The Big Bang Theory
Grammatical Physics

Chapter One
The Female Sighting Phenomenon

"Got it...Got it...Got it..." Dr. Sheldon Cooper muttered to himself as he flipped through the multitude of comic books in the store.

It was Wednesday, new comic book day, and as always Sheldon was checking every row of every bin of comics for possible hidden treasures. Oh how he relished in the process of searching and finding.

"Do you REALLY have to look through every row of comics in every box in the store?" Dr. Leonard Hofstadter half-wined from behind Sheldon, his comic books already selected and in his hand.

"Of course." Sheldon said, as if it were the most idiotic question he had heard. "How else would I know if anything has changed?"

"It's only been a week."

"Yes. And that is four days, twenty-four hours, 1,440 minutes, and 86,400 seconds between last Wednesday and this Wednesday that comic books may come and go as consumers and providers please."

Leonard rolled his eyes as Sheldon went back to the row of comics, finishing it off and taking a step to the right to start the next row anew. Leonard turned to his friends, one short Jewish male and one Indian male in the graphic novels, giving them a desperate, pleading look.

"Don't look at me." Howard Wolowitz said, holding up a Wonder Woman comic, a grin on his face, "I still have Catwoman to look through. The new costumes in the New 52 are even better!"

"I'm still trying to find a comic where Aquaman is cool." Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali said, "No matter what universe, he still sucks."

Leonard gave him an odd look, "Why are you looking through Aquaman?"

"Because if I'm going to be Aquaman again for the New Year's costume contest I want to do it with a little dignity!"

"It's a lost cause." Stewart, the owner of the comic book store said, walking over to file away some toys. "Aquaman talks to fish. He is not, and never will be cool."

"I disagree."

A hush fell over the store. The voice that came was new, which was unheard of for the shoppers of the store who all knew each other. Strangers rarely came to the store. The group turned simultaneously to see a girl. An attractive girl with brunette hair that casually walked over and began looking through a row of comic books beside Sheldon.

Raj whispered something in Howard's ear, his selective mutism taking over.

"I don't know maybe she's lost." Howard replied.

The girl continued, not seeming to notice that every eye in the store was on her. "Aquaman was not only one of the original founders of the Justice League of America, but also a key player in both Brightest Day and Blackest Night events in Green Lantern. Also, he has super strength, which not many people get. And he can breathe underwater." She looked up at Stewart, "And for the record, him talking to fish is a common misconception. He does not actually talk to fish. He uses his brainwaves to influence their minds and manipulate them. Plus in the latest issue the same trick worked on a lizard so there's a possibility that...What?"

Now she was painfully aware that everyone in the store was staring at her, jaws agape. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment for a moment.

"I like Aquaman. Don't judge me." she said defensively.

Beside her, Sheldon moved on to another row, the last one of the box. "Believe me," he said, "THEY are in no way judging you because you like Aquaman. I however am wondering how a character with such limited superpowers has a fan base and was even considered for a position in the Justice League."

"Well...The seas need justice too. Besides, other than Superman who has an extraordinary lung capacity and Batman who could invent some sort of breathing device, who would be able to stay underwater for the extreme lengths of time that it takes to find and thwart evil-doers?"

Sheldon paused, "Green Lantern who can create an oxygen bubble around his head using his Power Ring."

She opened her mouth for a moment, and then closed it. "Point taken. But Aquaman is still much better than some superheroes."

"Such as?" Sheldon asked, curious now.

"Elastic Man, Mud Man, The Wonder Twins."

"Ah yes very true."

Raj whispered something else in Howard's ear.

"No that totally just happened." he said. "Dibs."

"You can't call dibs on a girl! You already have a girlfriend." Leonard said. "Besides if anyone is calling Dibs it's me."

Raj hit his shoulder defensively and then pointed to himself.

"You can't even talk to her!"

Sheldon lifted two comics from the row he was looking for and turned to his group. "Leonard, I have made my selection. We may now leave."

"Yeah yeah hang on." He said, approaching the girl.

"There will be no hanging on. If I do not eat in precisely thirteen point two minutes my night time bowl movements will be all off and my nighttime bathroom schedule will be all wrong."

"You schedule your bathroom time and bowl movements?" the girl asked.

"Yeah he's special." Leonard said, looking down, not making eye contact.

"Not crazy though. My mother had me tested."

She laughed. "I could never think that a fellow Lantern is crazy." she said with a smile.

"Fellow Lantern?" Sheldon asked, now intrigued.

The girl held up her right hand where a green power ring was present on her ring finger. "No better super hero."

"What about Batman?" Stewart asked, "Come on Green Lantern might be able to make anything he wants but he's impulsive, conceited, and sometimes just plain stupid."

The girl and Sheldon both frowned at him. Leonard stepped forward in an attempt to release the tension.

"I'm Leonard," He interjected quickly. "I'm Sheldon's roommate."

"DOCTOR Sheldon." He corrected sternly, giving a nod to the girl, "Leonard I now have ten point five minutes to eat."

"We'd better get going..." Leonard sighed. "It was nice meeting a girl...I mean I've met girls I mean-"

"You mean a girl who's into comic books." she said, "I understand. Hope to see you around."

"Y-yeah." Leonard said with a goofy smile as he and Sheldon made their way to the check-out line.

"Howard Wolowitz." Howard said, suddenly appearing, a smile that was half alluring and half creepy across his face, "This is Dr. Raj. We're they're friends."

"Nice meeting you too!" she said with a smile, Raj just nodded to her. "Aw you two are so cute! Just like my friends Casey and Joe."

"We're not like Casey and Joe." Howard said, Raj shaking his head behind him. Raj whispered something in his ear. "Oh yeah. So...how do you like the shop?"

She gave Raj a weird look. "Did he just ask you to...?"

"Raj can't talk to women. Selective mutism."

"Oh." she said, smiling at Raj and saying, "This place seems to be a comic shop where everyone knows each other. Homey. I like it."

"Why thank you." Stewart said with a smile from the check out. "My name is Stewart I am the owner and proprietor of this very impressive comic shop."

"He is also easily distracted." Sheldon said in annoyance as he looked at his watch, his money already out and ready to be handed to Stewart.

Raj and Howard joined Leonard and Sheldon in the check-out, avoiding a lecture from Sheldon about being distracted later.

"Well my name is Robin. It was nice meeting you all." she said, waving as they walked out of the store, back into the real world, still half-dazed.

"Did that just happen?" Raj asked when they were back in the car.

"Yeah I think it did." Leonard said, still sporting the goofy smile, "New Comic Book Day just got a whole lot better."