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The fraternity brothers and sorority sisters gathered around the television. "Five, four, three, two, one... Happy New Year!"
The Sigma Chi fraternity house suddenly turned into a sexual orgy. Everyone joined in... except Jake. He never looked away from the television as the host recounted the three big discoveries made during the year that just ended.
"Will the new year keep the momentum going, after a year that will go down in history in physics, medicine, and economics?" the host was saying. "We'll never forget last January when the world watched the proof unfold, right before our very eyes, to Dr. Ian Scott's theory of an ether, otherwise known as an existence field. Never will we forget the half-time show that upstaged the Super Bowl...as 90,000 fans pushed the button installed on their chairs each time they saw a green laser light during the laser light show. The world watched live as the fans' impulses -- which were captured and displayed on a big-screen computer terminal -- formed into the double sine waves. Before the experiment, Dr. Scott predicted and explained why the double sine waves could only mean an ether existed. A billion people across the world watched the experiment live, in awe, and we all started to wonder at about the same moment, `What does an existence field mean for mankind?' As we speak, theories are forming. One developing theory, by Dr. Scott himself, is that the existence field could potentially work like a super-advanced quantum computer, as the circuitry to a Universal Computer into which advanced conscious beings download their knowledge. Tapping into such a Universal Computer would mean tapping into eternal knowledge, perhaps Dr. Scott's next great challenge.
"Humanity will not soon forget Dr. Sally Salberg's miracle molecules that plug up the receptor sites of the influenza virus, making it unable to attach to and attack our living cells, rendering all strains of the virus harmless to humans. Dr. Salberg's discovery came by a sort of twist of fate as she was working on a radically different approach to curing cancer. We can only hope that her genius can bring us that cure someday, too. Dr. Salberg's technology has opened the search for other cures using the same method.
"And millions of ordinary working men and women are forever grateful to software genius, Theodore Winters, who brought us the internet software called: `A Company Without a Company/Without a Country'. His groundbreaking software lets people build and run million-dollar companies all over the world...right out of their homes or right on their laps. Through his controversial phantom-bantam-company method, the company itself seems to vanish as it becomes impossible for governments to determine what country it belongs to in order to tax the profits. His worldwide-web software gives entrepreneurs one major advantage: without profits being taxed, the new company-without-a-company/without-a-country is thriving and growing. The result in just one year has been millions of new entrepreneurs hiring tens of millions of new employees, nearly driving out unemployment in several countries, generating nearly two trillion dollars worldwide in annual income taxes, a good portion of that going to the IRS. The new software phenomenon was given a popular nickname by its admirers: a Winter Wonderland. Of course, a bill is in the House of Representatives now to outlaw `A Company Without a Company/Without a Country', but too many people want it, and the politicians seem afraid to vote against it. So it appears Mr. Winters -- the man who never finished high school, the richest man alive -- will go down in history as the hero who essentially eliminated unemployment and not as the villain who cheated the government, as Capitol Hill would have it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us go now to the three young heroes -- the favorites to win the Nobel Prize in physics, medicine, and economics -- to get a word on what comes next. Hello, Dr. Scott, Dr. Salberg, and Mr. Winters!"
The satellite feed went to the three phenoms for a few words. Each of them
took a few minutes from their private New Year's Eve parties to answer questions.
They were our first
defining measures of the newborn millennium.
As Jake looked on, straining to hear through the slurred singing of Auld Lang Syne in the frat house, he noticed that the three heroes of the new millennium seemed to be about the same young age...in their mid-30s.
Thirty minutes later, Jake wrestled his way through a half dozen of the fraternity's little sisters who hugged him and seemed not to want to let him go as he tried to leave. After a 10-yard drive, he broke free and went back to his dorm room and logged onto the Internet. After a few minutes with some search engines, he learned that the three heroes were the same age. That astonished him and caused him to start looking for other common denominators.
At about 1:30 in the morning, Jake discovered something that made his mouth drop open: the sensational three went to the same elementary school! They did not attend the same high school or college. Now, this had Jake thinking. If they had, by chance, gone to the same university, Jake could possibly understand that...but the same elementary school?
*
Jake loved to solve a good mystery. So, with no classes from now until next semester, and a week off from his part-time job as a waiter at Steaks 'n Beer, Jake got in his black Grand Cherokee Jeep early in the morning of the third of January and drove down to Cheektowaga, New York, 455 miles away, where the three phenoms attended Duncan Elementary School about 25 years ago. He got to the small town early in the evening and checked into a small motel. He drove around the town that evening thinking, how could the three most sensational accomplishers in the world come out of this little town, and at about the same time? What did they have in common here?
