Chemistry Lesson

© Oonah V. Joslin

Patricia moved her stool along the bench a bit and made a low movement with her hand for Judith to follow.

The teacher was talking, adding some more gobbledygook to the indecipherable presentation.

Patricia moved a bit closer still to Morgan's station. He took no notice being so intent on his work.

Morgan Steadman was in sixth form. He looked so smart and adult in his white lab coat with pens and instruments spilling out of the top pocket. He had dark unruly hair and just a hint of shadow about his chin. Over his dark rimmed glasses, he wore safety specs. Patricia was intrigued to know what was going on beneath that double layer of mystery.

“So, the method is on your worksheet. Group A will do the experiment first. Group B will write up the method. Any questions? Right. Go!”

“I'll get the Bunsen and stand,” offered Patricia. The cupboard was conveniently situated behind Morgan and she accidentally brushed his back in passing.

“So sorry.”

“That's okay.”

He didn't even look away from what he was doing.

“Didn't mean to disturb…”

There was no response.

“But it looks very important…”

“It's delicate – a titration.”

She watched him open a tap to allow one drop of a liquid to drop into a beaker below. He took a reading, noted it and then one more drop.

“What does it do?”

“Turns colour – eventually.”

“No, but what does it do?”

“Oh it's all about moles.”

Patricia liked moles.

Morgan took off his glasses to rub his eyes – the brownest eyes she'd ever seen. Judith was pssting her to get back quick.

“Can I try?”

“It's too sensitive. It needs one drop at a time. Any more and I have to start all over again.”

“How long is it so far?”

“Five hours.”

She liked a man who could take things slow.

Judith was making strange faces at her. “What?” said Patricia out loud.

“PAT STUBBS!” a voice behind her boomed. “What are you doing?”

Patricia dropped the stand on her toe, yowled like a she cat on heat, stumbled forward and was caught by Morgan who lurched backwards knocking into the burette and beaker which spewed their contents over his neat results before smashing onto the floor with a crash.

“You stupid little girl!” shouted Morgan. “Look what you've done!”

“Get out of my classroom. NOW!” The teacher's voice was alarmingly calm.

The incident confirmed what she'd always thought. Chemistry was for the brain dead.

“You didn't really like that Morgan did you?” asked Judith.

“No he's a nerd! Anyway there's this sixth former comes into our Physics class. Now he…”