Warning!
This is a book for the open-minded only!
If you feel that you already know all about the mysteries of our existence, your view of life is set and you would like to keep it this way, then this book is not meant for you. Don't bother reading...
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Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.
- Allen Saunders
"Who wants to collect the money?" Prof. Hausmann asked, her voice already carrying a hint of impatience.
Everybody looked at everybody else, trying with their eyes to encourage the others to volunteer.
Our class was supposed to go on a three-day bicycle trip in June and some poor soul had to collect the fee for the train that was taking our man-powered vehicles and us to the Burgenland (a rather flat region in Austria).
A task, which involved having to run down every single one of our classmates, since most of us were quite prone to forget about trivial matters such as bringing money to school (I myself definitely included. Actually, I might have been one of the worst offenders...).
As a collector, it was your duty to remind all the others every day. Until their brains would somehow finally register the need to remember bringing said money to school. And as if this was not taxing enough, you had to be prepared to be insulted, as some of our classmates were not very appreciative of being repeatedly reminded of anything.
All in all, not one of the more pleasant tasks to be given...
Prof. Hausmann's gaze swept the class, whose members were collectively avoiding her searching eyes.
As the seconds ticked by, I could feel the Professor's impatience grow and the tension in our classroom rise. Everybody was fidgeting uncomfortably in their seats, waiting for somebody to come forward and accept the responsibility.
Unfortunately, I did not do well with that kind of pressure! As I couldn't help but feel that coming to our teacher's aid was basically our duty (after all, she had organized the trip for our sakes and had actually had to overcome quite a few hurdles in the process), an inner urge was growing within me, to just raise my hand, accept the task, and be done with it.
No! I told myself. I won't do it. I have enough trouble remembering to bring my own money...
But somebody needs to volunteer! An annoying part of myself argued.
Yeah, but that somebody doesn't have to be me! After all, there are thirty-one other students in this class! I declared confidently. Besides, remember what happened the last time I tried to collect money? In the end I did not have enough, some of it had inexplicably disappeared, so I had to pay the difference out of my own pocket!
I know, but...
No buts. I am simply not the right person for the job and that's it!
Pleased with my decision, I still couldn't help but notice that - somehow - it had not really changed anything: it had done nothing to alleviate the pressure I felt emanating from our teacher - aiming to force us to surrender - as no hand had risen to come to our rescue.
