15 Years After the ‘Atlas Convention’…
All was in a bustle on the campus of New Atlantis University. It was the first semester of the school year, and that particular day was one of great anticipation for many. A young man in his mid-twenties paused amongst the throng of students and visitors. He was a broad-shouldered fellow with thick black hair gelled to perfection. He wore a royal blue polo shirt, blue jeans, and sturdy black work boots to coincide with his casual yet determined appearance. With a black messenger bag slung over his shoulder, he looked prepared for anything the day had to offer.
He glanced at the time on his black-and-blue digital sport watch and scanned the faces around him. He turned again to continue down the path when suddenly he heard the roar of a powerful V8 engine, followed by the screeching of tires. He then a frantic voice called out to him.
“LANCE! WAIT!”
The man named Lance turned and spotted a familiar slender figure in a black tux printed tee, toting a backpack, dashing towards him. He was leaving an edgy carbon black police car with the words “NEW ATLANTIS POLICE” in bold white letters and a royal blue outline painted on the hood and sides of the car. If that wasn’t enough of an explanation, the word “SWAT” was imprinted on the rear window behind the driver. The young man had barely gotten out of the back of the cruiser and shut the door when it roared again and shot off towards the city center. Lance watched the car disappear into the distance and looked back to his approaching friend. Grinning, Lance couldn’t help giving him a hard time as he slowed to a brisk walk.
“Almost late, Adam,” he stated.
“I know. I had to help open the café this morning,” stated Adam as he stopped next to Lance.
He paused to catch his breath.
“Thankfully Cody came in for his usual morning coffee and was able to give me a ride here on his way to work.”
Lance smirked at his friend. Adam was bent over with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath with exaggerated gasps and wheezes. A shaggy blonde with a long face and an infectious smile, Adam was a first-year student, and a rather eccentric one.
“I’m almost jealous,” mentioned Lance. “I’ve seen the new squad cars around but haven’t had the luxury of riding in one. They almost look like a tank and a sports car got together and had a baby!”
“Feels like it on the inside too!” added Adam grinning. “Law-enforcement luxury at its finest!”
The two students paused for a moment to chuckle at the humorous thought. Even though they were on a time crunch, he never failed to throw out a little humor to lighten the situation. After they caught their breath and regained composure, Adam adjusted the straps on his backpack and shouldered it.
“Shall we go inside? I’m sure you’ve been anxious to get set up for the expo,” said Adam.
“Certainly,” stated Lance.
The two friends sifted through the crowd of people, many going in the same direction as they were -- towards the campus’ events annex. Today was a day for those who wished to show off their skills and knowledge acquired at NAU. On this day was a science and arts expositional event, the first of its kind at this facility. They entered through a set of double doors and were greeted by what could have been likened to the sight of a busy hive. People and displays everywhere: preoccupied professors in their scholarly formal frantically making corrections on holographic smart tablets. A laboratory student nervously ran toward the nearest restroom with a vial of bubbling fluorescent green liquid. Even an actual buzzing beehive in a box of safety glass nearly grazed the young men’s noses as it was wheeled right in front of them.
Taken aback by the near miss, they glanced at each other with their eyebrows raised as if to acknowledge the same thought: “What is this madness?” They both shrugged their shoulders and made their way through the heavy foot traffic. They had barely walked five feet when they were greeted by another surprise in the form of a petite woman from the administrative staff wearing a crimson turtleneck sweater and matching skirt.
“Good morning, boys,” welcomed the elderly woman. “Do you two know where you’re going?”
“Good morning, Mrs. Brown,” the two replied, almost in unison.
Adam continued. “Yes ma’am, we got the layout and table assignments from the secretary yesterday.”
“Excellent!” replied Mrs. Brown with a simple smile. “I’ll see you around. Good luck to both of you!”
“Thank you,” the two said as they headed down the wide hall.
“She is always so nice,” mentioned Adam. “I like her much better than the last event coordinator.”
“Yeah,” agreed Lance. “Everyone called her, ‘Mrs. Grizzly... for obvious reasons….”
Without much other thought, Adam squinted his eyes, scrunched his nose and mouth, held his arms forwards, doing a bear impersonation as they walked.
“GRRR... you kids don’t appreciate what I do enough! Even though I get cards and stuff all the time... GRRR... I should have a special award for doing things for you! GRRR...”
He paused and immediately ceased his shenanigans when he realized that most of the people nearby had stopped what they were doing and were staring at him. Lance, who had been watching his friend with a raised eyebrow, shook his head as Adam attempted to act casual.
“You do realize that
we walked right by her, right?” he asked.
Adam’s face reddened in embarrassment and his eyebrows shot up in utter shock.
“Mrs. Grisby is here?! I thought she retired after last semester.”
“Yeah, but Nate is her grandson, remember? He just came this semester.”
“Oh, right,” he answered meekly. Then replied half-sarcastically and half-contemplative.
“Who would have thought Mrs. Grisby and Nathan Bisby would be such an obvious connection, or even related for that matter? One is a crotchety old woman who seems to enjoy berating students, while the other one is a harmless botany student who always throws out corny plant jokes. Talk about an offshoot of that branch, wow!”
Then the realization hit.
“Aw, man! Now I’m telling corny plant jokes!”
He hung his head down in defeat as his retort backfired on him.
The two continued a moment or two, then Lance piped up again.
“Hey, at least you made some people laugh... specifically a few girls back there,” he added with a joking nudge with his elbow.
Adam chuckled: his reputation for using his humor to flirt with the girls on campus was certainly no secret, and definitely the fodder for constant ribbing from his peers. Of course, whenever they teased him, he would tease them right back. “You’re the one who needs a girlfriend, bro!” exclaimed Adam as he returned the nudge.
“Funny,” retorted Lance with a sarcastic tone.
“Last I checked, I’m a bit busy right now to even manage a girlfriend... especially with this project I’ve been working on that has taken up all my time this semester. Although...”
He paused, contemplating the thought as if he hadn’t before.
“It would be nice to be with someone: I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.”
Adam smiled.
“I don’t know, buddy, but I think your luck will be turning around soon. I can feel it. “
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