The next day, Jake walked into Duncan Elementary School around one o'clock in the afternoon. Only two people seemed to be there, and Jake started asking the pleasant young woman, who was the receptionist, some questions. She was aware that the three big names had gone to school here, but she did not know much more about them other than that.
As Jake asked the young woman a few more questions, the janitor who had been in the room cleaning the floor approached the two of them with mop in hand. He was a kind black man approaching 60.
"Excuse me, I overheard your questions," he said to Jake. Leaning against the handle of the mop, the janitor continued with a hint of pride, "I've worked here for 30 years, and I personally knew those kids."
Jake felt like he hit the jackpot and started asking him questions, trying to find a clue to perhaps something that might have had an influence over those three great accomplishers. But the janitor seemed to be a step ahead of Jake's questions as if he already knew what Jake was looking for and was guiding him to it.
"Those three kids were in the same third-grade class together, you know," he said.
"You mean, they had the same teacher?" Jake asked.
"Yup, they sure did."
"Did they have any other classes together here?"
"Nope, only third grade."
"Do you remember much about their third-grade teacher?"
The janitor motioned for Jake to step outside with him. Outside the air was crisp, but Jake and the janitor stood in the sun, and there was no wind. It felt good.
"So, do you remember what their third-grade teacher was like?" Jake asked again.
"Oh yes...I'll never forget her," the older man said smiling. "And to answer the question you've been searching for, she was the launching pad for those three kids."
Jake felt the skin on the back of his neck tingle. "Can you tell me about her?"
"I can tell you," the janitor said. Then he began telling the story, with unmistakable love in his voice...
"Oh yes...I remember that autumn morning when I saw Miss Annabelle for the first time. She was standing outside the school, not in her classroom like the other teachers. She was so beautiful, yet so reachable; she was different than anyone I ever met, even to this day...
"She was smiling and saying hello to the whole school as they came in. From the moment I saw her, I knew she loved children, and it was almost like she knew her time here would be limited, so she absorbed every moment right from the start.
"I couldn't help myself; I followed her to her classroom. She went inside and closed the door. I stood next to the door and listened through the glass. She...she started singing The Impossible Dream from the play Don Quixote. The kids were laughing. They must have thought she was crazy, until she finished...wow, what she said to those kids. I wish someone said that to me when I was in third grade. I'll never forget it..."
*
"Don Quixote chased after an impossible dream," began the lovely Miss Annabelle, "but he was insane. His golden helmet was a tin shaving cup. His enemies were windmills. He was a crazy old man who lived in a world of illusions. You too, live in a world of illusions. This world we live in will have you think you're crazy to go after your dreams. But I'm here to show you that you can go after and achieve your dreams. Those dreams are NOT impossible, and you are NOT crazy to go after your dreams. In fact, seemingly impossible dreams can be achieved routinely when you have the power to see through appearances to the essence of things. This year, I'll teach you how to do that. Don Quixote was a powerless, schizophrenic dream chaser in a world of illusions. You, beautiful children, will grow up to become powerful dream doers in a world of reality. My dream is to be sure you do. This year, I'll: 1) properly educate you in the basics of math, science, literature, and history, and 2) teach you how to think in integrated concepts and to see past all the powerless appearances to the powerful essences. It is my dream for you children not to live the normal blasé life that appears before us, but to dig deeper at life to build great achievements and happiness. And because I'll go after my dream, some people around here might start calling me a crazy person. I sort of expect it. But, when you go to the essence of things, which is how I'm going to teach you, then no outside appearances or forces make any difference at all. I'll be focused on the essence of educating you. Sometimes in this world, you must forge ahead when you reach through to the essence, no matter what appearances develop around you. You must forge ahead to do what you know at its essence is right.
"So, how many of you want to grow up and do great things with your lives?" All hands shot up.
"How many want to make things people want to buy, and make a lot of money?" Every hand went up with no depreciation of enthusiasm. Miss Annabelle kept on:
"What is the reason for living?" Such a philosophical question to eight-year-olds would normally silence the group. But, of her twelve students, four hands went up. Miss Annabelle pointed to the boy in the back. "Stand up, state your name, then give me your answer."
"My name is Johnny Ward. I want to build tall buildings when I grow up." With that comment, every hand in the class went up within about five seconds or less. Each child wanted to tell what he or she wanted to do when grown up. Miss Annabelle, who cleverly led the class to this charged-up introduction of names and dreams, had each child stand up and tell his or her name followed by his or her dream. From then on, each child's dream took on a new dimension, for the child was using his or her dream to answer the question, "What is the reason for living?"
