Professor Samuels laid his glasses on the podium and looked out at his class of 123 students. The air was filled with enough sparks and tension to make the dim overhead lighting brighten. Squinting, he wondered what all those young, vibrant men and women were thinking. Not two minutes ago, the noise level from debates between Ms. Mallory and Mr. Haner had been enough to tempt him to turn his hearing aids down a notch. He knew this week had been worse than usual in the world they all called home. He was old and had lived through things that would scare the bejeebers out of most of them, but what everyone was dealing with right now was nothing short of horrific. These kids just wanted to figure out how to fix the problem. They were the future. He shuddered. Then smiled. He remembered being filled with abundant vigor and determination. Believing there was an answer for every wrong and a solution to every error. He learned soon enough that technology and machines can be fixed if you’re smart enough, but human nature was another matter altogether. And could not so easily be “fixed.”
“Ms. Mallory, I apologize for not seeing your hand in the air. Please, speak your mind, young lady.”
“Thank you, Professor Samuels. I remember reading a quote by the author John Steinbeck. It didn’t feel appropriate years ago when I first read it, but it sure feels right now. May I quote it to the class, sir?” Lucinda Mallory used her singing voice to carry through the large auditorium. She may have been only 5 feet tall and 105 pounds, but when she spoke, her voice could fill every corner.
“Go right ahead, Lucy,” he said and put his glasses on.
” We can shoot rockets into space, but we can’t cure anger or discontent.” John Steinbeck said that in 1961. America put its first rocket in space in 1949. Look at everything we can do now. Man on the moon; living on Mars; androids that clean our homes; cars that drive by themselves. We can do all of that, but people still hate people; they are discontent and never satisfied; they hate anyone who thinks differently or looks different. How do we fix that? If we tell everyone to do a certain thing, they get angry because we’re not giving them a choice. If we give them a choice, they choose crazy, evil, monstrous things. Everyone wants to do what they want, and then they get upset when they see the outcome. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s a HEART condition, sir. We can make enough laws and rules to fill the ocean, but things will never change until the heart of a person changes. We’ve got to do better; be better. This is the world I have to live in and have a home and family in one day, and I have to be honest with you…I love America, but I don’t like the character of its inhabitants. I don’t want to have to move to another country to feel safe and respected. That’s all. I’m done.” Lucy sat down on the hard seat and heard snickers and jeers. Slouching down a little lower, she began putting her notebook and pen in her backpack. She hoped to be the first one out the door when class was over.
“Thank you, Ms. Mallory. Your honest and heartfelt thoughts were heard, and we all hope things change. But it starts with us. Each of us, individually. Then it spreads to your homes, families, friends, communities, towns, cities, states…well, you get the picture.”
“That doesn’t sound difficult,” a voice from the back shouted.”If that’s all there is to it, don’t you think someone would have tried that already? People disagree just because you ask them nicely. It seems like a losing battle to me. Sweden sounds nicer every minute.” Students murmured in agreement.
“What’s your name, son?” Professor Samuels shouted so he could be heard over the clamor of frustrated voices.
“Will. William Michaelson, sir. I didn’t mean any disrespect, professor. Honestly, it just seems like too little too late. The crazies are multiplying exponentially. We don’t know who to trust, and it seems the bad outweighs the good right now. My mom used to say as long as the good outweighs the bad, life is worth living. But all I see are little sparks of good hear and there. Nearly too hard to find. It’s just discouraging for my generation, sir. What do we have to look forward to? I want to have a family and children one day, but lately, I’m rethinking that dream.”
“Young man, please do not give up on that dream. At least you still have a dream, and I’m certain there are many more like you. If enough of you bind together and are determined to make your dreams come true, you can change your present situation. You can’t possibly be the only one with a desire for something better. All of you, listen to my words…don’t settle for this. Do you hear me? Fight for something greater. Hold on to that hope that lies within you. Do it for yourselves and for your children and grandchildren.”
The old professor paused and looked around at his young students. He knew that in all his years of teaching, there had been only a few actual “teachable moments” that had mysteriously blown into the classroom and fill it with something like electricity, fire, and excitement…today was one of those days. Now was one of those moments. He felt a tremor of something run down his spine as he stepped back up to the podium and pulled the microphone close to his trembling lips. Taking a sip of water, he cleared his voice and spoke.
“Mr. Michaelson and Ms. Mallory, I’d like you to come to the front of the class, please. Hurry up; we only have a few minutes before class is over. I have an idea.”
“In all honesty, 50% of you care very little about the topic of discussion today and are just looking forward to the long weekend and how much space you can put between you and these musty old halls of learning. Another 48% of you actually paid attention and want something more for your life when you graduate than the current world we’re living in. You have good intentions. But there is only about 2% of you that are willing to start making a difference now rather than later.
Yes, I’m talking about Mr. Michaelson and Ms. Mallory. Of course, there may be more of you that were just too shy to speak up, but these two have a fire burning in them that won’t easily be put out by complacency. I may be an old man; in fact, I AM an old man and have seen thousands of kids sit in my class, yet rarely found anyone that I believed would actually take what I’ve taught them and make a change.
I’m trusting that the burning in my heart right now is not indigestion but rather an inspiration. I am choosing the two of you to come with me on a little journey. An adventure, per se. For the rest of you, enjoy your holiday. Be smart, pay attention, and speak only when necessary. Be honorable. Be brave and be back in class on time Tuesday morning. God bless each of you. Class dismissed.”
The Professor turned to his two students, who were looking at him like he’d lost his mind, and waited. Adventure? Journey? What in the world had he been thinking? He’d probably get fired for what he was about to do, but so be it. He had never been the “go with the flow” type of professor, and the college board had tenured him anyway. As one of the oldest and longest-tenured professors here, he hoped that would give him a few allowances…and leniency should anything go wrong.
“Oh Lord, I need your wisdom and help. I went and opened my mouth and stuck my foot way inside. This inspiration that’s brewing inside me…well, I believe it came from You. If so, please lead me and guide me in all ways and always. Amen”
“Excuse me, Professor, but were you just praying?” Lucy asked.
“Yes, indeed I was. Is that a problem?” he asked.
“Uh, nope. I guess not. Whatever helps,” she rolled her eyes and adjusted her backpack. “Just one question. What happens if it didn’t?”
“I don’t understand your question, Lucy. If it didn’t, what?” he asked.
“When you were praying, you said you believed your inspiration came from God, and you asked Him to lead you and guide you. But what if it didn’t come from God? Then what?”
“I haven’t given that much thought. If any, actually. Honestly, though, the answer would be the same. Dear God ..lead us and guide us.”
“So, why did you call us down here? I have a flight to catch this evening and a lot to do before then.” Will asked as politely as possible.
“Well, Young Will, you’re going to want to cancel that flight,” the professor said with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
To be continued…
Pam Torres | Author 