Chapter 3
For the next couple of days, Leonard spent every hour that he wasn't working or sleeping, reading the book that Pris had given him. He was a fast reader but he wanted to make sure he didn't miss anything. It was fascinating in a very strange way.
"He explains everything from the day of her conception, to the day she turned eighteen." Leonard tried to tell Sheldon.
"I know. I already read it, Leonard." Sheldon stated, feigning boredom.
"She was brilliant from the start."
"Brilliant?" Sheldon almost laughed. "If that is your definition of brilliant, then you have a problem."
"She could read at eighteen months!" Leonard defended.
"It isn't that impressive." Sheldon whined.
"You're just jealous because she didn't get bullied for being so smart."
"She didn't get bullied because she's pretty."
"She is, isn't she?" Leonard forgot the fight and looked at her picture on the back cover. He was proud that someone so pretty AND smart was related to him.
"Although I agree that her features fall high on the golden ratio, I am not jealous of anything that she has achieved."
"She beat you out as the youngest person to receive the Stevenson Award." Leonard was on the defense again.
"By one month." Sheldon threw back.
"She has three doctorates and a masters' degree."
"One of those doctorates is in fine arts. Who gets a doctorate in Fine arts? What is that?" Sheldon said 'fine arts' as if it was a swear word.
"Stephen Hawking called her an artistic genius." Leonard wanted to put the fight to rest.
"Yeah well…" Sheldon searched for a comeback. "She can't drive."
"Neither can you."
"I can drive. I choose not to."
"She can pilot a helicopter."
"So can Captain Murdock from the A-Team, but I won't call him brilliant."
"I would." Pris stood at the open door, having heard most of the argument.
"Good grief, she's here." Sheldon complained, unable to contain his frustration.
"Everyone is smart, Sheldon." She said. "But if you measure a fish's ability to climb a tree, he would spend the rest of his life thinking that he's stupid."
"What sort of balderdash is that?" Sheldon asked.
"The kind of balderdash that distinguishes me from you. Knowledge without understanding is useless. Thucydides." She walked over to the couch and sat in Sheldon's spot.
"Leonard, I don't like her." Sheldon complained out loud.
Leonard grinned. "I do."