After all twelve children introduced themselves and their dreams, Miss Annabelle continued the stampede of thoughts: "When you told me your dreams, I saw in the eyes of each and every one of you the sparkle of happiness. Happiness is the reason for living. And achieving your dreams is the way to generate happiness. And, as I told you, each one of you will grow up to achieve your dreams. Your journey began when you walked through my door, and it is a journey of no return."
The eight-year-olds sat at attention. Not one child had yawned. They never, not ever in preschool, kindergarten, first or second grade, or at home, had ever been talked to like this. Twelve wonderful children were awestruck; they were falling in love with Miss Annabelle.
"This week and next, we'll work hard on the basics. A week from this Saturday, I'm planning a camp-out at Pine Lake for those who want to enjoy a night in the wilderness. I'll need four parents to volunteer to go. Bring me a note by Wednesday signed by a parent if you're going. And let me know if your mom or dad can volunteer to join us."
Over the next two weeks, the children and their teacher had grown close.
*
The janitor stopped telling the story and seemed to be studying Jake's face. For a moment, Jake wondered if the janitor was going to continue the story.
Finally, he said, "When it was all over, she left me her diary, which included that miracle year." Then, after another searching look and long pause, he added, "I'll tell you the full story, son, from my own observations, from things her students told me, and from her private diary. But you have to promise me something."
"Sure. What's that?" Jake said.
"If you tell others the story, you must tell it like it was, not like the papers told it."
"Yes...I promise," Jake said sincerely.
The tall black man seemed so careful and caring, Jake forgot to ask, "Why? Why did she give you her private diary?" But the janitor anticipated Jake's question and asked it for him:
"Why'd she give me her diary?" he said.
"She didn't die, did she?" Jake asked.
"No! Thank goodness. To understand why, you need to know everything that happened here. So it's best that I just tell you the story..."
*
When Saturday came, it was a beautiful September day for the camping trip. Miss Annabelle felt flattered, for all twelve students showed up by noon at the school with eight parents...quite a turnout for a Saturday overnight excursion!
They loaded two Vans, two Suburbans, and a pickup truck with sleeping bags, blankets, food, and people. They brought tents, but only as a precaution, for Pine Lake Campground was famous for the soft beds of fallen pine needles. They had decided to sleep tentless under the stars. The forty-minute drive to Pine Lake Campground passed quickly. The children barely noticed the green countryside and farm animals as they played rock, scissors, paper or sang with the radio or, for most of the drive, told the scary ghost stories they had planned to tell later when it was dark.
When they arrived at Pine Lake, the windows came down as cheers trumpeted from the five vehicles, announcing to the campsite the kids had arrived. Miss Annabelle took a deep breath of the fresh air. She loved the minty smell, the green pine trees, the brown bed of soft pine needles, the lake and its cool breeze. Everything here was soft -- the soft smells, soft ground, soft sounds of fish jumping, birds chirping, and little waves breaking.
*
That night after roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories, they lay zipped tight in their sleeping bags. As they lay on their backs and looked above into the cloudless night, their vision seemed to skip right past the invisible sky and into space, filled with big bright stars. The night was still; Miss Annabelle talked in a relaxed voice, "The first day of school you each told me your dreams in life. I wonder if any of you can think of a common denominator beneath those twelve dreams?"
The parents were a bit surprised at the deep level of the discussion with their eight-year-olds. And they were even more surprised at their children's responses that were perhaps more thought out than the parents' own thoughts about their own dreams.
"They all made us happy," Sally said.
Miss Annabelle smiled in the dark and whispered, "Yes, and what else?"
"They all were valuable to others," Johnny added.
"Yes!" Miss Annabelle said, her voice radiating with pride. "I am impressed with you children. Those are two common denominators beneath your different dreams. Achieving your dreams involves building values for others, which in turn brings pride and happiness to you. Now, I want you to know that your specific dream may change someday. Dreams sometimes do that. And sometimes, when we get close to going out on our own after high school and college, we're not sure what we want to do, and no dreams step up to bat like they did for you the first day of school. If that happens to you, I want you to remember that sometimes life gets very complicated. When you are almost grown up and are not sure what to do with your life, remember back to when you were in Third Grade...you already knew the answer, which I will repeat: Achieving dreams comes from building values.
"In whatever you do, put full effort towards building values -- not just getting the most for doing the least like so many people today. Put your focus on building values to get on the winning path in life. Building values for society, no matter what you're doing, will bring you success, pride, and happiness. As your momentum grows, you'll naturally form new dreams; then, as your momentum grows, you'll achieve them."
When Miss Annabelle stopped talking, no one said anything because they were still listening to her words in their minds.
