CHAPTER 11: ETHAN AND TOMMY

REEFSIDE
FEBRUARY 6 2004
11:00

Buzz buzz

"Are we done yet?"

"Ethan, we've only been at this for 20 minutes."

"What?! No way. Your timescale is off man."

"Ah! Timescale-very good! We'll talk about that next!"

"Ooh! Can I start us off?!"

"That's the spirit Ethan! Go ahead!"

"Are you aware that you were late to class four times this week?"

"Very funny. Not my timescale-"

"More like your lack of a timescale…"

"I heard that. I meant the Geologic Time Scale."

"There's a timescale for rocks?"

"Of course there is. How do you think we've dated fossils?"

"You mean, you didn't just call the Time Force Rangers and get them to zap you back in time to see who was kicking it every couple million years?"

Buzz buzz

"Ethan…"

"Kidding Dr. O…only joking. Geez. You need to lighten up."

"Says the boy on the verge of failing science."

"Touche. Ok, let's rock this stuff. Ha ha get it? Let's 'rock' this? Eh?"

"Oh my god…Alright, so the Geologic Time Scale was developed in…?"

"We talking Relative or Absolute?"

"Good observation! We'll start with Relative Geologic Time. It was gradually developed in the…?"

"19th century?"

"Correct! And relative order is determined at many sites, which relate to each other by…?"

"Umm…do they have the same great grandparents?"

"…I wouldn't know…"

"Wait-rocks have grandparents?!"

"Well…in absolute dating and radioactive decay there are parent and daughter isotopes…"

Buzz buzz

"Whoa Dr. O, slow down. I'm still trying to wrap my head around Relatives having grandparents, and now you tell me Absolutes have whole growing families?!"

"Ethan, do you sleep through class?"

"Usually. I mean-no! I mean-Connor does too!"

"Connor is getting a B. As is Kira. Trent is even getting an A, and the battles against him are 3 on 1! How is it that the evil one with 66% more of a disadvantage manages to be on time, stay awake, and have the second highest grade in the class?!"

"Really? Who has the highest grade?"

Buzz buzz.

"Hmm? Oh, uh…Devon."

"Devon?!"

"Last I checked."

"Really…who would've guessed…"

"Yeah, well, anyway…uh…"

"…The geologic timescale, Dr. O…"

"Oh yeah. So, practice. Here's a worksheet on relative time, fill out the fossil correlation section. Which, by the way, is how we relate the sites of relative order."

"What about absolute time?"

"A rock's half-life is determined in the lab to find it's absolute age."

"…Psh. Way to crash the family reunion."

"Ethan, you have to measure it's half-life by detecting the energy released during the decay of the-…you're not listening, are you?"

"Huh?"

*sigh* "You won't be asked to demonstrate absolute time on the exam.

Buzz buzz.

"Oh. Ok. Cool. So, worksheet?"

"Right here. I'll be right back."

"Gotcha. Hey Dr. Oliver!"

"What Ethan?"

"Thanks for, you know, doing this tutoring."

"No pro-"

"And not telling the others I'm getting a D in your class."

"It's-"

"And for going along with the whole Video Game Expo thing."

"Are you done?"

"Yep."

"You're welcome. Besides, with the exception of Trent The Invincible, we've all been tired lately."

"You're just saying that because you don't want me to tell Randall you were late four-"

"Fossil correlation!"

"Right. Sorry."

Buzz buzz.