The Apprenticeship

Crazy Dreams

"So, Avery, that's how you do basic physics. Any questions?"

"Yeah, one. What did you just do?"

He chuckles, "you really don't understand it, do you?"

"No, I don't." I motion to the desk with my arms, "I don't get any of this. It's too hard." I put my head into my hands.

"It's not too hard, are you even trying?"

"Yes. I still don't get it."

"What're you doing? Show me."

I get up from my chair and start writing on the board in the front of the room. I set up the problem exactly how Owen showed me. I do it the exact way he showed me but, I get an answer that's different.

"Wow," he reads over the problem, "how'd you still get the wrong answer?"

"I said, I don't know. I did everything you did. I don't get it."

"I see," he starts to write on the board.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying the problem a different way. Sometimes, we look at a situation with one set of eyes. Truth is, it may take another to see the underlying issue."

"Wow. That was deep."

"Thank you."

He wraps up the problem fast.

"I still don't get it. Can I see your paper?"

I hand him my paper and he quickly reads it.

"You did everything right except, what's seven times eight?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do Avery. I'm not going to give you the answer, you're going to figure it out."

"I'm being serious, I don't know the answer."

"I'll wait, figure it out."

"What's your issue?"

"Excuse me," he sits down on the stool next to the board. "I'm simply asking you to times seven by eight. If there's an issue, it's on you."

"Look," he cuts me off before I have a chance to finish.

"No Avery, you look. You're missing the point. One day, I'm not going to be here to coach you along. You'll have to figure it out. It's my job to make sure you do it."

"I'm sorry."

"No Avery. Stop apologizing until you actually do something wrong. I'm not Daniels, I don't care. I'm just asking you to solve a problem."

"Right. I'm-" I stop myself. He doesn't yell or raise his voice but, he isn't happy either. I'm having issues reading him. Whether he's good or not.

"Now, what's seven times eight?"

"Fifty-two?"

"You're very close."

"Fifty-six!"

"Correct! Now finish the problem from there."

"The answer is twenty-eight!"

"That's right."

I look at him for the first time in the last twenty minutes.

"You did it Avery. You solved that problem."

•••

After a half hour of trying more problems with Owen, he dismisses me for lunch. Maybe I'll see Bell, or Anne.

In the cafeteria I find an empty seat next to Bell and sit there.

"Avery! It's been forever!"

"I know. Don't remind me."

"How's your training been?"

"Interesting, to say the least." I look down at the tray of food in front of me, "You?"

"Amazing! I love writing!"

I nod with her and continue eating.

"Weird question. Have you ever heard of a lady-" she cuts me off.

"You saw Aila?"

"Who?"

"The lady who touches your nose to bless you."

"Oh, yeah."

"You much be going crazy Ave. No one ever sees her."

"What do you mean?"

"She only ever shows up when something bad happened. What happened?"

"I was partnered with Owen? Could that be it?"

"Owen, Owen, oh... Nemo!"

"Okay...."

"That's what everyone calls him, Nemo."

"Owen upside down is Nemo, I get it now."

"Yeah, let's talk more about Aila though."