over at Jacob.
“Try again,” he said.
This time, Doctor Stevens picked up.
“Hello? Doctor Stevens here,” he answered in a sleepy voice.
“Doctor? Allison needs help.”
“Excuse me? Who is this?”
“Oh, right, sorry. This is Jasmine Duncan. Out daughter, Allison seems to be going crazy. We don’t know what’s happening to her, doctor. We’re really scared and we don’t know what to do…”
“I’ll be over soon. Give me ten minutes.”
Exactly ten minutes later, an old, rusty gray car pulled up into the Duncan’s driveway. Doctor Stevens, a tall, bearded man, stepped out.
“Lead me to where Allison is,” he ordered.
Silently, he followed Jasmine and Jacob inside. He shuddered when he heard glass breaking and a high-pitched cross between a scream and laughter.
Jasmine stopped in front of the door, not bearing to look inside.
Doctor Stevens peeked in. His reaction was similar to Jacob’s.
“Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, are you religious, by any chance?”
Jasmine and Jacob exchanged glances.
“No, not particularly,” Jasmine answered.
“That explains many things,” he responded, half to himself.
“What?” Jacob spoke up. “What is it, Doctor?”
“Now, I may be wrong, but if I’m right… Well, it’s pretty hard to take. Maybe I’m not right—“
“Just tell us!”
“All right. Are you sure you want to hear this?”
“Well, if we don’t, then how are we going to help her?”
“You will never be able to help her in this circumstance.”
“Then who will?”
“Only an exorcist.”
“What?” Jasmine gasped.
“I have heard of cases like this before. And I think the only explanation to Allison’s unusual actions is that she is… is possessed.”
Jasmine grabbed her stomach and fainted.
Doctor Stevens sighed.
“She is shocked. That’s a natural reaction. Help me bring her to her bed.”
“And, what, leave Allison here?”
“Well, you left her here when you went outside to wait for me, didn’t you?”
A crash of glass broke the silence. They froze, as if listening for the devil himself walking out the door.
Jacob nodded. He took his wife’s shoulders while Doctor Stevens took her legs. Together, they carried her down the hall and set her on the bed.
In the darkness, they resumed their conversation.
“So about this… exorcist… where are we going to find one?”
“Well, I do know a friend who is a preacher. He has experience.”
“But how? Didn’t these things only happen a long time ago?”
Doctor Stevens shook his head.
“Evil is still on the planet, Mr. Duncan.”
Jacob looked down at his bare feet. He sighed heavily.
“This isn’t happening because we haven’t brought the kids to church, is it?”
“No, I don’t think so. I really can’t explain why. All we can do it get it out of her.”
“Get what out?” Jacob stared at Doctor Stevens, daring him to explain.
Doctor Stevens met Jacob’s eyes and shook his head.
“You know full well what I mean.” Then he took a wrinkled, old notepad and a pen out of his pocket. On it he wrote a phone number. He handed it to Jacob. “Call this number.”
“Now?”
“How soon do you want Allison back?”
Jacob whipped out his phone and dialed the number.
I’m engulfed in this darkness.
I can’t even see.
I feel like I’m moving—maybe I am. I’m walking.
Where am I going? How do I stop myself? What’s happening?
My feet hit the cold tile of the kitchen. Why can I still feel my feet but not be able to control them?
I feel myself open the cabinet. What am I doing? What’s controlling me?
My fingers touch a glass cup… and I pick it up.
What’s going on? Why am I picking up…
A loud sound shatters the stillness of the night.
My feet stomp onto something sharp.
Only then do I realize that I am breaking glass.
I want to cry out in pain, but I can’t. I hear myself scream, but I know that it’s not me who’s doing it.
What’s happening?
Then, in between the crashing and screeches, I hear something else.
It’s like a soft melody, but they’re only words. But it’s so hard to hear it… What are they saying?
I listen in and focus on their words, soft as a feathery wisp of cotton.
“Allison. Allison. Allison.”
“Come with us. We can put you out of your pain. We can take you out of your misery.”
“We know what’s happening. If you find us, we can tell you.”
“Allison. Allison. Allison…”
I wonder what these voices are. How do I follow them?
“Come and follow us.”
“Just relax… Just relax…”
Relax? Something’s making me break glass and I’m supposed to relax? How am I supposed to relax if I’m fighting hard to—
Wait. That’s it! I’m fighting hard. I’m fighting against whatever’s overcome me. If I just sit back, and relax…
I fall into the arms of the voices.
“Pastor Leonard?”
Jacob’s voice rang through the empty church.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
“I’m right here.”
Pastor Leonard walked into the light. He took a look at the family of four. They seemed fairly normal—average parents, an average teenage boy… and a girl.
The girl writhed in the father’s arms, foaming at the mouth. She let out a scream and flailed her arms in the air mercilessly.
“Possessed,” Pastor Leonard muttered under his breath. “Bring the girl to me.”
Jacob followed Pastor Leonard into the sanctuary. Rows and rows of blue velvet pews serenaded down the aisle.
Pastor Leonard motioned to the front row, where Jacob put Allison down. Surprisingly, she did not start at a screaming attempt to turn herself back on her feet.
Pastor Leonard met Jacob’s eyes with an unveiling stare.
“Now, if you will let me, I will try my best to heal your daughter.”
“Try?”
“I have always succeeded,” he assured Jacob. “But may I ask you and your family to please step out the door?”
Jacob nodded. He herded his wife and son out the door. Outside, they waited.
They listened as Pastor Leonard quickly mumbled words. A moment of silence followed. Then came a shriek, loud and clear. It wasn’t Allison’s voice. It screamed words in a foreign language, and then disappeared.
No one moved. The grandfather clock down the hall ticked meticulously.
Then the door opened. Pastor Leonard stepped out.
“How… how is she?” Jacob asked.
Pastor led the family back into the sanctuary, where Allison lay where they had left her, on the front pew. She looked peaceful.
A little bit too peaceful.
“Pastor?” Jasmine asked in a wavering voice. She grabbed Jacob’s arm. Aaron looked on in silence at his sister.
Pastor Leonard turned to the family.
“Your daughter is no longer possessed,” he announced. “But along the way, she has given up.”
Jasmine cried aloud and began weeping on Jacob’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry about this,” Pastor Leonard whispered. “It’s not your fault.”
No one seemed to be listening, but he continued anyway.
“She just couldn’t handle it any more… I’m so, so sorry…”
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Yay... (Not Really)
I only have to followers on this blog.
Where's everyone else?? I know you guys read this!
Where's everyone else?? I know you guys read this!
Answers to Comments/Question
Here's my responses to your comments on 'Saving Professor-- Part 11':
Bookworm-- Yep. When I read over that part of the story, I laughed... I like the character Alexander. He's fun to write.
Elizabeth- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!! That's the whole point of the story! He's at Alexander's office so that Alexander can "train" him and tell him all about his evil schemes!!!!!!!
Bookworm-- Yep. When I read over that part of the story, I laughed... I like the character Alexander. He's fun to write.
Elizabeth- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!! That's the whole point of the story! He's at Alexander's office so that Alexander can "train" him and tell him all about his evil schemes!!!!!!!
A Snippet From 'The Long Journey' (True Story)
Silently, slowly, I made my way down the outdoor hall to my room. When I got to the door, I didn’t go directly to in as I had planned to. I stopped at the railing and placed my hands on the wet rail to look out over the scene.
Neon lights advertised nearby stores. Cars on the highways zoomed by. And somewhere out there was Abilene Christian University.
And TCSIT.
Rain splatted against my face. I urged myself to lift my face up, to feel the wetness, but I only blinked and flinched in response to the sudden drops.
An opening door down the hall made me quickly take my hands off the rail and wipe my face. Kailey walked out of her room and turned the corner.
Good, I thought. She didn’t see me.
I tried to imagine what someone would have thought at the sight of me staring blankly into the rain. They wouldn’t have questioned me, but they certainly wouldn’t have thought little of it.
I unlocked the door. But I just couldn’t let the moment go. I turned back once again to look at the rain.
Maybe it actually isn’t so bad, I thought. Maybe.
Then I turned the doorknob and went in.
Neon lights advertised nearby stores. Cars on the highways zoomed by. And somewhere out there was Abilene Christian University.
And TCSIT.
Rain splatted against my face. I urged myself to lift my face up, to feel the wetness, but I only blinked and flinched in response to the sudden drops.
An opening door down the hall made me quickly take my hands off the rail and wipe my face. Kailey walked out of her room and turned the corner.
Good, I thought. She didn’t see me.
I tried to imagine what someone would have thought at the sight of me staring blankly into the rain. They wouldn’t have questioned me, but they certainly wouldn’t have thought little of it.
I unlocked the door. But I just couldn’t let the moment go. I turned back once again to look at the rain.
Maybe it actually isn’t so bad, I thought. Maybe.
Then I turned the doorknob and went in.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 11)
Collier sat in the passenger seat of Professor’s truck.
Professor had already gone out of the truck and was heading towards a short, grey-brown building. Whoever had built the building hadn’t even bothered putting in a real parking lot.
Collier decided that he wasn’t doing any good by just waiting, so he opened the door and stepped out.
Quickly, he ran up to Professor. Neither of them spoke.
Professor knocked on the door.
A shadow came over the peephole. Collier felt uncomfortable.
“Who is it?” a man’s voice asked.
“Professor Stein.”
Then door opened.
There, standing in the doorway, was a man of average height and average appearance.
He smiled grimly and stuck out his hand to Collier.
“Hello. I am Mr. Asher Alexander. And you must be Collier?”
Collier nodded.
Asher Alexander was disappointing. Collier thought that he would at least be big and strong, or something that would make him look like a villain.
But he wasn’t.
Then Asher Alexander turned to Professor, who he had been ignoring up until that point.
“So, Professor Stein,” Asher Alexander started off saying. “You’ve changed.” Then he broke into a laugh and slapped his knee. “No, what am I talking about? You look the same!”
Then, noticing that Professor Stein was not amused, Asher Alexander straightened up and cleared his throat.
“Well, come in, then,” he invited, motioning behind him.
Collier and Professor followed Alexander into the building. There was nothing in the room—not even a single piece of furniture. All it had was a hole in the floor, which Alexander began going down.
Collier looked at Professor, who shrugged and followed Alexander down the ladder.
Collier felt like he was a fireman, climbing the ladder rung by rung.
Reaching his fate rung by rung.
Even so, he persisted and went on down.
When they reached the bottom, they found themselves in a room with a couch and a single lamp that cast forth a yellow-tinted light. There was a door on one side of the wall.
“Now, Professor Stein,” Asher Alexander said. “As you know, you are here to drop off Collier. I am sure he will do fine. This next room is for his and my eyes only. So I will now ask you to leave.”
A cloud came over Professor’s face. Collier waited for him to say something.
But instead, without a word, Professor turned and left. Right when his feet disappeared up the ladder, Collier wanted to call him back and make him bring him home.
But he knew that he had to do what he was about to do.
When he turned back around, Asher Alexander had already opened the door and was standing in the doorway.
“Are you ready to come in, Collier?” he asked.
Collier swallowed, hoping that he was ready.
He nodded.
Then he entered the doorway into the secret room.
The room was filled with many computers. Most were already together, and some had been either broken apart or had not yet been assembled.
Blueprints of water towers covered a coffee table. In the middle of the room were two empty chairs—one with blue velvet cushions, and the other a dull metal.
Asher Alexander strode forward and sat in the blue velvet chair. He motioned Collier to the other chair.
As soon as Collier sat down, he noted how cold the chair was.
Asher Alexander was already talking.
“Now this is called the Secret Room. Why? Because things said here are secrets. Secrets, secrets, secrets.” He paused for emphasis. There wasn’t any. He continued. “So what I tell you, you can’t tell anyone. Okay?”
Collier nodded.
“Can you talk?”
“Yes,” Collier quickly answered.
“Good. Now that I know you can talk,” he said, pausing to laugh at his own joke, “I will tell you what you should call me. First, though, do you know my full name?”
“Yes. I mean, I think I do. It’s Asher Alexander, isn’t it?”
“Very good. Do you know my middle name?”
Collier looked down at the navy blue carpet.
“No, I don’t,” he answered.
Suddenly, Asher Alexander clapped his hands and stood up.