After a stretch of silence occasionally broken by a few young people's yawns, Miss Annabelle read a number of the campers' thoughts when she said, "Isn't it beautiful up there?"
"Have you ever wondered where it all came from?" one mother said.
"From God," another agreeing mom echoed.
"Miss Annabelle, would Charles Darwin say that God created the Universe?" Ian asked.
"Yes, Ian, he probably would have," Miss Annabelle answered. "Charles Darwin desperately wanted to keep a place for God and a place for Natural Selection. ...By the way, the kids have been studying Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection the past week," she explained to the parents. "But there's something I haven't told you about Natural Selection.
"Before Natural Selection, the whole world believed that the beautiful animal kingdom, including man, was God's creation. Before Darwin and Natural Selection, there simply was no other rational way to explain intelligent man, beautiful animals, and perfectly complex ecosystems. When Darwin released his Theory of Evolution, the world was stunned. There, before them, after thousands of years of thinking a Majestic Creation made man, was overwhelming scientific evidence that told us man, animals, the ecosystem came not from some divine plan, but merely by chance. Before Darwin, a scientific explanation for the world around them was simply beyond their scope of knowledge.
"When I look at the stars above, I feel that our knowledge about the
Universe is like our
knowledge about the world before Darwin. Majestic Creation is our best possible
explanation now, yet I wonder if someday science will explain it all. Throughout
all of history, when something goes beyond man's scope of knowledge, humanity
always turned to God as the explanation...until science caught up and solved
the mystery."
Miss Annabelle had just questioned the existence of God before twelve students and eight parents, but her voice, with its tinge of English accent gotten from her English nanny growing up, was so sincere and lovely; even the adults seemed to find solace in her wandering thoughts, and no one objected.
*
Miss Annabelle was singing as the children came into the classroom and sat in their chairs. They enjoyed watching their teacher; she was an image of beauty with a sweet voice. She stopped, which broke the enchantment. "How old are you?" she asked.
"NINE!" Seemed to drown out the eights, although she knew the ratio would certainly favor the eight-year-olds.
"So, you're eight or nine already. You're growing up fast. Who of you have ever thought about love?" Four or five hands went halfway up, but came down quickly in reaction to the snickers and giggles. Miss Annabelle could not hold back her own giggle, delighted by the children's innocence.
"Someday, love will become one of the most important events in your lives. So today, I'd like to talk just a little about love." She looked around at the twelve little blushing faces. After a moment, their nervous giggles turned to curiosity. They want to know, she said to herself; they're ready to hear this, and I'm going to tell them.
"When I was a teenager, I always heard that men and women had to be equals at everything they do. I wish I knew back then how to see through to the essence of things."
"But shouldn't they be equal, Miss Annabelle?" Nattie asked.
"When talking about life in general, you're absolutely right. But when in love, everything changes."
"Let's go to the essence," wide-eyed Teddy requested. That expression had become a sort of motto in Miss Annabelle's class over the past couple of weeks. When teacher or student wanted to fully understand something, someone usually said, "Let's go to the essence."
"OK, let's do," she said. "What is the essence of love? I know you kids can get this one."
A number of answers filled the room: "To tell each other secrets." "No...to have someone to pick out your clothes." "To be together -- like going to the movies." "Someone to grow old with." "To have babies." "To take care of the kids."
"You're all on the right track, but go down to the common denominator that makes all those things happen. Remember, common denominators can help us get down to the essence."
Cathy, who silently suffered the toll of witnessing frequent fights between her parents, somberly said, "The essence of love is to be happy."
"Yes!" Miss Annabelle shrieked, startling Cathy, causing a tiny smile to crack her face. "To be happy! Don't ever forget that. Now, I'll tell you what is needed to be happy."
At this moment, the door to the classroom opened, and in walked Mr. Burke, the school's guidance counselor. He walked to the back of the room and sat at an empty desk. The children all got tense, but Miss Annabelle quickly removed their anxieties:
"Are we not talking about the essence of something here? Remember what I've told you: once you get through to the essence of something, then no outside force can be of any influence. No one can change the essence of love, no matter what they might say or do."
Mr. Burke looked surprised by the subject matter and ironically became tense himself, while the kids relaxed. A voice then floated through the air, "Miss Annabelle, I want to know what love is."
"Of course, Nattie. Love is your reward in life -- your reward for making values. Love is your way to be happy. Who remembers how you make happiness?"
"Building values for the world!" Teddy shouted.
