In an alternate galaxy known as Faulkner University, I struggled through my first semester of classes facing numerous monsters striving to achieve A’s on all of my exams.
My journey begins with trudding the” walking river “ (Virgil 6.339) of tears and sorrow, as I make my way to the first challenge I will face: the monster known as “A”. “A” is hidden deep inside the volcanic mountain of Brooks. She lies in wait, eager to throw her knowledge of scientific riddles at you and if you cannot answer them, you will not be able to pass into the peaceful valley of Tine Davis.
As I approach the mountain, I can smell the stench of rotting papers and despair leaking from the entrance of the cave. When peering into the cave, I see the silhouette of an animal with three heads of lions, the body of a snake with a tail that has a club on it. The animal hears the noise of my lungs exhaling air as I enter the cave, because before I can make any noise, her heads shoot out a menacing laughter like a hyena makes after they have finished off their kill. After her laughter had subsided, her eery voice asks “who goes there?”
“Why it is I, Angela Grant?”
“Why have you come here?”
“I wish to enter into the valley of Tine Davis, my promise land.”
“Hahaha. In order for you to pass you must answer some of my scientific questions.”
“What happens if I say no?”
“Then I will eat you whole and go on living in my amazing cave.”
“Okay. So if I answer them right, then I can pass?”
“Yes and if you don’t answer correctly, then I will eat you anyways.”
I can smell the blood of others that have tried to pass her questions and have failed, but I feel that I can answer her questions.
“Alright, I accept your challenge.”
“Excellent. I will ask you a total of four questions: the first one will be easier and as we keep going, the questions difficulty will also increase.”
The eeriness in her voice sent chills up and down my spine as if she had been waiting for so long to have someone tempt their fate with her questions.
“First question, what is the difference between unicellular organisms and multicellular organisms?”
I answer quickly stating that “unicellular organisms are made up of a single cell and multicellular are made of multiple cells.”
“Good, I’m glad you are a little smarter than a dog. Next question: what is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?”
“Autotrophs are organisms that make their own food using sunlight, while heterotrophs have to eat other organisms in order to obtain their energy.”
“Wow there don’t overheat your brain cells there, you still have two more questions to answer.”
“Can you just ask the next questions, I don’t have time to play your little game.”
“So snappy. Next question: What are the four nitrogen bases that make up DNA?”
“The four bases are adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.”
“Aww, well if I knew any better I would say you are going to be able to pass. But no one has been able to answer my last question. You will be no different.”
“How can you be so sure of that? I am not a complete idiot.”
“Could of fooled me”
“Oh shut it and give me the last question.”
“Oh, did I strike a nerve? No matter. For my final question, you will have to think extremely hard. What are the three DNA repair techniques used in DNA replication?”
My brain went blank for a minute trying to recall the information and I could see the smile she had on her face thinking that she had stumped me, but then it came flooding back to me. “It is proofreading, ner, and mismatching.”
“How could you of known?”
“Like I said, I’m not as stupid as you think I am.”
“Very well then, you may pass.”
I quickly shuffle past her before she pulls any sneaking tricks on me. As I reach the back of the cave I can see the brilliant sunlight licking at the exit to the cave. When getting outside the cave I can see the miles and miles of freshly paved basketball courts painted with white lines all over the place.
Ring! Ring!
I startle awake and realize that its exam week and I have to go take my first exam. I feel ready for the exams, because when I pass them I will get to spend most of my time on the basketball court with no worry of being ineligible.
This was such a fun read Angela! I love how you made the basketball court your “promise land”. I often feel, as many athletes do on game days, as if my classes and tests are only obstacles keeping from reaching my “promise land” too. I love the wording you used to describe the monster and her cave. I also like how you included the part about being able to smell the blood of the students who tried and failed before you. Your essay was very creative and well written, great job!
ReplyDelete