“That is because I don’t have a middle name!” He began to strut around the room. “So what shall you call me?” He leaned in on Collier, as if he was already telling him a secret. “Call me Alexander.” He jerked back up to his full height and resumed his strutting. Collier was already getting quite annoyed at this habit. “Why call me Alexander? Because ‘Asher’ is simply too disrespectful. And ‘Mr. Alexander’ is too respectful for me. ‘Alexander’ is perfect.”
Then Alexander bowed, as if he had finished making a speech.
“Today will be the day that I will introduce you to my room,” Alexander started again. “This is where I keep my blueprints, there are my spare computer parts, this is my collection of 1958 glass chess pieces—“
Collier sighed.
What had he gotten himself into?
Professor had already gone out of the truck and was heading towards a short, grey-brown building. Whoever had built the building hadn’t even bothered putting in a real parking lot.
Collier decided that he wasn’t doing any good by just waiting, so he opened the door and stepped out.
Quickly, he ran up to Professor. Neither of them spoke.
Professor knocked on the door.
A shadow came over the peephole. Collier felt uncomfortable.
“Who is it?” a man’s voice asked.
“Professor Stein.”
Then door opened.
There, standing in the doorway, was a man of average height and average appearance.
He smiled grimly and stuck out his hand to Collier.
“Hello. I am Mr. Asher Alexander. And you must be Collier?”
Collier nodded.
Asher Alexander was disappointing. Collier thought that he would at least be big and strong, or something that would make him look like a villain.
But he wasn’t.
Then Asher Alexander turned to Professor, who he had been ignoring up until that point.
“So, Professor Stein,” Asher Alexander started off saying. “You’ve changed.” Then he broke into a laugh and slapped his knee. “No, what am I talking about? You look the same!”
Then, noticing that Professor Stein was not amused, Asher Alexander straightened up and cleared his throat.
“Well, come in, then,” he invited, motioning behind him.
Collier and Professor followed Alexander into the building. There was nothing in the room—not even a single piece of furniture. All it had was a hole in the floor, which Alexander began going down.
Collier looked at Professor, who shrugged and followed Alexander down the ladder.
Collier felt like he was a fireman, climbing the ladder rung by rung.
Reaching his fate rung by rung.
Even so, he persisted and went on down.
When they reached the bottom, they found themselves in a room with a couch and a single lamp that cast forth a yellow-tinted light. There was a door on one side of the wall.
“Now, Professor Stein,” Asher Alexander said. “As you know, you are here to drop off Collier. I am sure he will do fine. This next room is for his and my eyes only. So I will now ask you to leave.”
A cloud came over Professor’s face. Collier waited for him to say something.
But instead, without a word, Professor turned and left. Right when his feet disappeared up the ladder, Collier wanted to call him back and make him bring him home.
But he knew that he had to do what he was about to do.
When he turned back around, Asher Alexander had already opened the door and was standing in the doorway.
“Are you ready to come in, Collier?” he asked.
Collier swallowed, hoping that he was ready.
He nodded.
Then he entered the doorway into the secret room.
The room was filled with many computers. Most were already together, and some had been either broken apart or had not yet been assembled.
Blueprints of water towers covered a coffee table. In the middle of the room were two empty chairs—one with blue velvet cushions, and the other a dull metal.
Asher Alexander strode forward and sat in the blue velvet chair. He motioned Collier to the other chair.
As soon as Collier sat down, he noted how cold the chair was.
Asher Alexander was already talking.
“Now this is called the Secret Room. Why? Because things said here are secrets. Secrets, secrets, secrets.” He paused for emphasis. There wasn’t any. He continued. “So what I tell you, you can’t tell anyone. Okay?”
Collier nodded.
“Can you talk?”
“Yes,” Collier quickly answered.
“Good. Now that I know you can talk,” he said, pausing to laugh at his own joke, “I will tell you what you should call me. First, though, do you know my full name?”
“Yes. I mean, I think I do. It’s Asher Alexander, isn’t it?”
“Very good. Do you know my middle name?”
Collier looked down at the navy blue carpet.
“No, I don’t,” he answered.
Suddenly, Asher Alexander clapped his hands and stood up.
“That is because I don’t have a middle name!” He began to strut around the room. “So what shall you call me?” He leaned in on Collier, as if he was already telling him a secret. “Call me Alexander.” He jerked back up to his full height and resumed his strutting. Collier was already getting quite annoyed at this habit. “Why call me Alexander? Because ‘Asher’ is simply too disrespectful. And ‘Mr. Alexander’ is too respectful for me. ‘Alexander’ is perfect.”
Then Alexander bowed, as if he had finished making a speech.
“Today will be the day that I will introduce you to my room,” Alexander started again. “This is where I keep my blueprints, there are my spare computer parts, this is my collection of 1958 glass chess pieces—“
Collier sighed.
What had he gotten himself into?
Saving Professor (Part 10)
“So. We will begin our studies now.” Mr. Murphy pulled his briefcase up on to the table. “What’s your favorite subject?”
“Well… Math, I suppose.”
“Ah. Professor Stein’s class, right?”
“Right.”
“So why do you like math?”
What kind of a question is that? Petra asked.
“I don’t… know.”
“Okay, then. I understand that you like math very much. But we will have to start from World Civilizations today. Professor Stein will be teaching you math.”
Good, Petra thought. At least I’ll have some sort of normality in my life.
Mr. Murphy took a World Civilizations book out of his briefcase and handed it to Petra.
“Now, where did you leave off?” he asked.
Petra flipped through the pages. She noticed that the book was the same kind as the one she had at the boarding school.
“I think we stopped about here,” she answered, opening to a page showing a Chinese pagoda.
“Ah. Okay.” Mr. Murphy nodded approvingly. “Now before you start, I would like you to take a look at the front inside cover of the book.”
Petra did so. Her eyes slid down the names written in blue ink until it rested one on that she recognized—it was her book!
Mr. Murphy must have sensed her delight, because when Petra looked back up at him, he seemed extremely satisfied.
As he began to teach, Petra thought about her new life.
I finally get to share a room with Collier? I get my own tutor? I’m taking part in something secret? I think I can live with it, she thought happily.
“Well… Math, I suppose.”
“Ah. Professor Stein’s class, right?”
“Right.”
“So why do you like math?”
What kind of a question is that? Petra asked.
“I don’t… know.”
“Okay, then. I understand that you like math very much. But we will have to start from World Civilizations today. Professor Stein will be teaching you math.”
Good, Petra thought. At least I’ll have some sort of normality in my life.
Mr. Murphy took a World Civilizations book out of his briefcase and handed it to Petra.
“Now, where did you leave off?” he asked.
Petra flipped through the pages. She noticed that the book was the same kind as the one she had at the boarding school.
“I think we stopped about here,” she answered, opening to a page showing a Chinese pagoda.
“Ah. Okay.” Mr. Murphy nodded approvingly. “Now before you start, I would like you to take a look at the front inside cover of the book.”
Petra did so. Her eyes slid down the names written in blue ink until it rested one on that she recognized—it was her book!
Mr. Murphy must have sensed her delight, because when Petra looked back up at him, he seemed extremely satisfied.
As he began to teach, Petra thought about her new life.
I finally get to share a room with Collier? I get my own tutor? I’m taking part in something secret? I think I can live with it, she thought happily.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Answers
This post is just answering to some of your comments.
To Bookworm-- as you probably already have figured out, they will be on a mission to stop Asher Alexander on breaking the watertowers. (Alexander thinks that exploding water towers will help water grass.)
To Elizabeth-- well, the 'parts' aren't chapters, really. So I just post whatever I've written so far. Yeah, all of you should know that. Just making sure you know that I'm not choosing chapters yet. And if you guys have any suggestions, then just comment and tell me where. :) Thanks!
Also to Elizabeth-- yes... Antonio's cologne. I will go fix that. (It's supposed to be Anthony's cologne.)
More for Elizabeth-- They aren't really going through training. It's just so that Alexander can tell them his plan and make sure they'll know how to carry it out.
To Bookworm-- as you probably already have figured out, they will be on a mission to stop Asher Alexander on breaking the watertowers. (Alexander thinks that exploding water towers will help water grass.)
To Elizabeth-- well, the 'parts' aren't chapters, really. So I just post whatever I've written so far. Yeah, all of you should know that. Just making sure you know that I'm not choosing chapters yet. And if you guys have any suggestions, then just comment and tell me where. :) Thanks!
Also to Elizabeth-- yes... Antonio's cologne. I will go fix that. (It's supposed to be Anthony's cologne.)
More for Elizabeth-- They aren't really going through training. It's just so that Alexander can tell them his plan and make sure they'll know how to carry it out.
Saving Professor (Part 9)
“Petra.”
Collier kneeled at the couch, shaking his sister’s shoulder.
“Petra.”
Petra rolled over and opened her eyes.
“I’m leaving now,” Collier whispered.
“Okay,” Petra said in a full voice. Then she rolled back around and fell right asleep.
When she woke up two hours later, the sun was shining in her eyes. She rolled over to check on Collier. His sleeping bag was empty.
Rubbing her eyes, Petra remembered him waking her up earlier. She swung her legs off the couch and stumbled a bookshelf that served as her drawer. She took a navy blue t-shirt and khaki shorts off the top of her clothes pile. She grabbed her toothbrush and comb, and then made her way out the door and into the bathroom down the hall. A tall lady greeted her; she only nodded and looked down.
Well, that was embarrassing, Petra thought. I wish we had a bathroom in that room. Then no one would see me right after I wake up.
She closed the bathroom door behind her.
As she ran the comb through her short hair, she thought about Collier. What was he doing? Was he okay?
She brushed her teeth with mint toothpaste. It was the same kind she had back at the boarding school.
She splashed water on her face and wiped it dry with a towel.
After changing her clothes, she opened the door and walked back down to her room. She looked at the clock. It was 9:14. She still had about fifteen more minutes before Mr. Murphy came.
To pass the time, she started reading about wildlife. By the prices on the back of the books, she had figured that the books had just been bought for decorating purposes. But they were books, and that was all she really needed.
Someone knocked on the door.
She looked up.
A tall man was standing in the open doorway.
“May I come in?” he asked.
Petra quickly closed the book and stood up.
“Yes,” she answered.
The man walked in.
“I’m Mr. Murphy. And you are—“
“I’m Petra.”
“Ah. So Collier is with Alexander.”
“Yes. I mean, I guess.”
“So. We will being our studies.”
Collier kneeled at the couch, shaking his sister’s shoulder.
“Petra.”
Petra rolled over and opened her eyes.
“I’m leaving now,” Collier whispered.
“Okay,” Petra said in a full voice. Then she rolled back around and fell right asleep.
When she woke up two hours later, the sun was shining in her eyes. She rolled over to check on Collier. His sleeping bag was empty.
Rubbing her eyes, Petra remembered him waking her up earlier. She swung her legs off the couch and stumbled a bookshelf that served as her drawer. She took a navy blue t-shirt and khaki shorts off the top of her clothes pile. She grabbed her toothbrush and comb, and then made her way out the door and into the bathroom down the hall. A tall lady greeted her; she only nodded and looked down.
Well, that was embarrassing, Petra thought. I wish we had a bathroom in that room. Then no one would see me right after I wake up.
She closed the bathroom door behind her.
As she ran the comb through her short hair, she thought about Collier. What was he doing? Was he okay?
She brushed her teeth with mint toothpaste. It was the same kind she had back at the boarding school.
She splashed water on her face and wiped it dry with a towel.
After changing her clothes, she opened the door and walked back down to her room. She looked at the clock. It was 9:14. She still had about fifteen more minutes before Mr. Murphy came.
To pass the time, she started reading about wildlife. By the prices on the back of the books, she had figured that the books had just been bought for decorating purposes. But they were books, and that was all she really needed.
Someone knocked on the door.
She looked up.
A tall man was standing in the open doorway.
“May I come in?” he asked.
Petra quickly closed the book and stood up.
“Yes,” she answered.
The man walked in.
“I’m Mr. Murphy. And you are—“
“I’m Petra.”
“Ah. So Collier is with Alexander.”
“Yes. I mean, I guess.”
“So. We will being our studies.”
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 8)
And then they realized that they were plummeting down. Petra screamed and clung onto Collier.
Down they went, underground.
Finally, the elevator beeped, and the screen overhead read ’15.’ Petra looked at Collier with large eyes.
Collier rushed her out.
“Come on, Petra, we don’t have all day!”
