Counterglow

“And what is counterglow?  Martin?”

He rolled his eyes, for his classmates’ benefit. Inside he was seething. He had told her too many times now that he preferred to be called Mars.  It was an out-there nickname. Like the planet. Considering at his grade school he’d been called Martian most of the time, it wasn’t a bad stretch.  The kids who knew him already thought the change was neat.  The kids who were new didn’t know the difference, and wouldn’t have known that his father wasn’t some space freak or mythological genius who wanted to name his son Mars.  He hadn’t counted on a stubborn science teacher to ruin everything.

At first he didn’t mind too much.  Staying after class to set her straight was easy on the eyes.  She had the most awesome head of auburn hair and eyelashes that wouldn’t quit.  Legs too.  Nice smile.  When he explained that he would prefer to be called Mars in class, she flashed that smile at him, said, “Really now,” and went on to ask him how he was enjoying class so far.

The next time she called him Martin and he called her on it after class, she smiled again and asked why he turned in an incomplete paper on the origin of the telescope.  He told her it was complete, and she said he could do better, and then told him he could do it again if he wanted a better grade but it had to be in by Friday.

Now here she was again, ruining his cool.  

He slinked down in his chair a bit and stretched his legs out under the desk and put his chin in his hand for a moment like he was thinking.  He nodded confidently and replied, “That would be the area beside the kitchen sink after my mom polishes it.”

He was rewarded by female giggles and thumbs up from a few of the guys.

“You still make your mom clean the kitchen?  Shame on you,” she stabbed in return.  “I imagine the glow wouldn’t be quite the same though without her years of experience behind it.  Space-sciencely speaking, Martin, what is counterglow?”

He sat up straight and snapped, “I didn’t read that in the material.”

“At least you read the material.  It’s not in there.  I think it would make a nice research project for you.  See me after class.”

Not a problem.  She would get herself an earful.  

As it turned out, she didn’t let him.  She met him at the door and had everything in hand to leave, the same as he did.  “Everyone is going to get individual assignments like this, Mars.  I just started with you because I like your potential.  I really have to run.  Counterglow.  You have three weeks.  Wow me.”

This write is a product of  3/8/06’s AWAD newsletter:  gegenschein (GAY-guhn-shyn) noun:  A faint oval patch of light directly opposite the sun in the night sky, caused by reflection of sunlight by dust particles. Also known as counterglow.  The pictures illustrating gegenschein are absolutely awesome, well worth the visit:  http://swisseduc.ch/stromboli/volcano/photoastro/gegenschein-en.html