Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature (18 page)

“Oh yes.” Although I really had no way of knowing if that was true.

“Do you feel you need a mentor for this class?”

“No, ma'am.”

“Are you satisfied with your lab partner assignment?”

“Very,” I blurted out before realizing how eager and dorky that must sound. I was secretly glad Ms. Shepherd didn't ask Casey the same question. Who knows if he'd take the opportunity to get reassigned to somebody even close to his brain capacity?

“I don't usually do this,” Ms. Shepherd said, “because I prefer people to serve me of their own volition, but I am hereby sentencing you to bring me one Starbucks confection—I particularly like the pumpkin scones, but you can choose what you like—on your first day of your senior year. Fair enough?”

I couldn't tell if she was kidding or not, but I thanked her anyway and got the heck out of there.

I wonder if Josh is serving out some sentence, bringing Ms. Shepherd coffee every day. I'll have to ask Kayla.

If I ever talk to her again, that is. Right now I'd say the prospects are slim.

Casey's probably wondering where I am. This bathroom is the nicest one I've found—it only has two stalls, but there's actually a chair near the door where I can sit and write. I'll probably be spending a lot of time in here in the coming months, since once I bail out on this science project, Casey will probably be spending his lunch hours with someone else.

Someone smarter and prettier than I am, not that that will be so hard to find.

I have to go give him my Bible Grrrl thing to give to Kayla. And then I guess it's goodbye.

Thirty-nine

NEWSJUNKEE1: Hey, BG, checked out the website yet? You're going to LOVE IT!!! You're a GENIUS, plain and simple-love what you wrote. Hope you don't mind-spiced it up a bit-nothing radical, just a little extra flava. Hey, what's with lil bro telling me you can't come play with us anymore? Anything I can do?

MENA@REECEINSURANCE: No, thanks. Hopeless. Long story. I'll check out the website right now.

NEWSJUNKEE NEWS FLASH!!
JESUS TAUGHT DARWINISM!
STARTLED FANATICS ADMIT THEY
WERE WRONG!

Okay, maybe that last part is wishful thinking, but boys and girls, ladies and gents, check out Bible Grrrl's latest! If our own little BG doesn't set our Bible-misquoting, antiscientific brethren into a tizzy, don't know what will.

Is it possible that God, of all deities, actually supports evolution? Could it be (gasp!) that the finest scientific minds-minds created, some would argue, by the very God of whom we speak and who hasn't made a bad product yet, to hear it told—are actually right, and the earth didn't just spring up 10,000 years ago, complete with mankind and dinos (give me a break) living side by side in harmony until death did them part?

In other words, friends, is it possible our own Bible Grrrl has accomplished what Einstein never did, and that's create a Universal Theory—this time a Universal Theory of Religion and Science—so we can all live happily ever after together in the same public schools and worship under the same Supreme Court?

Understandable if you need to take a breath and think that over.

But don't breathe too long, because the discussion's already started!

Log on now and give us your views and don't be shy. This is the big one!

I clicked on the Bible Grrrl box. I could see right away what Kayla had changed—the title and some of the text—but at least she didn't touch the parable, which is all I really care about.

BIBLE GRRRL SEZ: SCIENCE AND
RELIGION UNITE!
JESUS AND DARWIN AGREE!

What do
Origin of Species
and the New Testament have in common? More than you'd ever think.

In the Gospel of Matthew, 25:14-29, Jesus told the following parable:

A man met with his servants before going away on a journey. To the first one he gave five talents (an ancient measure of money); to the second, two talents; and to the third, one talent.

When he returned, he called his servants to account. The first one said, “Master, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.”

“Well done, my good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will entrust you with much more.”

The second servant said, “Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.”

“Well done, my good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will entrust you with much more.”

But then it was the third servant's turn. “Master, I know you are a hard man, and I was afraid of what you might do. So I took the one talent you gave me and buried it in the ground for safekeeping. See, here I give it back.”

“You wicked, lazy servant!” the master cried. “Take the talent from that servant and give it to the one who has ten talents. FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS WILL BE GIVEN MORE, AND HE WILL HAVE AN ABUNDANCE. WHOEVER DOES NOT HAVE, EVEN WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN FROM HIM.”

Okay, Bible lesson's over, now let's review our science.

A fundamental of evolution is the concept of survival of the fittest. Science tells us that organisms with an advantage (WHOEVER HAS) will prosper and reproduce (WILL BE GIVEN MORE), while organisms at a disadvantage (WHOEVER DOES NOT HAVE) will die out (EVEN WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN FROM HIM).

Take a breath. You heard right. Read it again.

JESUS AND DARWIN AGREE.

And Jesus obviously thought it was an important lesson, since he taught it to the crowds again in a different parable (Gospel of Luke, 19:12-26) and then lectured his disciples about it sepa rately when they were alone (Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25).

Still think God doesn't believe in evolution?

Think it over, people. Join the discussion here.

Forty

A huge smile lit up Casey's face. “You won't believe the response.”

Secretly, I wanted to hear that.

Because something electric and alive came over me last night as I sat there reading what Kayla had written and what I had written and what Kayla had done with it, and I realized something:

I'm not that alone.

I may feel that way as I walk the halls of a high school where people either ignore me or scowl at me, but the truth is, this world is a lot larger than New Advantage High, and there are people out there who are willing to listen to me and talk to me, and just because I'm under what might be permanent house arrest, I can still interact and be a part of something.

It will just be electronic. But I guess that's okay.

Casey had all sorts of updates for me: number of new visitors to Kayla's website, number of other blogs linking to hers, all the e-mails and comments on the blog.

“She wants to meet us for lunch.”