They stepped out into a nicely furnished hallway that stretched before them. The carpet was teal and the walls were a bright shade of white.
“Let’s go,” Collier urged.
They tiptoed down the hall to the only door at the end, which read “Vice-President Stein.’
Petra peeked in and saw a normal office.
“What’s in there?” Collier asked.
“Nothing,” Petra answered.
“There can’t be nothing.”
Collier pushed Petra aside and peeked in.
“There’s a desk, a chair, a—“
“Well, I know that, I was just saying that there was nothing strange.”
Collier came back down.
“Well, now we know where his office is. Wait. What’s that sound?”
The twins froze as they heard a distinct sound—the elevator coming down.
“Where do we hide?” Petra hurriedly asked.
“I don’t know, there’s nowhere—“
Just then, the doors opened and Professor stepped out.
“Oh, of course! My little secret agents.”
Petra stepped forward.
“I can explain, Professor. Collier and I were just—“
“Oh, no, I’m not mad.”
“You’re not?”
“No. I am not. I’m glad, in fact. I’m very proud that you two were curious enough to try to find my office, and smart enough to do so. Curiosity and smartness are exceptional qualities of secret agents. But now it is time for dinner. We’ll go back up and I’ll take you two out to eat. It’ll be a pre-celebration.”
The children showed puzzled looks.
“Well, because you two are going to be on your mission to stop Asher Alexander from exploding all the water towers. Tonight will be the last night before you start that. So what do you say about going out for dinner?”
The twins nodded.
“Okay, then. Do you have any requests?”
“No, anywhere’s fine,” Collier responded.
Sitting in a booth in a fancy Italian restaurant, Petra sipped her iced tea.
“Professor, when will my tutoring begin tomorrow?”
Professor swallowed a piece of bread he was eating and answered, “9:30 in the morning. Mr. Murphy will bring all the books you need. You’ll have the conference room 5H as your classroom. It’ll end whenever you get everything done.”
Then a waitress walked up to the table. Petra noticed that her nametag read ‘Vanessa.’
“Are you ready to take your orders?” she asked.
“Yes,” Professor answered. Pointing in the menu, he ordered chicken fettuccine.
The waitress looked at Collier.
“I’d like the Italian sausage pizza, please.”
The waitress nodded, wrote down Collier’s orders, and looked at Petra.
“And you, little Mister?” she asked.
Collier choked on his water and began to snicker. Professor shot him a glare. The waitress looked back and forth between them, and tucked her hair behind her ear self-consciously.
“I’d like the three-cheese lasagna,” Petra said quietly.
“Okay, your order will be out in about fifteen minutes,” the waitress said, taking up their menus.
“Petra?” Collier asked.
Petra didn’t know what to think of this. It was funny, but hurtful. After all, the waitress didn’t mean to.
Then she broke out in a grin. A wave of relief washed over the table.
“She thought you were a boy,” Collier laughed.
“Well, I do look like one, don’t I?”
Professor turned to Petra.
“By the way, how should I tell you two apart?”
Collier and Petra studied each other’s features.
“Well, I’m not sure you can,” Collier responded.
“Hey, I have an idea!” Petra exclaimed. “I’ll wear certain colors, and Collier will wear others.”
Collier nodded.
“I’ll wear red, orange, yellow, brown, and black. You can wear white, green, blue—“
“Yeah, I get it. Do you think that’s a good idea?” Petra turned to Professor.
“It’s a great idea.”
Collier pushed his Kid’s Meal menu to Petra.
“Look. I finished the word search.”
“Well, I finished the maze.”
“Hey! Let me look like that!”
“No! You do it yourself!”
Professor smiled. These kids were perfect—they were mature and they were also still kids.
Down they went, underground.
Finally, the elevator beeped, and the screen overhead read ’15.’ Petra looked at Collier with large eyes.
Collier rushed her out.
“Come on, Petra, we don’t have all day!”
They stepped out into a nicely furnished hallway that stretched before them. The carpet was teal and the walls were a bright shade of white.
“Let’s go,” Collier urged.
They tiptoed down the hall to the only door at the end, which read “Vice-President Stein.’
Petra peeked in and saw a normal office.
“What’s in there?” Collier asked.
“Nothing,” Petra answered.
“There can’t be nothing.”
Collier pushed Petra aside and peeked in.
“There’s a desk, a chair, a—“
“Well, I know that, I was just saying that there was nothing strange.”
Collier came back down.
“Well, now we know where his office is. Wait. What’s that sound?”
The twins froze as they heard a distinct sound—the elevator coming down.
“Where do we hide?” Petra hurriedly asked.
“I don’t know, there’s nowhere—“
Just then, the doors opened and Professor stepped out.
“Oh, of course! My little secret agents.”
Petra stepped forward.
“I can explain, Professor. Collier and I were just—“
“Oh, no, I’m not mad.”
“You’re not?”
“No. I am not. I’m glad, in fact. I’m very proud that you two were curious enough to try to find my office, and smart enough to do so. Curiosity and smartness are exceptional qualities of secret agents. But now it is time for dinner. We’ll go back up and I’ll take you two out to eat. It’ll be a pre-celebration.”
The children showed puzzled looks.
“Well, because you two are going to be on your mission to stop Asher Alexander from exploding all the water towers. Tonight will be the last night before you start that. So what do you say about going out for dinner?”
The twins nodded.
“Okay, then. Do you have any requests?”
“No, anywhere’s fine,” Collier responded.
Sitting in a booth in a fancy Italian restaurant, Petra sipped her iced tea.
“Professor, when will my tutoring begin tomorrow?”
Professor swallowed a piece of bread he was eating and answered, “9:30 in the morning. Mr. Murphy will bring all the books you need. You’ll have the conference room 5H as your classroom. It’ll end whenever you get everything done.”
Then a waitress walked up to the table. Petra noticed that her nametag read ‘Vanessa.’
“Are you ready to take your orders?” she asked.
“Yes,” Professor answered. Pointing in the menu, he ordered chicken fettuccine.
The waitress looked at Collier.
“I’d like the Italian sausage pizza, please.”
The waitress nodded, wrote down Collier’s orders, and looked at Petra.
“And you, little Mister?” she asked.
Collier choked on his water and began to snicker. Professor shot him a glare. The waitress looked back and forth between them, and tucked her hair behind her ear self-consciously.
“I’d like the three-cheese lasagna,” Petra said quietly.
“Okay, your order will be out in about fifteen minutes,” the waitress said, taking up their menus.
“Petra?” Collier asked.
Petra didn’t know what to think of this. It was funny, but hurtful. After all, the waitress didn’t mean to.
Then she broke out in a grin. A wave of relief washed over the table.
“She thought you were a boy,” Collier laughed.
“Well, I do look like one, don’t I?”
Professor turned to Petra.
“By the way, how should I tell you two apart?”
Collier and Petra studied each other’s features.
“Well, I’m not sure you can,” Collier responded.
“Hey, I have an idea!” Petra exclaimed. “I’ll wear certain colors, and Collier will wear others.”
Collier nodded.
“I’ll wear red, orange, yellow, brown, and black. You can wear white, green, blue—“
“Yeah, I get it. Do you think that’s a good idea?” Petra turned to Professor.
“It’s a great idea.”
Collier pushed his Kid’s Meal menu to Petra.
“Look. I finished the word search.”
“Well, I finished the maze.”
“Hey! Let me look like that!”
“No! You do it yourself!”
Professor smiled. These kids were perfect—they were mature and they were also still kids.
Saving Professor (Part 7)
The rest of the day was spent with the two twins wandering around the building. All of the workers were some sort of secret agents, and they all had been told about Petra and Collier.
After exploring numerous floors (and even ones that had “Do not enter” boldly posted on them) they found themselves in the elevator. It was an especially amusing one, because it was glass. They could see out the window and over the city as they went up and down.
“Hey, remember how that lady told you to go to the fifteenth floor?” Collier asked.
“Yeah. That was weird, wasn’t it? There is no fifteenth floor.”
“No, I bet there is. We just have to find it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, we just have to think about it.”
The elevator clicked and the doors opened. The twins walked out onto the sixth floor.
“There’s no way that she would have made that mistake,” Collier continued.
“Maybe we just understood her wrong?”
“How big are the chances that both you and I heard her say the same thing and it turns out we weren’t even right at all? Besides, remember when that man told Professor not to bring us to his office?”
“Right. Yeah, I remember.”
“And he never did, right? So his office is on the fourteenth floor, but he doesn’t want everyone to know that.”
“And neither does that man.”
“I know, right? So we just need to find that floor.”
“Don’t you think Professor’s going to show it to us sometime?”
“Maybe. But it’s more fun finding it by ourselves. What do you say?”
“Yeah. Let’s go for it!”
The kids dashed back into the elevator and examined the buttons.
“The numbers only go to fourteen. The other buttons are ‘Fire Alarm,’ these are probably for keeping the doors open and closed, and this is the basement.”
“Wait, Collier?”
“Huh?”
“You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yeah, I think so. Push the button.”
Petra punched the button that was labeled “Basement.” The elevator started going down. It went down, down, down… and eventually they couldn’t see anything out of the window, because they were underground.
Then the doors opened and revealed—
A parking lot.
Their hearts sank.
“I don’t think this is it,” Petra noted.
“No, really?” Collier asked sarcastically. “Let’s go back.”
“Yeah.”
The doors closed and they punched in ’14.’ On the way up, Collier pointed out, “We haven’t tried all the buttons yet. Let’s do that.”
The elevator beeped and the doors opened.
Collier pressed the open button. The doors stayed the same. Then he pressed the close buttons. The doors closed, and the elevator stayed where it was.
“Now what?” he asked.
“I guess we should’ve gone out.”
“Yeah, probably so.”
Petra leaned over to press the open button, but, instead, she accidentally pushed the close button again.
“Petra, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know, I—“
And then they realized that they were plummeting down. Petra screamed and clung onto Collier.
After exploring numerous floors (and even ones that had “Do not enter” boldly posted on them) they found themselves in the elevator. It was an especially amusing one, because it was glass. They could see out the window and over the city as they went up and down.
“Hey, remember how that lady told you to go to the fifteenth floor?” Collier asked.
“Yeah. That was weird, wasn’t it? There is no fifteenth floor.”
“No, I bet there is. We just have to find it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, we just have to think about it.”
The elevator clicked and the doors opened. The twins walked out onto the sixth floor.
“There’s no way that she would have made that mistake,” Collier continued.
“Maybe we just understood her wrong?”
“How big are the chances that both you and I heard her say the same thing and it turns out we weren’t even right at all? Besides, remember when that man told Professor not to bring us to his office?”
“Right. Yeah, I remember.”
“And he never did, right? So his office is on the fourteenth floor, but he doesn’t want everyone to know that.”
“And neither does that man.”
“I know, right? So we just need to find that floor.”
“Don’t you think Professor’s going to show it to us sometime?”
“Maybe. But it’s more fun finding it by ourselves. What do you say?”
“Yeah. Let’s go for it!”
The kids dashed back into the elevator and examined the buttons.
“The numbers only go to fourteen. The other buttons are ‘Fire Alarm,’ these are probably for keeping the doors open and closed, and this is the basement.”
“Wait, Collier?”
“Huh?”
“You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yeah, I think so. Push the button.”
Petra punched the button that was labeled “Basement.” The elevator started going down. It went down, down, down… and eventually they couldn’t see anything out of the window, because they were underground.
Then the doors opened and revealed—
A parking lot.
Their hearts sank.
“I don’t think this is it,” Petra noted.
“No, really?” Collier asked sarcastically. “Let’s go back.”
“Yeah.”
The doors closed and they punched in ’14.’ On the way up, Collier pointed out, “We haven’t tried all the buttons yet. Let’s do that.”
The elevator beeped and the doors opened.
Collier pressed the open button. The doors stayed the same. Then he pressed the close buttons. The doors closed, and the elevator stayed where it was.
“Now what?” he asked.
“I guess we should’ve gone out.”
“Yeah, probably so.”
Petra leaned over to press the open button, but, instead, she accidentally pushed the close button again.
“Petra, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know, I—“
And then they realized that they were plummeting down. Petra screamed and clung onto Collier.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 6)
Petra woke up early in the morning. For a moment she panicked, forgetting where she was.
She was in a room at the glass building. She slept on a couch, and Collier slept on the floor. Today they would begin their help.
Collier stirred in his sleep.
