Note from the author: This is my novel for nanowrimo this year. Wish me luck. Word Count: 1374. Words to go: 28,626.
I don't really know where to start. I guess anywhere will do. Sigh. I stare at the giant knot, hoping I can unravel it using willpower. No such luck.
I don't really understand the point of this stupid exercise. I guess it's to teach us hand-eye coordination, but it seems like we could do the same thing with video simulators. Oh well, I'll just have to dive right in and hope for the best.
Methodically I begin looking for a lose end. Nope. Now I just start pulling on random strings. I'm getting frustrated now. I take a few deep breaths. I close my eyes. Count to ten.
Maybe there is no end to this knot. Maybe that's what the lesson is. Some things are too complicated to unwind. Class is almost over anyway, I stuff the mess of a knot into my bag and leave my learning pod.
I saunter down to my room. Boarding school stinks, especially when it's on the moon. There's no where to run. You're stuck. I guess when you're an only child and your parents both are the crazy-scientist type, you get sent places like this. I miss them, but it's not like they were great parents. They were more interested in dark matter than me, but I'm sure one day their research will benefit everyone.
Most of the other kids are here for intergalactic transgressions. That's just a fancy word for petty crimes. Sure, some kids actually broke major laws, and they let everyone know. There are also the rich kids who's parents actually pay for them to go here. Bragging rights for the parents I guess, how many kids get to go to school in space. The rest of us, who aren't criminals nor rich, just try to get through school as fast as possible so our futures can begin.
I put my hand on the doorknob, wait for the tingle that means my hand is being scanned, and enter my dorm. The scanning tingle used to tickle, but after five years at Moon Academy, I barely notice it anymore.
I scan my room noting that it's cleaner than I left it and the curtains are open, framing the Earth. Looks like Amy's been through here. Darn! Amy is my best, and only, friend here. She's also the 27 year-old maid. I probably got my awkwardness from my brainiac parents, unfortunately I didn't get any of their smarts. Not like I'm dumb or anything, but I'm not a genius.
Amy stops by once a week, usually on Sundays, but sometimes the head maid, Ms. Smot, makes her work while I'm at school. Which seems mean. Ms. Smot is so demanding. I once asked Amy why she doesn't just quit. Amy suddenly immersed herself in cleaning the toilet.
At the time, I chalked it down to work dedication, but now I wonder if she doesn't quit so she can spend time with me. The thought makes me feel a mixture of guilt and gratitude.
I'm graduating from this dreaded school in a couple of weeks. Maybe then Amy can finally quit.
I cross the room to check on Shelby, my turtle. Not the most creative name, I know, but all students are required to have a pet during their stay at Moon Academy, some nonsense about stress relief, and I was only twelve when I named him. Give me a break. I notice he's attacking a generous piece of lettuce, which means he was recently fed.
Which means Amy is probably only a few rooms away. I knock on my next door neighbor, Alexis', door.
"Hey Charlie! I was hoping you'd get home soon. How was school sweetie?" asks Amy.
"Oh, it was just fascinating," I gush sarcastically, rolling my eyes. We walk back into Alexis' dorm room and start making the bed together. We've been a team for so long now that it's a simple task.
We talk about our day as we move from room to room. She asks me about my life, I ask her about hers. She said the shuttle from Earth to Moon Academy was especially turbulent today. I don't know how she handles so many trips in the shuttle. I've only been on one, to get here, and I haven't left since. I've got to say, I don't enjoy the ride. I'll be taking one down to Earth fairly soon but I'm trying not to dwell on that little fact.
I tell her all about the knot and ask for advice. She tells me that she knows I can do it yada yada yada. I was hoping she'd share a trick with me about how to untie knots. You'd think after years of being a maid she'd learn a thing or two about picking a knot, but apparently not.
As dinnertime approaches I know Amy will have to leave soon. We walk slowly back to the shuttle docking station.
"I'll see you next week, Charlie. Good luck with the knot. The next time I see you you'll be a week closer to graduation," she says, one foot aboard the shuttle.
"Bye. Have a safe flight!" I hate when she leaves. But she's right, pretty soon I'll be out of this place. The minute I turn 17 I'm leaving. Not that it isn't nice here; it's fine. Moon Academy is pleasant. We eat okay food, but nothing gourmet. We have nice dorm rooms and classrooms, but nothing spectacular. I just want to go on adventures and meet people and try new things. Have experiences. Spend time with Amy. It all sounds so grand, like my future is out there, waiting for me.
As I walk to the cafeteria, I think of all the things I will miss, like seeing Earth out of my window, and Gus, the chubby funny chef. I'll probably visit Gus every once in a while.
"Hey Char! Here is your dinner today," Gus greets me while handing me a tray. I glance down, mmmmm, I love his oriental chicken teriyaki wraps.
"Thanks Gus! This is my favorite. Have a good evening." I walk to an empty table, guzzle a can of Cranberry juice, and dig in.
By the time I return to my room, I'm so stuffed that all I can do is sit down at my desk, rub my belly, and groan. It's totally worth it though. That was delicious.
After I'm feeling slightly less stuffed, but still really full, I start making my way to my closet. I change into my pajamas and go down the hall to the bathroom. No one else is in here yet. Good. I like having the room to myself. I brush my teeth, put my hair in a bun, and give myself the nightly "you're almost done with school" pep talk.
I walk back down to my room and glance at the clock. 7:00 blinks at me. Well great, what am I supposed to do for three hours? I'm a night owl, but I try to be in bed by 10:00. Anytime earlier than that is waaaay too early for me.
I groan internally. I guess I'll tackle the dreaded knot. I pull it out of my backpack and stair at it in distain. I find this pointless. Next door I hear Alexis giggling with all of her friends. They must be having a sleep over. Nice of them to invite me...not. That's okay. I guess I'm sort of a loner. At least I have this knot for company.
I started playing around with the knot and before I know it, it's 2 am. But I'm really close to having it unknotted that I have to keep going. Aha! I did it!
Whoooooooo! I'm feeling really proud of myself. Maybe this project wasn't so stupid after all. Maybe it was to show me patience and hard work pay off. I'm feeling super jazzed. I'm actually thinking I should ask the other girls if I could take a crack at their knots too.
Or maybe, I think to myself, I should go to sleep. I give an involuntary yawn as I glance at the clock again. 3am? Great. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
