Crush Culture [M.Wheeler]

[25] A NEW SPECIES

"The case of Phineas Gage is one of the great medical curiosities of all time." Mr. Clarke says to the class. "Phineas was a railroad worker in 1848 who had a nightmarish accident." He pauses, then takes his marker.

"A large iron rod was driven completely through his head." He explains, drawing a line on top of the skull demonstration.

"Phineas miraculously survived. He seemed fine. And physically, yes, he was. But his injury resulted in a complete change to his personality." Mr. Clarke  continues on. Nori glances over at the red head seated beside her.

She couldn't seem to keep her eyes off of Will. "Isn't that so crazy?" Nori chuckles anxiously, pointing towards Mr. Clarke to draw Max's attention away while Will turns back to look at the two.

Max realizes this, and sighs. "Yeah." She nods. "So much so that friends that knew him started referring to him as No longer Gage." Mr. Clarke paces in front of the class.

"At the time, this was known as the American Crowbar Case. Although it  wasn't a—" before Mr. Clarke could finish his sentence, Dustin barges into the classroom, not even bothering to be silent.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Clarke." He apologizes, out of breath. "Really, I'm so sorry. Please continue with the class." He says, walking to his seat as the boys, Max, and Nori watch him along with the rest of the class.

"Don't mind me. Really, continue, please. Thanks." He sighs, taking his seat. "—Although it wasn't a crowbar, it was a rod, as I said." The man continues.

Nori notices Dustin whispering to the party, who are all huddled up in the front. Soon after, Dustin turns around to the girls.

"AV Club. Lunch." He whispers. Max leans forward, confused. "Dustin!" Mr. Clarke says, frustrated. "Yes, my lord?" He turns back around.

"Would you care to join the class now?" He asks. "Please, yes." Dustin responds, reaching for his textbook in his backpack. "The case of Phineas Gage." Mr. Clarke adds.

"Phineas Gage."
Dustin repeats. "Page 104."
"104. 104." He nods. "Focus."

"Focusing." Dustin turns back around. "AV Club." He repeats, Max and Nori nodding, and Max putting a thumbs up. Dustin responds with a smile and the same gesture.

"And he began to curse. Using terrible words that I don't dare repeat here." Mr. Clarke goes on.

***

Dustin opens the ghost catcher from his Halloween costume, revealing a small slimey creature inside while the others crowd around it.

"His name is d'Artagnan." Dustin states, reaching inside and holding him in his palm. "Cute, right?" He grins.

"Super cute." Nori awkwardly nods, a little disgusted. "D'Artagnan?" Mike questions the name. "Dart for short." Dustin adds.

"And he was in your trash?" Max inquires. "Foraging for food." Dustin confirms. "You wanna hold him?"

"No, no." She shakes her head. "He doesn't bite." Dustin reaches his hand out. "I don't want to—" but she was already holding him.

"Oh, God, he's slimy!" She exclaims in disgust, passing him onto Lucas. "Ugh, he's like a living booger." He groans, leaning over and handing it to Will "Ugh, oh, God!"

Nori gets it next, nearly dropping him in the process. "Yeah, no." She shake her head, passing it off to Mike, before wiping her hands down onto her shirt.

"What is he?" Mike asks, holding him up. "My question exactly." Dustin responds, then reaches for his backpack, pulling out a few books he had gotten from the library.

"At first, I thought it was some type of pollywog." He sets the books down onto the table. "Pollywog?" Max questions. "It's another word for tadpole." The boy explains.

"A tadpole is the larval stage of a toad." He quickly adds. "I know what a tadpole is."
She says obviously. "Alright, then you know that most tadpoles are aquatic, right?" Dustin flips to another page in the book.

"Well, Dart, he isn't. He doesn't need water." He states. "Yeah, but aren't there non aquatic pollywogs?" Lucas asks. "Terrestrial pollywogs? Yep. Two to be exact. Indirana semipalmata and the Adenomera andreae." He explains, flipping to more pages.

"Ones from India, ones from South America. So how did one end up in my trash?" He questions. "Maybe some scientists brought it here, and it escaped?" Max suggests.

"Do you guys see that?" Mike points out, looking down at Dart. "Looks like something is moving inside of it." Nori nods.

They reach for the light to see better, shining it down on him. He screeches, startling them, before they watch him run out from the spotlight and into Dustin's hands.

"It's okay. It's okay. I got you little guy. I know you don't like that. It's okay." Dustin says softly. "And there's another thing. Reptiles, they're cold-blooded. Ectothermic, right? They love heat, the sun. Dart hates it. It hurts him." Dustin explains.

"So, if he's not a pollywog or a reptile..." Lucas trails off. "Then I've discovered a new specifies." Dustin finishes.