Petra got up and walked to a bookcase in the far corner. She looked through the books. Nothing really interested her, so she chose a random comic book on the bottom shelf. She slouched back onto the couch and started to read.
She was almost halfway through when she noticed Collier sitting up and looking at her.
“Good morning,” she greeted him.
“Mmmph,” he responded.
“What are you doing?”
“Uuuuuhn.”
“Okay. That’s great.” Petra returned to her reading as Collier slumped back onto the floor and covered his head with his pillow.
Just then, Professor walked into the room.
“Collier, is Petra up yet?” he asked. “I need to show both of you something.”
Petra looked down at Collier, expecting him to wake up. Then she looked back at Professor, then realized that he was talking to her.
“Professor? I’m Petra.”
Professor’s eyes widened, and he scratched his chin.
“Oh. I’m sorry, Petra. So Collier is still asleep?” He eyed the lump under the blanket. Petra nodded.
“Collier, time to get up.”
Collier sent out a murmuring sound.
“Collier.”
He sat up.
“Huh?”
“Professor has to tell us something.”
Professor looked at Petra, then at Collier. Then he knelt down beside them.
“Okay, here’s the deal. Remember that Asher Alexander guy I told you about yesterday?”
The twins nodded.
“Well, I sent in a request for you going, and he accepted. So you two are going to go on that mission, for sure.”
Petra and Collier exchanged nervous glances.
“You start tomorrow at 8:00 am sharp. It takes thirty minutes to get to his place, so we’ll have to leave at 7:30. You’ll choose for yourself when you’re going to wake up. Now who goes first?”
Petra looked at Collier. He sighed.
“I’ll go, Professor,” he volunteered.
“Okay. So I’ll be in at 7:15 to make sure you’re up. All right?”
“Sure. But when will I get back?”
“At 4:00 in the afternoon. Or, at least, that’s what he said.”
“Okay. I’ll do it.” Collier’s eyes slid over to his sister. “What will Petra be doing?”
“I already have that figured out. I’ve hired a friend of mine to tutor you. His name is Mr. Murphy and he already knows your situation. He’ll just have to figure out which one of you two he’s teaching at the moment. But Petra will start with him tomorrow, then Collier will start with him when Petra’s gone.” Professor checked his watch. “Sorry, I have to go. I don’t want to be late for work.” Then, without another word, he hurried out of the room.
“I almost forgot that school’s still going on,” Petra said.
“Yeah, imagine where we would be if we didn’t both get in the truck yesterday.”
They both thought about it for a moment. None of them could imagine it.
“Hey, Collier, thanks.”
“For what?”
“For going first.”
“Oh. Well, I wanted to anyway.”
“Right. Uh-huh.” Petra lightly punched his shoulder.
“Okay, okay, I did it for you!” Then Collier grew serious. “But that’s because you’ve already gone through a lot in the past day, and I don’t want you to have to deal with more.”
“Aww, thanks, Collier.” Petra squeezed him in a big bear hug. “You’re the best twin brother ever!”
She was in a room at the glass building. She slept on a couch, and Collier slept on the floor. Today they would begin their help.
Collier stirred in his sleep.
Petra got up and walked to a bookcase in the far corner. She looked through the books. Nothing really interested her, so she chose a random comic book on the bottom shelf. She slouched back onto the couch and started to read.
She was almost halfway through when she noticed Collier sitting up and looking at her.
“Good morning,” she greeted him.
“Mmmph,” he responded.
“What are you doing?”
“Uuuuuhn.”
“Okay. That’s great.” Petra returned to her reading as Collier slumped back onto the floor and covered his head with his pillow.
Just then, Professor walked into the room.
“Collier, is Petra up yet?” he asked. “I need to show both of you something.”
Petra looked down at Collier, expecting him to wake up. Then she looked back at Professor, then realized that he was talking to her.
“Professor? I’m Petra.”
Professor’s eyes widened, and he scratched his chin.
“Oh. I’m sorry, Petra. So Collier is still asleep?” He eyed the lump under the blanket. Petra nodded.
“Collier, time to get up.”
Collier sent out a murmuring sound.
“Collier.”
He sat up.
“Huh?”
“Professor has to tell us something.”
Professor looked at Petra, then at Collier. Then he knelt down beside them.
“Okay, here’s the deal. Remember that Asher Alexander guy I told you about yesterday?”
The twins nodded.
“Well, I sent in a request for you going, and he accepted. So you two are going to go on that mission, for sure.”
Petra and Collier exchanged nervous glances.
“You start tomorrow at 8:00 am sharp. It takes thirty minutes to get to his place, so we’ll have to leave at 7:30. You’ll choose for yourself when you’re going to wake up. Now who goes first?”
Petra looked at Collier. He sighed.
“I’ll go, Professor,” he volunteered.
“Okay. So I’ll be in at 7:15 to make sure you’re up. All right?”
“Sure. But when will I get back?”
“At 4:00 in the afternoon. Or, at least, that’s what he said.”
“Okay. I’ll do it.” Collier’s eyes slid over to his sister. “What will Petra be doing?”
“I already have that figured out. I’ve hired a friend of mine to tutor you. His name is Mr. Murphy and he already knows your situation. He’ll just have to figure out which one of you two he’s teaching at the moment. But Petra will start with him tomorrow, then Collier will start with him when Petra’s gone.” Professor checked his watch. “Sorry, I have to go. I don’t want to be late for work.” Then, without another word, he hurried out of the room.
“I almost forgot that school’s still going on,” Petra said.
“Yeah, imagine where we would be if we didn’t both get in the truck yesterday.”
They both thought about it for a moment. None of them could imagine it.
“Hey, Collier, thanks.”
“For what?”
“For going first.”
“Oh. Well, I wanted to anyway.”
“Right. Uh-huh.” Petra lightly punched his shoulder.
“Okay, okay, I did it for you!” Then Collier grew serious. “But that’s because you’ve already gone through a lot in the past day, and I don’t want you to have to deal with more.”
“Aww, thanks, Collier.” Petra squeezed him in a big bear hug. “You’re the best twin brother ever!”
Monday, August 29, 2011
Just a Quick Note
Just saying, I changed Professor Kreisler's name to Professor Stein. You won't really need that, though, because I usually refer to him as 'Professor.' And please, please, please tell me which parts were confusing and which parts you liked, etc. It'll really help me. Thanks!
Saving Professor (Part 5)
Back at the window building, Petra sat on a stool with a cloth tied around her neck. She was looking nervously into a mirror.
This is the last time my hair’s going to be like this, she thought. Unless we get this work done fast, I’ll have short hair. And it’ll look really funny when it’s between short and long. But I’ll do it. I’ve always wondered what I’d look like with short hair, anyway.
“Ready, Petra?”
Professor entered the door with a short lady. She had a pair of styling scissors in her hand.
“This is Mrs. Krought. She’ll be cutting your hair today,” Professor introduced.
Petra nodded at the lady, who nodded back.
“Now how do you want it, Sweetie?” she asked.
“Like my brother’s,” Petra answered, pointing to Collier.
“That short?”
“Well, I kind of have to.”
“Okay. Now sit still and don’t move.”
Petra chewed on her lower lip as she felt the scissors cut off her hair. It was cut to her shoulders, then to her chin, and then to her ears. Collier looked on with wide eyes.
Finally, the lady took out an electric shaver.
“No, don’t do that,” Petra commanded without thinking.
The lady placed a strange-looking piece on the end of it, saying, “No, honey, this won’t make you bald. It’ll just make you like your brother.” She nodded and smiled at Collier.
“Well, okay,” Petra answered nervously. She believed the lady, but was still slightly surprised and very relieved when her hair wasn’t completely shaved off.
The lady did extra trimming up hear the top, then stood back.
“Very good!” she exclaimed. “What do you think?” she asked Collier.
“Umm… yeah. Yeah, she looks like me,” Collier answered, not able to rip his gaze from his sister. “But can you give me the same haircut so we look identical?”
“If you wish,” she lady said. “Get up on the stool.”
Petra untied the cloth and nervously put her hand up to her shoulders. There was no hair behind her neck like she was used to.
Do I want to feel my hair? I don’t want to, but I’ll have to sometime, she thought.
Collier got up onto the stool. His haircut was easier, because he was used to it. He was done in five minutes.
“You like it?” he asked, walking to Petra.
“I don’t know.”
“Have you seen it yet?”
“No.”
“Have you touched it yet?”
“No.”
“Touch it. It’s not bad.”
“I don’t want to! It’s like I’m scared, but I’m not.”
“Here. I’ll touch it with you.”
Collier took Petra’s hand and led it up to her head. He ran it across the front and down the sides.
“See? It’s not bad.”
Petra was still unable to speak. Tears swam at the edges of her vision, but she tried with all her might to stop them.
Why do I always have to be so emotional? Why did I even agree with this in the first place?
Finally, she couldn’t help it anymore. She leaned over and cried on Collier’s shoulder. He led her to a chair and sat her down.
“Petra. Petra, it’s okay,” he calmly whispered, but it was no use. It was awkward talking to someone who was crying. So he just sat here and let her cry. He couldn’t do anything that wouldn’t feel awkward, anyway.
Just then, Professor walked in without saying a word. He took a glance at Petra and his lips formed a tight line. Something that looked like sympathy filled up in his eyes, and he looked at Collier.
Collier met his gaze and copied Professor’s expression. Professor looked on for a few more seconds, then left the room.
“Petra. Petra.” Collier shook Petra’s shoulders. She responded with a mumble.
“Petra, it’s okay.”
Petra pulled away and sat up.
“No, it’s not!”
“Petra, yes, it is. We’re doing this for good, remember?”
“Why does good always have to hurt?”
Petra began to run from the room, her face still stained with tears.
“Come back,” Collier called. He walked over to the sink and put a paper towel under cool, running water. Then he went to Petra, who was slumped against the doorframe. He led her to the chair again.
“Here,” he said, handing her the wet paper towel. “Wipe your face with it. It’ll feel good, trust me.”
Petra took the towel and wiped it on her face. Then she blew her nose on it and tossed it in the trash.
“That’s better,” Collier said. “You okay now?”
Petra sniffled.
“A little bit,” she answered.
“Good,” Professor said, striding into the room. He kneeled down beside Petra. “You’re a brave girl.”
This is the last time my hair’s going to be like this, she thought. Unless we get this work done fast, I’ll have short hair. And it’ll look really funny when it’s between short and long. But I’ll do it. I’ve always wondered what I’d look like with short hair, anyway.
“Ready, Petra?”
Professor entered the door with a short lady. She had a pair of styling scissors in her hand.
“This is Mrs. Krought. She’ll be cutting your hair today,” Professor introduced.
Petra nodded at the lady, who nodded back.
“Now how do you want it, Sweetie?” she asked.
“Like my brother’s,” Petra answered, pointing to Collier.
“That short?”
“Well, I kind of have to.”
“Okay. Now sit still and don’t move.”
Petra chewed on her lower lip as she felt the scissors cut off her hair. It was cut to her shoulders, then to her chin, and then to her ears. Collier looked on with wide eyes.
Finally, the lady took out an electric shaver.
“No, don’t do that,” Petra commanded without thinking.
The lady placed a strange-looking piece on the end of it, saying, “No, honey, this won’t make you bald. It’ll just make you like your brother.” She nodded and smiled at Collier.
“Well, okay,” Petra answered nervously. She believed the lady, but was still slightly surprised and very relieved when her hair wasn’t completely shaved off.
The lady did extra trimming up hear the top, then stood back.
“Very good!” she exclaimed. “What do you think?” she asked Collier.
“Umm… yeah. Yeah, she looks like me,” Collier answered, not able to rip his gaze from his sister. “But can you give me the same haircut so we look identical?”
“If you wish,” she lady said. “Get up on the stool.”
Petra untied the cloth and nervously put her hand up to her shoulders. There was no hair behind her neck like she was used to.
Do I want to feel my hair? I don’t want to, but I’ll have to sometime, she thought.
Collier got up onto the stool. His haircut was easier, because he was used to it. He was done in five minutes.
“You like it?” he asked, walking to Petra.
“I don’t know.”
“Have you seen it yet?”
“No.”
“Have you touched it yet?”
“No.”
“Touch it. It’s not bad.”
“I don’t want to! It’s like I’m scared, but I’m not.”
“Here. I’ll touch it with you.”