So Kayla, Josh, Casey, and I sat together again on the bleachers, and I bummed some dried apricots and pretzels and peanut butter crackers off Kayla (no way I'd ever ask Josh—that guy looks like he needs to eat on the hour, every hour). And Kayla filled me in on the latest stats, compiled off the library computer right before lunch.

“Staggering,” Kayla pronounced it.

I tried not to act too proud.

“Josh tagged you so you'd get picked up by some Christian sites, too. Even they seem pretty impressed—except for the nut jobs who say you're going to hell.”

Okay, not so proud.

“Ninety percent love you,” Kayla said. Josh nudged her. “Sixty-five. Still a huge fan base. And guess what? They're screaming for a live chat. Let's set it up tonight.”

But that was a step too far. Because even though I might be able to get away with a quick check of Kayla's site, there's no way I can sit down in our living room, in full view of my parents, and spend an hour or whatever in fast-paced discussion with hundreds (Kayla says thousands, but I can't believe that) of strangers, talking about something my parents would have coronaries over if they knew.

So no.

Kayla grinned mischievously. “I saved the best for last.”

She pulled a folded-up sheet of paper from the side leg pocket of her cargo pants. “Don't show little brother,” she said, right in front of him. “He'll die of jealousy.”

I unfolded the paper.

It was a printout from Ms. Shepherd's website.

I quickly skimmed through her report on some physics research about light particles and something called “spooky action,” until I got to the last paragraph.

For those of you who like your science with a dab of religion on the side, check out Bible Grrrl for the latest in biblical thought.
And she gave a link to me.

“The latest in biblical thought?” I repeated. “Are you kidding me?”

Kayla beamed. “Do you understand what this means? You made it onto her website—a major achievement. Just ask little brother.”

“Congratulations,” Casey said. I searched his face for signs that he was upset. Either he's good at hiding it or he was genuinely happy for me.

“Not that it's like getting your freshman project listed in the gallery of geniuses,” Kayla said, “but I guarantee you're the only student here Ms. Shepherd is quoting this week.”

“Has she ever linked to your website before?” I asked.

“Yeah, but it's still cool every time she does.”

Josh said, “Bell.” It was time to go.

“I'll … see you,” I told the three of them. I couldn't believe I wouldn't be going to their house this afternoon. I had no idea how sad that would feel.

“I don't care what we have to do,” Kayla said, “but we're sneaking you over to our house for a farewell dinner on Friday. You gotta help us say goodbye to the puppies.”

My heart felt like it might break. “I can't. Really. I am so on restriction.”

Kayla winked. “We'll think of something. Won't we, mini-genius?”

Casey gave me a funny look, then he nodded.

Okay, so whatever that means.

Meanwhile, I'll continue serving out my sentence here at home, where there are virtually no after-school snacks, no puppies, no Casey, no friendship, nothing but me and my books.

Think I'll finish reading
Red Horizon.
At least I can hang out with Mr. Connor.

Forty-one

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means. Finally.

Can I just say that second period was the nicest hour I've spent in days? To just lie there on my back in the darkened yoga room, a gray wool blanket draped over my legs, light incense burning, Missy's mystical music playing softly in the background, and visions of Casey Connor in my head. Not Casey alone—Casey and me. What it would feel like to kiss him. Or even to hold his hand.

When the lights came up, I was so groggy I almost forgot where I was. But then I had to pull it together in time to see the real Casey and act like I hadn't just been fantasizing about him for the last hour.

I wonder if guys can sense things like that.

“I finished your dad's book,” I was able to tell him, so at least we had that to talk about. His father really is one of the best writers I've ever read, and I don't even like science fiction. Or at least I didn't.

“Ready for another one?” Casey asked. “I'll bring you a few tomorrow.”

“Sure.” So I guess we'll at least have that connection.

I think it might be some weird kind of consolation to read all thirty-nine of Mr. Connor's novels. I'll probably skip the science articles, though. No sense trying to fake my way through those.

Biology was actually kind of boring today, compared to the past two weeks. Apparently no one feels the need to protest our new unit on classifying organisms by genus and species. It's good the Back Turners know where to draw the line.

Ms. Shepherd returned our quizzes, and I actually got an A. Casey got an A plus for adding a whole separate page of explanations Ms. Shepherd hadn't even asked for.

I'm sure the brainy science girlfriend he's going to hook up with any day now will be very proud of him.

Casey slipped me a note listing the current stats on the Bible Grrrl response. I can't quite believe it. The number of visitors to Kayla's website has gone up to 4,200 as of last night. It can't be just because of me. What I wrote isn't that great.

“Library?” Casey asked as we headed out.

“Can't,” I lied. Because one hour of torturing myself with false hopes and fantasies is quite enough for one day, thank you. Besides, it's very cozy here in the second-floor west-wing girls’ bathroom, and so far only one person's come in to smoke, and I can write and think in peace, and Casey can go about his business mapping out the genome or whatever he's going to tackle next for extra credit.

If only.

If only they hadn't targeted Denny. If only I had stopped them. If only I had told him in person I was sorry. If only I hadn't written that letter.

If only Ms. Shepherd had put me with a different lab partner. If only I hadn't fallen in love with the puppies. If only I hadn't fallen in love, period.

If only I were a Science Brain. If only Casey liked me. If only my parents hadn't grounded me so I can't even spend this last week at Casey's house.

If only my parents had listened to me and let me go to a different school in the first place.

It's hard to know how far to go back and what to fix on that day when someone finally gets around to perfecting the time machine.

I think I want to go back to sitting with Casey on the floor of his bedroom, watching Aragorn fight the Orcs. That might have been my last good day.