"Yes, Teddy! And true love is the time two people take together to feel that happiness. Do not fall in love for any other reason than to be happy. No matter what others say about love and what it should be, the essence of love is to be happy. The person you fall in love with must be someone with whom you can celebrate your life and be happy.
"Whereas men and women both make or build values, they sometimes do so differently. A man will be happiest building values for the world through his work. A woman can be happy that way, too, and by making values for her husband, even helping him build his values."
At this moment three hands went up.
"Yes, Sally?"
"Isn't a man happy from helping his wife build her values?"
"Sally, when you grow up, you can go as far as any man in any career you choose. Your mind can do what any man's mind can do. But when you get married, you're going to want a man you can look up to and admire...someone driving on his own value production, not someone who depends on your value production. It has to do with the nature of man and woman, and, no matter what we are told, never deny your nature. You, as a woman, want to fall in love with your hero, not your assistant.
"Yeah," Sally sighed, getting lost in a dreamy fantasy.
In the back of the room, Mr. Burke sat with his arms folded. Miss Annabelle could not help thinking how the boys, at that moment, looked like mature little men while Mr. Burke looked like an immature big boy.
"That's enough about love today," Miss Annabelle announced, but she was surprised by the moans of disappointment among her little audience who obviously wanted more.
"But Miss Annabelle, what about, you know...making love?" Reggie said shyly.
"Yeah, sex!" a more confident Johnny said.
Miss Annabelle was shocked to see the entire class looking at her seriously. No one was giggling. Things sure have changed since I was a girl, she thought; I didn't even know what sex was for another three or four years. ...Kids grow up so fast these days.
Miss Annabelle studied her students' faces. They really want...and need...to know, she realized. Although active sex was several years away, they needed to understand romantic relationships now to shape and be ready for their futures and to protect themselves. After a long pause, she said, "OK, kids..." But before she could continue, an amazed Mr. Burke in the back cleared his throat loudly. His obvious disapproval did not stop Miss Annabelle. One sweeping glance across the twelve sets of eyes transfixed on her told her they were crying out for competent knowledge about future intimacy. They needed to know now to prepare psychologically for their futures.
"Sex. That is a small word, only three letters, but it is a very big word in emotional repercussions and physical consequences throughout your life." Miss Annabelle liked to throw big words at her eight and nine-year-olds from time to time. "You must always treat sex as important, especially you girls."
"Why?" one little girl named Debbie asked, trying to remain anonymous.
"For one thing, you can become pregnant. But you'll hear a lot about that from others. What you will not hear about, I'm going to tell you now: When a woman has sex -- when she makes love to a man -- she is giving herself to him physically and emotionally. She is saying, `take me...I'm yours.' The man she chooses must be a man she looks up to and admires...or she is devaluing herself. He is the man she gives herself to. He symbolizes her and her values in life. She must always value herself."
"Do men give themselves to their women?" Al asked innocently.
Miss Annabelle smiled affectionately and said, "They do give all of their love to their true love, darling. But a man does not physically and psychologically surrender, not like a woman does. When they make love, the man is stronger, the dominator, and the woman allows herself to be taken and gives herself physically and psychologically to that one man who deserves her -- that valuable man building important values for society whom she looks up to."
By now, Mr. Burke would not stop writing down notes in the back of the room, but Miss Annabelle would not stop talking until she felt the essence of a romantic relationship was planted. She thought, if I don't do this, no one ever will.
"Now, maybe you can see why a woman is deeply happy with a man she looks up to," she continued. "And now, maybe you can see why she can be happy helping him build his values, because he -- the man she chose to give herself to -- symbolically represents her and her values in life. The more he accomplishes for the world, the deeper her happiness grows.
"On the other hand, it is very important for you men to find the woman who understands values, for she will love you deeply and devotedly for being a man who builds values. She will look up to you as the real catch."
Of course, Miss Annabelle knew that many of the kids did not understand everything she said and that most probably did not even know the details of lovemaking. But she felt she said enough to plant a sense of man/woman physical/psychological relationships and their life-changing importance. So now, she wrapped up the love discussion and tied it back to where they started today:
"So, back to what I said earlier, do not get confused by what you might hear about how love should be. The mixed-up world around you will take away your nature as man and woman. For instance, do not listen to that women lib talk. That talk is the first to balk at the idea of a woman giving herself to a man in an intimate relationship. Women's lib causes millions of women to deny their nature, which takes away the deepest happiness in a woman's life of being in love with a man she can look up to and admire, a man she can surrender to. Of course, girls, remember you can go as far as any man in any career, but your husband must be someone special -- that productive man you can look up to.
"Now, kids, I want you to get out your Math books. It's time to get into numbers..."
Mr. Burke got up and left the room.
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