Collier took Petra’s hand and led it up to her head. He ran it across the front and down the sides.
“See? It’s not bad.”
Petra was still unable to speak. Tears swam at the edges of her vision, but she tried with all her might to stop them.
Why do I always have to be so emotional? Why did I even agree with this in the first place?
Finally, she couldn’t help it anymore. She leaned over and cried on Collier’s shoulder. He led her to a chair and sat her down.
“Petra. Petra, it’s okay,” he calmly whispered, but it was no use. It was awkward talking to someone who was crying. So he just sat here and let her cry. He couldn’t do anything that wouldn’t feel awkward, anyway.
Just then, Professor walked in without saying a word. He took a glance at Petra and his lips formed a tight line. Something that looked like sympathy filled up in his eyes, and he looked at Collier.
Collier met his gaze and copied Professor’s expression. Professor looked on for a few more seconds, then left the room.
“Petra. Petra.” Collier shook Petra’s shoulders. She responded with a mumble.
“Petra, it’s okay.”
Petra pulled away and sat up.
“No, it’s not!”
“Petra, yes, it is. We’re doing this for good, remember?”
“Why does good always have to hurt?”
Petra began to run from the room, her face still stained with tears.
“Come back,” Collier called. He walked over to the sink and put a paper towel under cool, running water. Then he went to Petra, who was slumped against the doorframe. He led her to the chair again.
“Here,” he said, handing her the wet paper towel. “Wipe your face with it. It’ll feel good, trust me.”
Petra took the towel and wiped it on her face. Then she blew her nose on it and tossed it in the trash.
“That’s better,” Collier said. “You okay now?”
Petra sniffled.
“A little bit,” she answered.
“Good,” Professor said, striding into the room. He kneeled down beside Petra. “You’re a brave girl.”
Saving Professor (Part 4)
He pushed them into a room and closed the door. Then he sat them down in chairs. Over the intercom, he announced, “Stein, come and retrieve your children in room 6G. Room 6G.”
Petra’s heart was pounding. What was going on?
She heard the door open, and then Professor’s voice spoke.
“What did you want me for?”
The other man’s voice spoke. “Here are your two children. Or… are these your children?”
Petra could imagine Professor peering at her and Collier. She was afraid of what he may say. His answer surprised her.
“Yes. Yes, they are my kids. But I could hardly recognize them with their blindfolds on. Kids, you can take them off now.”
Slowly, as if waiting for some sort of second cue, Petra lifted her blindfold. She looked over at Collier, who was looking back at her. Then she lifted her head up to see Professor standing over them.
“Come on, kids,” he said. “Let’s go somewhere.”
“Not the office, sir,” the man said, stepping in.
“Of course not,” Professor replied. “And would you close the door?”
The door swung closed, and Professor took a seat across from the twins.
“So what brings you two here?” he asked.
Collier and Petra glanced nervously at each other.
Collier started.
“Um, well… we were both curious as of what you have been doing when you left class so quickly.”
“And was that really your business?”
“It wasn’t ours, but it wasn’t yours, either.”
Professor laughed.
“And why, Collier, is it not my business?”
“Because you work at the boarding school, right? That’s your business. You get money from teaching.”
Professor laughed again.
“Yes, I do. That is true. But there is something else.”
“Wait, wait, wait…” Petra cut in. “I’m sorry for interrupting, but… you aren’t mad?”
“No, why would I be? I did expect one of my students to track me down at some point. I didn’t expect two, though!”
“So what are you doing here?” Collier questioned. “We didn’t come just to find nothing.”
“Oh, you’ll find something,” Professor said. “Something that you won’t believe. Okay, here it is—I need your help.”
“That’s the news?”
“No. The news is that I am a secret agent. Kind of. Well, what I’m doing is stopping one of my former students from doing something that we don’t want to happen.
“This person’s name is Asher Alexander. He used to attend the boarding school. And you know how it’s been really dry lately?”
The twins nodded.
“Well, he’s always considered himself ‘eco-friendly,’ so he made a way for all the plants to get enough water.”
“Wait, how’s this bad?” Petra asked.
“I haven’t told you yet. His plan is to explode all the water towers in the area.”
“Wow,” Petra said.
“Wow,” Collier repeated.
Professor nodded.
“So our plan is to stop him. But I need your help to do that.”
“How would we help? We’re just kids.”
“Exactly. You’re just what Stein’s looking for.”
“Kids?”
“Yes. He wants a young kid to train, because he isn’t quite sure that he will be alive when his plan is carried out. So he needs someone to train.”
“You’re not making us do this.”
“Do you want to help or not?” Professor leaned forward. “You have a choice—you can take me up on this offer or you can go right back with me to the boarding school.”
Collier and Petra exchanged nervous glances. They already knew they were thinking the same thing.
Collier spoke for them.
“We’ll do it.”
“Are you sure? It’s not going to be easy.”
Petra looked at Collier, but his gaze was evenly meeting Professor’s.
“Yes. We’re ready.”
Professor leaned back in his chair.
“Now here’s the catch—he only wants one kid.”
“So which one of us gets to go?”
“Both.”
“But didn’t you just say that he only wanted one?”
“Yes. But you’re twins, remember? He won’t be able to tell the difference.”
Petra and Collier looked at each other, relieved. But then their smiles dropped. They looked at Professor.
“Petra, Collier, you will have to look identical. Do you realize that?”
“Yes,” the twins answered together.
“Now how are you going to do that?”
Petra looked at Collier. She realized that for them to look alike, Petra would have to change her appearance.
“It’s okay,” Collier whispered.
Petra looked back at Professor, who looked guilty for putting the kids through such a hard decision.
“I’ll do it.”
“Do what?”
“I’ll cut my hair.”
“What else?”
“Uh… wear boy clothes?”
Professor nodded.
“We need to get started as soon as possible. We need to get clothes for you quickly. This means that we are going on a shopping trip.”
Normally, Petra would be excited about this, because she rarely had a chance to go to a store. But instead, she was nervous.
The twins followed Professor through the doors of a clothing store. They headed directly to the boy’s section. They stopped at a pile of polo shirts that were on sale.
Professor held a macaroni-orange shirt against Petra and nodded.
“What do you think, Collier?”
Collier licked his lips and frowned. Petra sent him a questioning look. He shook his head slightly.
Professor put down the shirt.
“Okay, you two find what you want. Sorry, Petra, you probably won’t want anything in here.”
Professor walked to the men’s section.
Petra immediately turned to Collier.
“This is crazy!”
“I know, but we’re going to have to do it. Just choose something.”
“I don’t want to!”
“Come on, Petra, you wear polos every day at school. It’s not that different.”
“Yeah, but I’ll be looking like a boy!”
“Don’t think of it as looking like a boy. You’ll just be looking like me. And you’ve always looked like me. Except now it’s just a little different.”
“A little different, huh?”
Collier sighed.
“Petra, you don’t have a choice.”
“Yes, I do.”
“But you know what you want to do.”
Petra thought for a moment.
“Yeah, I guess I do.”
“Then how about try on this green shirt?”
Collier held up a forest green polo. Petra took it.
Petra’s heart was pounding. What was going on?
She heard the door open, and then Professor’s voice spoke.
“What did you want me for?”
The other man’s voice spoke. “Here are your two children. Or… are these your children?”
Petra could imagine Professor peering at her and Collier. She was afraid of what he may say. His answer surprised her.
“Yes. Yes, they are my kids. But I could hardly recognize them with their blindfolds on. Kids, you can take them off now.”
Slowly, as if waiting for some sort of second cue, Petra lifted her blindfold. She looked over at Collier, who was looking back at her. Then she lifted her head up to see Professor standing over them.
“Come on, kids,” he said. “Let’s go somewhere.”
“Not the office, sir,” the man said, stepping in.
“Of course not,” Professor replied. “And would you close the door?”
The door swung closed, and Professor took a seat across from the twins.
“So what brings you two here?” he asked.
Collier and Petra glanced nervously at each other.
Collier started.
“Um, well… we were both curious as of what you have been doing when you left class so quickly.”
“And was that really your business?”
“It wasn’t ours, but it wasn’t yours, either.”
Professor laughed.
“And why, Collier, is it not my business?”
“Because you work at the boarding school, right? That’s your business. You get money from teaching.”
Professor laughed again.
“Yes, I do. That is true. But there is something else.”
“Wait, wait, wait…” Petra cut in. “I’m sorry for interrupting, but… you aren’t mad?”
“No, why would I be? I did expect one of my students to track me down at some point. I didn’t expect two, though!”
“So what are you doing here?” Collier questioned. “We didn’t come just to find nothing.”
“Oh, you’ll find something,” Professor said. “Something that you won’t believe. Okay, here it is—I need your help.”
“That’s the news?”
“No. The news is that I am a secret agent. Kind of. Well, what I’m doing is stopping one of my former students from doing something that we don’t want to happen.
“This person’s name is Asher Alexander. He used to attend the boarding school. And you know how it’s been really dry lately?”
The twins nodded.
“Well, he’s always considered himself ‘eco-friendly,’ so he made a way for all the plants to get enough water.”
“Wait, how’s this bad?” Petra asked.
“I haven’t told you yet. His plan is to explode all the water towers in the area.”
“Wow,” Petra said.
“Wow,” Collier repeated.
Professor nodded.
“So our plan is to stop him. But I need your help to do that.”
“How would we help? We’re just kids.”
“Exactly. You’re just what Stein’s looking for.”
“Kids?”
“Yes. He wants a young kid to train, because he isn’t quite sure that he will be alive when his plan is carried out. So he needs someone to train.”
“You’re not making us do this.”
“Do you want to help or not?” Professor leaned forward. “You have a choice—you can take me up on this offer or you can go right back with me to the boarding school.”
Collier and Petra exchanged nervous glances. They already knew they were thinking the same thing.
Collier spoke for them.
“We’ll do it.”
“Are you sure? It’s not going to be easy.”
Petra looked at Collier, but his gaze was evenly meeting Professor’s.
“Yes. We’re ready.”
Professor leaned back in his chair.
“Now here’s the catch—he only wants one kid.”
“So which one of us gets to go?”
“Both.”
“But didn’t you just say that he only wanted one?”
“Yes. But you’re twins, remember? He won’t be able to tell the difference.”
Petra and Collier looked at each other, relieved. But then their smiles dropped. They looked at Professor.
“Petra, Collier, you will have to look identical. Do you realize that?”
“Yes,” the twins answered together.
“Now how are you going to do that?”
Petra looked at Collier. She realized that for them to look alike, Petra would have to change her appearance.
“It’s okay,” Collier whispered.
Petra looked back at Professor, who looked guilty for putting the kids through such a hard decision.
“I’ll do it.”
“Do what?”
“I’ll cut my hair.”
“What else?”
“Uh… wear boy clothes?”
Professor nodded.
“We need to get started as soon as possible. We need to get clothes for you quickly. This means that we are going on a shopping trip.”
Normally, Petra would be excited about this, because she rarely had a chance to go to a store. But instead, she was nervous.
The twins followed Professor through the doors of a clothing store. They headed directly to the boy’s section. They stopped at a pile of polo shirts that were on sale.
Professor held a macaroni-orange shirt against Petra and nodded.
“What do you think, Collier?”
Collier licked his lips and frowned. Petra sent him a questioning look. He shook his head slightly.
Professor put down the shirt.
“Okay, you two find what you want. Sorry, Petra, you probably won’t want anything in here.”
Professor walked to the men’s section.
Petra immediately turned to Collier.
“This is crazy!”
“I know, but we’re going to have to do it. Just choose something.”
“I don’t want to!”
“Come on, Petra, you wear polos every day at school. It’s not that different.”
“Yeah, but I’ll be looking like a boy!”
“Don’t think of it as looking like a boy. You’ll just be looking like me. And you’ve always looked like me. Except now it’s just a little different.”
“A little different, huh?”
Collier sighed.
“Petra, you don’t have a choice.”
“Yes, I do.”
“But you know what you want to do.”
Petra thought for a moment.
“Yeah, I guess I do.”
“Then how about try on this green shirt?”
Collier held up a forest green polo. Petra took it.
Saving Professor (Part 3)
Class began. Professor was back, as always.
“Good morning,” he began. “Let’s get our your homework from yesterday.”
The class looked around at each other.
“What’s the matter? Did anyone do it?”
A shy kid named Chris slowly raised his hand.
“You gave us the same assignment as you did the day before.”
