Title: Participation
Theme: Atom
Pairing: None
Rating: K
39. Atom
"And what happens when you split an atom?" the wiry science teacher asked. A sea of blank faces stared back at him, one or two not bothering to raise their hand from their "notes" which he was sure were notes to each other or doodles or some other frivolous activity. "Come on, kids. Japan's having a problem with it right now? Manson?"
"Whales?" she tried sleepily, doodling a ghost.
"And what does that have to do with atoms?"
"Whales have atoms."
"Foley?" the teacher insisted. "What happens when you split an atom?"
"You get nuclear energy. On a large scale, you get a bomb," Tucker supplies. "But it's more complicated than that. You don't just cut it with a knife and-"
"Let me do the explaining, Mr. Foley."
Tucker moaned. "But it's the only thing I'm good at."
"Pity, Mr. Foley. Perhaps if you paid more attention to your studies in other classes, you'd be able to participate more often. However, if you'd like to teach this class, feel free."
He grinned, jumping to his feet. "Really?"
"Sit down, Mr. Foley."