AS THE MIND WANDERS - Segment 3 (Scroll down for earlier segments)

    

    

      ... It wasn’t long before my mind was off on another sightseeing venture.   

     Every so often it would show up in class and startle me.  One day it stopped by my general math class to show me some pictures it had taken while vacationing in Cancun.  While I was looking at the pictures, my counselor stepped into the class and announced, “Mr. Maberry, you need to be in algebra.”  I thought I was being promoted, but my mind was waving a red flag.  Trusting my mind, I felt an evil foreboding.  The future didn’t look bright, either… 

     The next day I found myself sitting in Mr. Rottenweiler’s algebra class.  It wasn’t where I wanted to find myself.  I would have preferred Disneyland. 

     I soon understood the red flag.  It was Mr. Rottenweiler.  He was short, stocky and gruff.  Mixing him with algebra was like throwing a match on gasoline.  Looking around the room, I wondered how many students were there because they had been given the choice; algebra or prison.  I wondered how many had chosen prison. 
 

     I was now a hostage of Mr. Rottenweiler and his algebraic equations.   With little effort, I got off to a rocky start, which worsened with each passing day.  I was soon going downhill at blinding speed.  It was the closest I ever came to a near-death experience.  Mr. Rottenweiler couldn't understand how I could daydream at that speed.  I'm sure he would have been more understanding if he knew the self-discipline it required.

    
     Anyone who was deficient in solving for x faced his wrath.  I was beyond deficient.  I was anemic.  To save myself, I attempted a daring escape, but just as freedom beckoned, I heard someone on a bull horn..."Mr. Maberry, I'm a tutor.  I can help you.  But you must get out of the window, and return to your seat."  

     I tried to convince Mr. Rottenweiler that I wasn’t ready for algebra, and might never be ready, but he just ignored my feigning insanity and the drool running down the front of my shirt.  “Mr. Maberry,” he said, “you can do algebra if you put your mind to it.” 

     First of all, I never knew if my mind was going to be on location.  Secondly, it had to be willing to participate.  Any contact with algebra would often cause it to have spells of dizziness.    

      Dad tried to help.  He bought me a book called Algebra Made Simple.  I would have preferred Campfires Made Simple.  I quickly discovered that the word “simple” was just a teaser to get people to open the book.  I scoured every page, from front cover to back cover.  I found nothing simple.  It had completely disappeared.  I considered bringing in a team of experts, to see if they could locate it, but decided I would have to stand alone against the forces of darkness…algebraic equations.   

 

 

To be continued...check back soon