Professor looked confused.
“You never changed it,” Chris clarified.
Professor looked at the board.
“I didn’t?”
The class shook their heads. Professor was obviously confused.
“Well, then. I guess we can go on to the next section.”
Petra robotically copied down notes, not letting the material sink into her mind. She would take about five minutes running to his truck, but she needed to do that before he left. That would mean she would have to leave the classroom at about…
Petra raised her hand.
“Yes, Petra? Do you know the answer to number three?”
“Um, no,” Petra said. She swallowed, then continued. “May I go to the restroom?”
“Sure, go ahead. Are you all right? You look a bit pale.”
Petra nodded and quickly escaped the room, hoping that Professor wouldn’t notice that she didn’t take the restroom pass.
Running as fast as she could without making a noise, she made her way across the hall, down the stairs, and out the door. She imagined herself looking like an injured ostrich.
Finally outside in the brisk morning breeze, she located Professor’s bright apple-red truck parked on the far side of the lot. She took a sprint for it.
When she reached it, she was already out of breath. Making sure no one was around, she quietly slipped up into the back of the truck and opened the lid of the extra compartment.
Her heart jumped and she pulled back, barely catching herself from screaming. Then she leaned in for another look.
It was a person, a boy… Petra wondered if she should tell someone. Was this boy… dead?
Then he stirred, erasing all of Petra’s thoughts. Relief washed over her, but was just as quickly replaced by a different type of fear.
The boy turned his head and looked up at Petra.
Collier.
Petra kneeled down and spoke in a rapid whisper.
“Collier, what are you doing here?”
“Just wanted to see where Professor goes every day. You?”
“Me too!”
“What? Since when have you been into spying on teachers?”
“Since yesterday. Now hurry up. He thinks I’m in the restroom.”
Collier’s eyes fixed on something behind Petra. He froze.
“Petra. Petra. Get in!”
“What is it?” Without waiting for an answer, Petra looked behind her. And then she saw what Collier was looking at—Professor was walking briskly to his truck.
“Get IN!”
Petra scrambled into the compartment, and Collier slammed the lid down.
“How did—“ she began to ask.
“Don’t say anything!” Collier whispered.
Petra followed her brother’s orders. She studied the box she was in. Only a pinprick of light leaked in through the top corner. Other than that, it was pitch black.
Her and Collier were squished up next to each other, but they could still fit. In fact, she was surprised how large it was.
Suddenly, the truck jerked backwards.
Petra grabbed Collier’s ankle with one hand and steadied herself with the other.
The tires made screeching noise as the truck went careening out of the parking lot.
Petra’s heart raced, and she could hear Collier breathing hard.
“Collier,” she whispered, but he didn’t answer.
The truck raced along the road, jerking to a stop when a red light came. It came upon a very long red light, and Petra was already getting restless. Sweat dripped down her hair, and her shirt stuck to her back.
“Petra?” Collier’s whisper cut through the dark. “Petra, I think we stopped.”
“No, really?”
“I mean I think we’re here.”
“But we haven’t heard Professor get out yet.”
As if on cue, the door opened. The truck bobbed up as Professor stepped off. Then the door slammed shut again.
“One, two, three…” Collier counted. Petra tried to calm herself. “Twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six…”
Petra took a deep breath.
“Thirty. Time to get out,” Collier said in a full voice. He pushed the lid up, and sunlight spilled in, burning Petra’s eyes. Collier climbed out.
“Come on, Petra. We need to keep an eye on him.”
Collier reached for Petra’s hand and pulled her up.
They were at a large building that Petra had seen before. It was built mainly of shiny glass windows. Petra spotted Professor walking towards the door.
“Come on, Petra. It’s now or never.” Collier jumped out of the truck.
I’d rather have never, Petra thought.
Petra jumped out after him. The two of them quickly made their way to the front of the parking lot, dodging behind cars as they went. Through a van’s windshield, they studied the door.
“Great, there’s a code,” Collier said. “Petra, you have better eyesight than me. Can you see what he’s punching in?”
Petra strained to watch as Professor entered four numbers in the keypad. A light lit up and the doors opened.
“Okay, let’s get up there.”
Petra and Collier ran up to the keypad.
“Petra, type it in.”
“I couldn’t see whether it was 8694 or—“
“It doesn’t matter! Just type whatever in!”
Petra gulped and punched in the number ‘8694.’ A red light came on above us, and the keypad lit up, showing the words “Try Again.”
Exasperated, Petra sighed and tried ‘8691.’
To their delight, the doors opened.
“Now in! We can’t celebrate every moment. We don’t have time to lose!” Collier rushed Petra.
They entered the doors and came to another set that was already opened.
“Uh-oh,” Petra breathed.
In the next room was a desk with a lady behind it. Professor was writing on a clipboard, then he handed it back to her.
“Now if you could just sign here,” the lady said, giving Professor another piece of paper.
Petra turned to Collier.
“What are we going to do?” she asked.
“I don’t know. We need to get past her.”
“But how?”
Collier thought for a moment.
“Okay, I know how. I used to do this when I didn’t want to be caught getting late to class. We’ll have to sneak in front of her desk when she’s not looking. Take your shoes off so you won’t make any noise. Then from there we should be able to get past fine.”
Taking off her shoes, Petra asked, “When will we know it’s time?”
“Right now,” Collier ordered. Petra looked up and saw Professor leaving. “I’ll go first, you follow me.”
Petra followed Collier as they crawled in front of the desk. Then he shot across the floor into the hall behind the door. Petra tried following him, but she dropped her shoe and tripped her knees over it.
Panic filled up inside her. Collier dashed behind a wall, out of sight.
Petra heard wheels roll around, the footsteps approach her. She looked up into the face of the main desk lady.
“Hello, darling,” the lady said. “May I help you?”
“Um, yes,” Petra managed to say. “I was just, um, visiting my father. Bringing him lunch.”
“I don’t see any lunch,” the lady pointed out.
“Yes, that’s because I got hungry along the way and ate it. But I bet he still wants to see me.”
“I bet he does,” the lady laughed. “Now what’s your father’s name?”
“Ummm… Mr... Mr. Stein.”
“Oh! Our new Vice President?”
“Oh… yes. I guess.”
“Oh, he’s a very wonderful man. And he has a very wonderful daughter, too!” she added, smiling at her. She picked up her phone. “Now I’ll just give him a quick call to let him know you’re coming. That way, the guards will let you know that they can let you pass.”
Before Petra could object, the lady dialed into the phone. When she spoke, she wasn’t calling Professor at all; instead, she was speaking on the intercom.
“Mr. Stein, you have a visitor. Your little daughter is here to see you. Guards, please let her through.”
Then the lady hung up and told Petra, “Now you go right in. His office is 15B. If you get lost, just ask anyone. They should show you the way.”
Petra nodded, the scuttled behind the corner. Collier grabbed her.
“What was that?” he demanded.
“Relax, Collier. Now no one’s going to bother us. We have permission.”
A tall man came walking down the hall. He nodded and smiled at Petra and Collier.
Petra turned to Collier.
“See?”
Collier nodded.
“We need to find the elevator. What room did she say Professor’s in?”
“15B.”
“That’ll probably be on the fifteenth floor.” Collier located the elevator and pressed the ‘up’ button. The doors immediately opened. There was already a man inside. Petra and Collier smiled grimly at him.
“Which floor are you going to?” the man asked without any trace of expression.
Collier looked at the buttons.
“We’re going to floor… Wait, that’s weird. It stops at fourteen.”
“Yes, young man, there are only fourteen floors.” The man peered at Collier curiously.
“Oh…” Collier looked at Petra, who shrugged.
“Who are you going to see?”
“Our father. Mr. Stein.”
“Then you come with me.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Collier and Petra slowly followed the man out. He pulled two blindfolds out of a drawer, and blindfolded the kids.
“Come with me.”
“Good morning,” he began. “Let’s get our your homework from yesterday.”
The class looked around at each other.
“What’s the matter? Did anyone do it?”
A shy kid named Chris slowly raised his hand.
“You gave us the same assignment as you did the day before.”
Professor looked confused.
“You never changed it,” Chris clarified.
Professor looked at the board.
“I didn’t?”
The class shook their heads. Professor was obviously confused.
“Well, then. I guess we can go on to the next section.”
Petra robotically copied down notes, not letting the material sink into her mind. She would take about five minutes running to his truck, but she needed to do that before he left. That would mean she would have to leave the classroom at about…
Petra raised her hand.
“Yes, Petra? Do you know the answer to number three?”
“Um, no,” Petra said. She swallowed, then continued. “May I go to the restroom?”
“Sure, go ahead. Are you all right? You look a bit pale.”
Petra nodded and quickly escaped the room, hoping that Professor wouldn’t notice that she didn’t take the restroom pass.
Running as fast as she could without making a noise, she made her way across the hall, down the stairs, and out the door. She imagined herself looking like an injured ostrich.
Finally outside in the brisk morning breeze, she located Professor’s bright apple-red truck parked on the far side of the lot. She took a sprint for it.
When she reached it, she was already out of breath. Making sure no one was around, she quietly slipped up into the back of the truck and opened the lid of the extra compartment.
Her heart jumped and she pulled back, barely catching herself from screaming. Then she leaned in for another look.
It was a person, a boy… Petra wondered if she should tell someone. Was this boy… dead?
Then he stirred, erasing all of Petra’s thoughts. Relief washed over her, but was just as quickly replaced by a different type of fear.
The boy turned his head and looked up at Petra.
Collier.
Petra kneeled down and spoke in a rapid whisper.
“Collier, what are you doing here?”
“Just wanted to see where Professor goes every day. You?”
“Me too!”
“What? Since when have you been into spying on teachers?”
“Since yesterday. Now hurry up. He thinks I’m in the restroom.”
Collier’s eyes fixed on something behind Petra. He froze.
“Petra. Petra. Get in!”
“What is it?” Without waiting for an answer, Petra looked behind her. And then she saw what Collier was looking at—Professor was walking briskly to his truck.
“Get IN!”
Petra scrambled into the compartment, and Collier slammed the lid down.
“How did—“ she began to ask.
“Don’t say anything!” Collier whispered.
Petra followed her brother’s orders. She studied the box she was in. Only a pinprick of light leaked in through the top corner. Other than that, it was pitch black.
Her and Collier were squished up next to each other, but they could still fit. In fact, she was surprised how large it was.
Suddenly, the truck jerked backwards.
Petra grabbed Collier’s ankle with one hand and steadied herself with the other.
The tires made screeching noise as the truck went careening out of the parking lot.
Petra’s heart raced, and she could hear Collier breathing hard.
“Collier,” she whispered, but he didn’t answer.
The truck raced along the road, jerking to a stop when a red light came. It came upon a very long red light, and Petra was already getting restless. Sweat dripped down her hair, and her shirt stuck to her back.
“Petra?” Collier’s whisper cut through the dark. “Petra, I think we stopped.”
“No, really?”
“I mean I think we’re here.”
“But we haven’t heard Professor get out yet.”
As if on cue, the door opened. The truck bobbed up as Professor stepped off. Then the door slammed shut again.
“One, two, three…” Collier counted. Petra tried to calm herself. “Twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six…”
Petra took a deep breath.
“Thirty. Time to get out,” Collier said in a full voice. He pushed the lid up, and sunlight spilled in, burning Petra’s eyes. Collier climbed out.
“Come on, Petra. We need to keep an eye on him.”
Collier reached for Petra’s hand and pulled her up.
They were at a large building that Petra had seen before. It was built mainly of shiny glass windows. Petra spotted Professor walking towards the door.
“Come on, Petra. It’s now or never.” Collier jumped out of the truck.
I’d rather have never, Petra thought.
Petra jumped out after him. The two of them quickly made their way to the front of the parking lot, dodging behind cars as they went. Through a van’s windshield, they studied the door.
“Great, there’s a code,” Collier said. “Petra, you have better eyesight than me. Can you see what he’s punching in?”
Petra strained to watch as Professor entered four numbers in the keypad. A light lit up and the doors opened.
“Okay, let’s get up there.”
Petra and Collier ran up to the keypad.
“Petra, type it in.”
“I couldn’t see whether it was 8694 or—“
“It doesn’t matter! Just type whatever in!”
Petra gulped and punched in the number ‘8694.’ A red light came on above us, and the keypad lit up, showing the words “Try Again.”
