Give Me a Break

“Ta da!” The lyrical voice of Eloise pierced the silence of the dormitory room at the Heinman’s School for Girls. “I am soooo ready for the chemistry test tomorrow! Now all I need is a good night’s sleep and… ”

“You will ace it , like you always do!” her roommate, Jean, finished the sentence rather glumly. “And I am destined to fail it.”

“I thought you spent the past two nights poring over the material with your study group?” said Eloise.

“Well, we got a bit distracted by campus gossip and really didn’t get much studying done,” Jean admitted. “Why does everyone have to take chemistry in eleventh grade? Who cares about chemistry anyway? It’s a big waste of time. I don’t intend to study science at college. I intend to take the easiest courses they have and graduate with a degree in who-knows-what. But I intend to have a blast — activities, parties, sororities, boys. Isn’t that what college is all about?”

“In my opinion, no. It is a great opportunity to learn… ” began Eloise.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You sound just like my dad, Miss Future Scientist,” interrupted Jean. “If I just had a few more days to really study, I might be able to at least pass the test and maybe even squeak out a C. If I am failing chemistry, my Christmas vacation is shot. Instead of spending time with my friends, my dad will hire a chemistry tutor and I will spend every day with the Idiotic Table.”

“That’s, Periodic Table,” corrected Eloise.

“Maybe I can get some help from the spirit world like Jenny does. She says she calls upon the spirits for help and they answer her,” said Jean hopefully.

“Jenny is a kook. She believes all kinds of nonsense. But, she also studies and that is why she gets good grades,” explained Eloise.

“Well,” proceeded Jean, “what about that session I had with her a couple of months ago when I wanted a date with John? John then asked me for a date.”

“Yeah, after you flirted with him for two weeks!” exclaimed Eloise.

“Well, it’s worth a try, “said Jean.

“The spirits are not going to fill your mind with all you need to know about stoichiometric chemistry,” said Eloise shaking her head.

“True, but maybe they can just postpone the test long enough for me to do some real studying.” replied Jean hopefully.

Eloise gave a big sigh and watched in dismay.

Jean pulled a white sheet from her bed and, with mascara, drew a large pentagram. She then lit a candle and sat cross-legged within the circle. “I wish I knew the right words to say and what spirit to say them to. Jenny said a spirit named Baribel is very powerful and often grants requests. I guess I’ll try him. Well here goes.

“Oh great spirit Baribel, listen and hear my plea. Your poor servant, Jean, is in desperate need of a postponement of the chemistry test scheduled for tomorrow. I really need a break. Oh great Baribel, give me a break, arrange to have the test postponed. Please Baribel give me a break. I am your great admirer and servant, Jean. Give me a break!

“Well, do you think that will help?”

Eloise chuckled and replied, “Nope.”

The next morning at 8 am, Mr. Harrison’s chemistry class was in the classroom awaiting Mr. Harrison’s arrival. At 8:05, Dr. Peterson, the school principal walked in and announced in a very somber voice, “The test and class for today have been cancelled.”

Jean smiled.

“Mr. Harrison had an unfortunate accident last evening,” continued Dr. Peterson, “he fell down a flight of stairs and died. He broke his neck.”

Jean’s smile vanished and a voice in her head screamed, “Give me a —BREAK!!”

Gary Shugar is not new to published writing. This is his third story in Aphelion. He has others, elsewhere.

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