Smitten by his third-grade teacher Isaiah could feel his heart thud against his chest. He wasn't sure, but he knew it had to be love, that is what Dean said anyway. Ms. Murphy stood in front of her group of students with a grace he had never seen before in his eight years of life. Her hair was short on the sides and puffy up top with a splash of platinum on the very top. She wore a robe that was the standard issue of color, bone-white base color with gold red and aqua blue patterns. Her skin resembled roasted almonds with a burst of freckles that scattered across her face. Today was a special day. It was her birthday. Today, he would give her a gift that she would love. She would notice him; the thought made his heart beat a little faster and his hands became moist with anticipation. He and his older sister went out into the backyard and found the best flowers, twelve in all. The colors were a spectacular assortment of colors. When picked, they dehydrated and synthesized into small flakes and placed in a pretty vase he had made in his art class three weeks earlier. Students would leave a gift on the teacher's desk. The excitement built. She would love the vase. When he uses the hydration solution, the bouquet would burst back into its original splendor, fresh as if he walked in from the fields. His mind wandered like many eight-year-olds. Binary suns crept through the beautiful midmorning sky. The window had captured his attention as he daydreamed. The playground was over the small hill, carpeted in purple grass that swayed in the breeze. He could see him and Ms. Murphy on the swings together, or better yet, a picnic. He had seen his mom and dad do that a lot. They would lie out on a blanket and just sit together and talk. His nose crinkled a bit. He hoped Ms. Murphy could talk about other things, things other than science or history, he wondered. He was outstanding at those subjects. Maybe they could read a good comic or watch a vid.
"Isaiah?" his back stiffened. Did he miss something?
"Yes, Ms. Murphy," part panic and part elation washed over him.
"Can you please recall the event that started the foundation of our planet?"
Thankful that he knew the answer, he stood up from his desk to address the class.
"After the Federation of united worlds decided all non-humans were no longer welcome, it started a wave of unrest that became united under the banner of the Being Sedition Act, or the B.S.A,"
With a nod of approval, "Good job Isaiah." "Who were the members of this group?"
Dean quickly raised his hand.
"Yes, Dean,"
"The B.S.A comprised most non-humans that called earth their home along with other marginalized humans that became totally disenfranchised with the rigid system of the time."
Several students' hands shot up like rockets, ready to show Ms. Murphy what they have learned, eagerly wanting to join the conversation.
The teacher manicured eyebrow arched, her evasive smile flashed, lighting up the classroom along with Isaiah's heart.
"So, after the founding of the B.S.A, what major event happened about the same time that shook up the sector."
"Yes, Delon,"
The little girl beamed a jack o lantern grin, her brilliant obsidian skin tightly stretched across a thin face that set two sparkling inquisitive eyes. If it wasn't for Ms. Murphy, this young lady would defiantly be the focus of Isaiah's attention, but he would be true to Ms. Murphy.
"Zuhura was founded,"
"Yes, Delon, what sparked the second exodus?"
"The bombardment of the United African capital, Ms. Murphy!" Delon answered confidently.
"Someone has been doing their extra reading."
Delon who sat in front of Isaiah turned around and wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue. Terrified he looked up to Ms. Murphy, hoping she didn't see what Delon had done. What if she thought he liked Delon more than her? His surprise would be ruined. His only shot at living his happily ever after would be dashed by a flick of the tongue. Holding his breath, he dared to look up, instantly relieved to see that she was talking towards the front of the classroom, her back facing the students as she continued her lesson.
"The United African Continent expelled the unprovoked attack from the Allied powers, what was the Allies' reason for attacking the U.A.C?"
"Fewer hands were raised to this question; the line of questioning was from the optional reading Ms. Murphy had assigned,"
Tamog was chosen, his one large eye sat in the middle of his head nervously glanced around the classroom. A nervous being, his parents had set up goals with Ms. Murphy for the young Stiv'ulian to become more engaged in class. He would earn extra points for interacting without being prompted by the teacher. Nervously wringing his hands together, it seemed he had forgotten to answer the question. After the brief moment of silence,
"Because of resources, Ms. Murphy, it was discovered that once again the continent had another rare material that would make FTL possible." He said in a flurry, trying hard to ensure he earns all the points he can for his courage.
Ms. Murphy gave Tamog a slight knowingly nod before continuing,
"The earth was already becoming a power among the stars. Branching out beyond its own sector was its goal. Speaking of sectors."
She paused looking at her thirty-five students with a mischievous smirk.
"For extra time outside, who can tell me the dimensions of a standard sector?"
Tamog arm slowly and a bit shakenly rose again his large three-fingered hand awaited to be acknowledged.
Everyone in the class, including Ms. Murphy seemed surprised by the new confidence Tamog was displaying.
"Tamog,"
"In standard Sol standards." She added helping him out a little, almost reading his young mind. His people used a slightly different standard of measuring the grand distance of space. Because his race was eradicated by the death of their star their standard had become obsolete.
"A standard Sol sector is ten light-years." He sounded exhausted yet proud, the class gave a small cheer, that Tamong had just earned the class thirty minutes of outside time.
With three commanding claps from Mr. Murphy, the class had settled down and ready for the lesson to continue.