Exasperated, Petra sighed and tried ‘8691.’
To their delight, the doors opened.
“Now in! We can’t celebrate every moment. We don’t have time to lose!” Collier rushed Petra.
They entered the doors and came to another set that was already opened.
“Uh-oh,” Petra breathed.
In the next room was a desk with a lady behind it. Professor was writing on a clipboard, then he handed it back to her.
“Now if you could just sign here,” the lady said, giving Professor another piece of paper.
Petra turned to Collier.
“What are we going to do?” she asked.
“I don’t know. We need to get past her.”
“But how?”
Collier thought for a moment.
“Okay, I know how. I used to do this when I didn’t want to be caught getting late to class. We’ll have to sneak in front of her desk when she’s not looking. Take your shoes off so you won’t make any noise. Then from there we should be able to get past fine.”
Taking off her shoes, Petra asked, “When will we know it’s time?”
“Right now,” Collier ordered. Petra looked up and saw Professor leaving. “I’ll go first, you follow me.”
Petra followed Collier as they crawled in front of the desk. Then he shot across the floor into the hall behind the door. Petra tried following him, but she dropped her shoe and tripped her knees over it.
Panic filled up inside her. Collier dashed behind a wall, out of sight.
Petra heard wheels roll around, the footsteps approach her. She looked up into the face of the main desk lady.
“Hello, darling,” the lady said. “May I help you?”
“Um, yes,” Petra managed to say. “I was just, um, visiting my father. Bringing him lunch.”
“I don’t see any lunch,” the lady pointed out.
“Yes, that’s because I got hungry along the way and ate it. But I bet he still wants to see me.”
“I bet he does,” the lady laughed. “Now what’s your father’s name?”
“Ummm… Mr... Mr. Stein.”
“Oh! Our new Vice President?”
“Oh… yes. I guess.”
“Oh, he’s a very wonderful man. And he has a very wonderful daughter, too!” she added, smiling at her. She picked up her phone. “Now I’ll just give him a quick call to let him know you’re coming. That way, the guards will let you know that they can let you pass.”
Before Petra could object, the lady dialed into the phone. When she spoke, she wasn’t calling Professor at all; instead, she was speaking on the intercom.
“Mr. Stein, you have a visitor. Your little daughter is here to see you. Guards, please let her through.”
Then the lady hung up and told Petra, “Now you go right in. His office is 15B. If you get lost, just ask anyone. They should show you the way.”
Petra nodded, the scuttled behind the corner. Collier grabbed her.
“What was that?” he demanded.
“Relax, Collier. Now no one’s going to bother us. We have permission.”
A tall man came walking down the hall. He nodded and smiled at Petra and Collier.
Petra turned to Collier.
“See?”
Collier nodded.
“We need to find the elevator. What room did she say Professor’s in?”
“15B.”
“That’ll probably be on the fifteenth floor.” Collier located the elevator and pressed the ‘up’ button. The doors immediately opened. There was already a man inside. Petra and Collier smiled grimly at him.
“Which floor are you going to?” the man asked without any trace of expression.
Collier looked at the buttons.
“We’re going to floor… Wait, that’s weird. It stops at fourteen.”
“Yes, young man, there are only fourteen floors.” The man peered at Collier curiously.
“Oh…” Collier looked at Petra, who shrugged.
“Who are you going to see?”
“Our father. Mr. Stein.”
“Then you come with me.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Collier and Petra slowly followed the man out. He pulled two blindfolds out of a drawer, and blindfolded the kids.
“Come with me.”
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 2)
Petra lay in her bed at night, going over the day’s events. Then her thoughts rested on Professor.
Why had he left so quickly? What was he doing?
She frowned and kept thinking. Then her imagination took over.
What if he’s a secret agent under cover? What if he’s really not Professor Stein? What if…
What if I followed him?
Petra quickly sat up, hitting her head on the ceiling in the process, which knocked her back down.
Below, Katelyn’s heavy breathing stopped. She was awake.
Petra lay extra still in her bed. Katelyn stirred around, and then fell back asleep.
Petra’s thoughts returned.
Yeah, what if I did follow him? I’d know where he goes! No, that’s impossible. I’d get caught. Maybe there’s a way, though. I could ask to go to the bathroom, then I’ll sneak out to his truck and hide in the back. No, that won’t work. There’s no way he would miss me. Wait! Maybe the compartment is empty. How would I know? Well, it’s worth a try, I suppose… And if it isn’t empty, then I’ll just go back to class. Yeah, that’s it! I’ll do that!
Petra smiled to herself. She would carry out her plan the next morning.
Satisfied with her thoughts, she drifted to sleep.
Collier sat at his desk. The light from the lamp glared into his eyes. He put his face in his hands and groaned. He swiveled his chair around to see the clock on the wall behind him. It was 11:38 pm.
But he couldn’t go to bed yet. He had to finish his Chemistry project, which was two days overdue. If one more day passed, he would receive an In-School Suspension. He knew from experience that those were not fun.
He turned back to his work. He read Question #11 for the fiftieth time.
How many valence electrons do Krypton atoms have?
The question drifted out of his head as he tapped his pencil on the desk.
Then he thought.
He thought about school. About what Petra said—was it true? Was Algebra II really his favorite subject? English II came close… And what was all that about Professor?
He probably just had a doctor’s appointment. He doesn’t need to tell us those details, so he just doesn’t. But, wait, he wouldn’t have an appointment every day, would he? Maybe he has some sort of disease or something. Maybe the doctors have to watch his health.
No, it’s probably not that. He’s not going to the doctor. It’s something else. I need to find out. And I’m going to.
What car does he drive again?
Right, he has a truck. Now if I could just get into that compartment… It shouldn’t have anything in it. I’ll do that tomorrow. I’ll just skip class and get into his truck. If I skip class I’ll get an ISS, but I’m getting that anyway, because I can’t finish this assignment.
Collier switched off the lamp and felt his way to his bed.
As soon as his head touched the pillow, he was asleep.
The next morning, Collier got up earlier than he ever had—earlier than Anthony. He knew that Anthony would want to walk to class together, but he wouldn’t be walking to class that morning.
He couldn’t tell Anthony, either. He knew that his roommate wouldn’t approve.
Collier pulled out his backpack. Then he thought. He wouldn’t need it, would he? But what about clothes? What if he wouldn’t be back for a long time?
But, no, Professor was always back by the next day.
Collier ditched his backpack and went to the sink. This time, he actually brushed his teeth and washed his face with soap. He combed his hair and even sprayed on some of Anthony’s cologne.
Why am I doing this? I’ll be back by tomorrow, anyway, Collier thought. He shrugged and took a piece of extra yellow paper, on which he scribbled, “Left early to go to chess club—Collier.” He wondered if there even was a chess club. But he didn’t care, and Anthony wouldn’t know, anyway. Then he thought before adding, “Sorry about the cologne smell. I accidentally knocked it off the sink and the lid came off.”
Collier slapped a piece of tape onto the paper and put it up onto the mirror.
He slipped out the door just as Anthony’s alarm clock went off.
Petra was the first one to class, as usual. She was nervous, but she didn’t know why. Sneaking into Professor’s truck wasn’t something to be afraid of, was it?
It was, actually. It was something that Collier would do.
Petra smiled at the thought.
She took a seat near the door, so she would have more time to get to the truck and return, if things didn’t go as planned.
A steady stream of students poured in. But when the bell rang, Collier still hadn’t showed up.
He’s probably late, just like always, Petra thought. She took out her Algebra II notebook and opened it up to the first empty page. She began to doodle, which surprised her, because she never doodled on schoolwork unless she was nervous.
Then she remembered that she was nervous.
Class began. Professor was back, as always.
Why had he left so quickly? What was he doing?
She frowned and kept thinking. Then her imagination took over.
What if he’s a secret agent under cover? What if he’s really not Professor Stein? What if…
What if I followed him?
Petra quickly sat up, hitting her head on the ceiling in the process, which knocked her back down.
Below, Katelyn’s heavy breathing stopped. She was awake.
Petra lay extra still in her bed. Katelyn stirred around, and then fell back asleep.
Petra’s thoughts returned.
Yeah, what if I did follow him? I’d know where he goes! No, that’s impossible. I’d get caught. Maybe there’s a way, though. I could ask to go to the bathroom, then I’ll sneak out to his truck and hide in the back. No, that won’t work. There’s no way he would miss me. Wait! Maybe the compartment is empty. How would I know? Well, it’s worth a try, I suppose… And if it isn’t empty, then I’ll just go back to class. Yeah, that’s it! I’ll do that!
Petra smiled to herself. She would carry out her plan the next morning.
Satisfied with her thoughts, she drifted to sleep.
Collier sat at his desk. The light from the lamp glared into his eyes. He put his face in his hands and groaned. He swiveled his chair around to see the clock on the wall behind him. It was 11:38 pm.
But he couldn’t go to bed yet. He had to finish his Chemistry project, which was two days overdue. If one more day passed, he would receive an In-School Suspension. He knew from experience that those were not fun.
He turned back to his work. He read Question #11 for the fiftieth time.
How many valence electrons do Krypton atoms have?
The question drifted out of his head as he tapped his pencil on the desk.
Then he thought.
He thought about school. About what Petra said—was it true? Was Algebra II really his favorite subject? English II came close… And what was all that about Professor?
He probably just had a doctor’s appointment. He doesn’t need to tell us those details, so he just doesn’t. But, wait, he wouldn’t have an appointment every day, would he? Maybe he has some sort of disease or something. Maybe the doctors have to watch his health.
No, it’s probably not that. He’s not going to the doctor. It’s something else. I need to find out. And I’m going to.
What car does he drive again?
Right, he has a truck. Now if I could just get into that compartment… It shouldn’t have anything in it. I’ll do that tomorrow. I’ll just skip class and get into his truck. If I skip class I’ll get an ISS, but I’m getting that anyway, because I can’t finish this assignment.
Collier switched off the lamp and felt his way to his bed.
As soon as his head touched the pillow, he was asleep.
The next morning, Collier got up earlier than he ever had—earlier than Anthony. He knew that Anthony would want to walk to class together, but he wouldn’t be walking to class that morning.
He couldn’t tell Anthony, either. He knew that his roommate wouldn’t approve.
Collier pulled out his backpack. Then he thought. He wouldn’t need it, would he? But what about clothes? What if he wouldn’t be back for a long time?
But, no, Professor was always back by the next day.
Collier ditched his backpack and went to the sink. This time, he actually brushed his teeth and washed his face with soap. He combed his hair and even sprayed on some of Anthony’s cologne.
Why am I doing this? I’ll be back by tomorrow, anyway, Collier thought. He shrugged and took a piece of extra yellow paper, on which he scribbled, “Left early to go to chess club—Collier.” He wondered if there even was a chess club. But he didn’t care, and Anthony wouldn’t know, anyway. Then he thought before adding, “Sorry about the cologne smell. I accidentally knocked it off the sink and the lid came off.”
Collier slapped a piece of tape onto the paper and put it up onto the mirror.
He slipped out the door just as Anthony’s alarm clock went off.
Petra was the first one to class, as usual. She was nervous, but she didn’t know why. Sneaking into Professor’s truck wasn’t something to be afraid of, was it?
It was, actually. It was something that Collier would do.
Petra smiled at the thought.
She took a seat near the door, so she would have more time to get to the truck and return, if things didn’t go as planned.
A steady stream of students poured in. But when the bell rang, Collier still hadn’t showed up.
He’s probably late, just like always, Petra thought. She took out her Algebra II notebook and opened it up to the first empty page. She began to doodle, which surprised her, because she never doodled on schoolwork unless she was nervous.
Then she remembered that she was nervous.
Class began. Professor was back, as always.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saving Professor (Part 1)
Petra woke up shortly before the sun rose.
She sat up, stretched, and put on her glasses. She stumbled down the ladder of her bunk bed and sleepily made her way to her sink.
She tilted her head and looked into the mirror. Her honey brown hair was a messy frame around her face, making her slightly resemble a lion.
She picked up her brush and combed the tangles out. By the time she was done, her hair was restored to it’s regular straight and layered style.
She picked up her brush and turned the sink on slowly, so she wouldn’t wake her roommate, Katelyn, up.
She turned around to face the clock and began brushing. Singing a song in her head, she scrubbed her teeth for two minutes.
While she was spitting out into the sink, Katelyn groaned and sat up on her bed.
In between rinses, Petra asked, “You up early?”
“Not as early as you.” Katelyn slumped back onto her bed.
“You do know that it’s an early start today, right?”
“Uh… no…”
“Get up.”
“I don’t have to. Early start days only begin at seven thirty.”
“And I have to get to Physics club.” Wiping her face on a towel, Petra said, “Goodbye” and walked out the door.
The hall was silent. The only sound was her footsteps on the mahogany carpet. Petra pushed the heavy doors open and walked outside.
The sun was rising behind trees; it was a clear day, and birds were flying overhead.
Petra took a deep breath. She was ready for another day at the boarding school.
“Wake up, Collier!”
Collier rose to the sound of his roommate, Anthony.
“You’re going to be late to class. Come on, get up.” Anthony tossed Collier’s clothes on the bed. It was the usual dress; khaki shorts, white polo, and a navy blue vest.
“Anthony, do I really need a vest today? It’s really hot outside.”
“The classrooms are cold, though. Best you should wear one.”
Collier began to protest, but knew it was no use. He pulled on the vest, anyway. In front of the sink, he washed his face with water. He stuck a stick of gum in his mouth and started out the room after Anthony.
In the hall, Anthony questioned Collier about the gum.
“We aren’t allowed to chew gum during class, right?”
“Yeah. I’m going to spit it out before we start, though.”
“Wouldn’t that be a waste, then?”
“What would be a waste?”
“To chew a piece of gum for five minutes, then spit it out.”
“Fine, then I won’t spit it out.”
The two boys pushed open the front doors and walked to the nearest building, where their first classes were.
The halls inside were already busy. People greeted each other and others piled textbooks from their lockers into their backpacks. Everyone was wearing a uniform. It was a boarding school, anyway. But Collier had grown used to it, so it didn’t specifically bother him. In fact, he wondered how odd it would feel not to go to school in uniform.
Anthony went into his homeroom, and Collier turned down another hall to get to his.
Entering the classroom, he saw that he was the last one there. Scanning the rows for an empty seat, he spotted one at the back, behind his twin sister, Petra.
Collier slid into the chair. Petra turned around.
“You’re late,” she remarked. “Again.”
“I know, I know,” Collier mumbled, taking out his Algebra II book. As Petra watched, he opened the book to the page marked with a single piece of notebook paper—empty.
Collier slumped back in his chair.
“You didn’t do your homework.” Petra stated the obvious.
“I forgot,” Collier mumbled. He tilted his head back and studied the ceiling tiles. They were somewhat mesmerizing. The swirly patterns were like a never-ending labyrinth, which Collier tried to follow. It was both hypnotizing and frustrating, because his eyes couldn’t follow the intricate designs.
“Collier Simons? Are you listening?”
Collier jerked his head up. Class had apparently already begun. His teacher, Professor Stein, was asking him for the answer of a complicated problem scrawled on the board. Petra slightly turned around and snickered.
“Mr. Simons, you weren’t listening, were you?” Professor turned his head from the confused boy. “Class, what did I ask?”
The class, including Petra, rattled off the answer. Collier bit his lip and tried to concentrate. The lesson was new, and fairly difficult. But it wasn’t too hard for Collier.
He and Petra were at the tenth grade level at a boarding school in Michigan. They were very advanced for kids the age of eleven.
Their parents had discovered their talent when they both learned to read at the age of seven months. At that time, most other babies their age were still gnawing on doggie chew toys. And so that was how it went—Petra and Collier growing up faster than the other kids. They never had any friends, and weren’t especially close, either.
But they were twins, and they had a bond that most siblings didn’t have.
Collier scribbled down notes from the board ferociously.
“Let’s see… How much more time do we have left in class?” Professor looked down at his watch. His eyes widened, and he grabbed his suitcase. “I’m so sorry, class, I need to leave. The assignment is up on the board.” Professor walked out the door. “I will see you in class tomorrow.” He stuck his head back in. “Hopefully.” He added a grin that was a mix of “you shouldn’t worry, you all will do fine without me’ and ‘I really wonder if I’ll ever get back here again.’
Petra sighed and turned to Collier.
“He always does that,” she complained.
“I know,” Collier replied. “Just ignore it.”
“Ignore it? How do I ‘just ignore it’ when the teacher from my favorite subject doesn’t even finish the lesson?”
“He did too finish the lesson! He gave us the assignment, remember?” Collier pointed his pencil to the board.
“Yeah,” Petra said, rolling her eyes. “That was yesterday’s assignment. He never changed it. By the way, you should probably do that sometime soon.”
“Yeah, it might be good if I did do that.” Collier turned to the right page.
Petra turned back in her chair and pulled a book out of her backpack. Collier finished his homework; Petra finished her book.
There was still five minutes left of class. Half the kids had already fallen asleep; one was snoring.
“Gross,” Petra remarked, turning back around to face Collier. “What do you think is up with Professor Kreisler?”
Collier shrugged.
“I don’t know. I don’t care, either.”
“You do too, Collier. He’s your favorite teacher, too.”
“Well, yeah,” Collier agreed, “but it’s still not my favorite subject.”
“Then what is your favorite subject?”
Collier thought.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Maybe Algebra II really is my favorite.”
Petra smiled. “I know you better than you know yourself,” she joked.
Collier flicked her forehead with the tip of his pencil eraser. Petra pulled back and frowned.
“Hey!” she cried in mock pain.
Now it was Collier’s turn to grin.
“Sorry,” he apologized sheepishly.
“It’s okay. Didn’t really hurt that much.” Petra returned to her regular self.
Just then the bell rang. Collier and Petra looked at their sleeping classmates.
“Think we should wake them up?” Petra suggested. She knew Collier’s answer.
“Nope,” Collier responded with a mischievous smile.
“Yeah, let’s not,” Petra agreed.
Then the two joined the crown of classmates squeezing out the door. Once they got past, the turned in different directions—Collier to the left, Petra to the right—breaking apart for the rest of the day.
She sat up, stretched, and put on her glasses. She stumbled down the ladder of her bunk bed and sleepily made her way to her sink.
She tilted her head and looked into the mirror. Her honey brown hair was a messy frame around her face, making her slightly resemble a lion.
She picked up her brush and combed the tangles out. By the time she was done, her hair was restored to it’s regular straight and layered style.
She picked up her brush and turned the sink on slowly, so she wouldn’t wake her roommate, Katelyn, up.
She turned around to face the clock and began brushing. Singing a song in her head, she scrubbed her teeth for two minutes.
While she was spitting out into the sink, Katelyn groaned and sat up on her bed.
In between rinses, Petra asked, “You up early?”
“Not as early as you.” Katelyn slumped back onto her bed.
“You do know that it’s an early start today, right?”
“Uh… no…”
“Get up.”
“I don’t have to. Early start days only begin at seven thirty.”
“And I have to get to Physics club.” Wiping her face on a towel, Petra said, “Goodbye” and walked out the door.
The hall was silent. The only sound was her footsteps on the mahogany carpet. Petra pushed the heavy doors open and walked outside.
The sun was rising behind trees; it was a clear day, and birds were flying overhead.
Petra took a deep breath. She was ready for another day at the boarding school.
“Wake up, Collier!”
Collier rose to the sound of his roommate, Anthony.
“You’re going to be late to class. Come on, get up.” Anthony tossed Collier’s clothes on the bed. It was the usual dress; khaki shorts, white polo, and a navy blue vest.
“Anthony, do I really need a vest today? It’s really hot outside.”
“The classrooms are cold, though. Best you should wear one.”
Collier began to protest, but knew it was no use. He pulled on the vest, anyway. In front of the sink, he washed his face with water. He stuck a stick of gum in his mouth and started out the room after Anthony.
In the hall, Anthony questioned Collier about the gum.
“We aren’t allowed to chew gum during class, right?”
“Yeah. I’m going to spit it out before we start, though.”
“Wouldn’t that be a waste, then?”
“What would be a waste?”
“To chew a piece of gum for five minutes, then spit it out.”
“Fine, then I won’t spit it out.”
The two boys pushed open the front doors and walked to the nearest building, where their first classes were.
The halls inside were already busy. People greeted each other and others piled textbooks from their lockers into their backpacks. Everyone was wearing a uniform. It was a boarding school, anyway. But Collier had grown used to it, so it didn’t specifically bother him. In fact, he wondered how odd it would feel not to go to school in uniform.
Anthony went into his homeroom, and Collier turned down another hall to get to his.
Entering the classroom, he saw that he was the last one there. Scanning the rows for an empty seat, he spotted one at the back, behind his twin sister, Petra.
Collier slid into the chair. Petra turned around.
“You’re late,” she remarked. “Again.”
“I know, I know,” Collier mumbled, taking out his Algebra II book. As Petra watched, he opened the book to the page marked with a single piece of notebook paper—empty.
Collier slumped back in his chair.
“You didn’t do your homework.” Petra stated the obvious.
“I forgot,” Collier mumbled. He tilted his head back and studied the ceiling tiles. They were somewhat mesmerizing. The swirly patterns were like a never-ending labyrinth, which Collier tried to follow. It was both hypnotizing and frustrating, because his eyes couldn’t follow the intricate designs.
“Collier Simons? Are you listening?”
Collier jerked his head up. Class had apparently already begun. His teacher, Professor Stein, was asking him for the answer of a complicated problem scrawled on the board. Petra slightly turned around and snickered.
“Mr. Simons, you weren’t listening, were you?” Professor turned his head from the confused boy. “Class, what did I ask?”
The class, including Petra, rattled off the answer. Collier bit his lip and tried to concentrate. The lesson was new, and fairly difficult. But it wasn’t too hard for Collier.
He and Petra were at the tenth grade level at a boarding school in Michigan. They were very advanced for kids the age of eleven.
Their parents had discovered their talent when they both learned to read at the age of seven months. At that time, most other babies their age were still gnawing on doggie chew toys. And so that was how it went—Petra and Collier growing up faster than the other kids. They never had any friends, and weren’t especially close, either.
But they were twins, and they had a bond that most siblings didn’t have.
Collier scribbled down notes from the board ferociously.
“Let’s see… How much more time do we have left in class?” Professor looked down at his watch. His eyes widened, and he grabbed his suitcase. “I’m so sorry, class, I need to leave. The assignment is up on the board.” Professor walked out the door. “I will see you in class tomorrow.” He stuck his head back in. “Hopefully.” He added a grin that was a mix of “you shouldn’t worry, you all will do fine without me’ and ‘I really wonder if I’ll ever get back here again.’
Petra sighed and turned to Collier.
“He always does that,” she complained.
“I know,” Collier replied. “Just ignore it.”
“Ignore it? How do I ‘just ignore it’ when the teacher from my favorite subject doesn’t even finish the lesson?”
“He did too finish the lesson! He gave us the assignment, remember?” Collier pointed his pencil to the board.
“Yeah,” Petra said, rolling her eyes. “That was yesterday’s assignment. He never changed it. By the way, you should probably do that sometime soon.”
“Yeah, it might be good if I did do that.” Collier turned to the right page.
Petra turned back in her chair and pulled a book out of her backpack. Collier finished his homework; Petra finished her book.
There was still five minutes left of class. Half the kids had already fallen asleep; one was snoring.
“Gross,” Petra remarked, turning back around to face Collier. “What do you think is up with Professor Kreisler?”
Collier shrugged.
“I don’t know. I don’t care, either.”
“You do too, Collier. He’s your favorite teacher, too.”
“Well, yeah,” Collier agreed, “but it’s still not my favorite subject.”
“Then what is your favorite subject?”
Collier thought.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Maybe Algebra II really is my favorite.”
Petra smiled. “I know you better than you know yourself,” she joked.
Collier flicked her forehead with the tip of his pencil eraser. Petra pulled back and frowned.
“Hey!” she cried in mock pain.
Now it was Collier’s turn to grin.
“Sorry,” he apologized sheepishly.
“It’s okay. Didn’t really hurt that much.” Petra returned to her regular self.
Just then the bell rang. Collier and Petra looked at their sleeping classmates.
“Think we should wake them up?” Petra suggested. She knew Collier’s answer.
“Nope,” Collier responded with a mischievous smile.
“Yeah, let’s not,” Petra agreed.
Then the two joined the crown of classmates squeezing out the door. Once they got past, the turned in different directions—Collier to the left, Petra to the right—breaking apart for the rest of the day.
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