He had a PhD in mathematics from the University of Texas and she a PhD in American History from Boston University. Finding work in academia was difficult so when Slim Clemons offered both a generous salary for a six month tutoring gig at his private lake in Illinois, there was no reason to say no and plenty of reasons to say yes. Tutoring Ellie was supposed to be a dream job, but her constant telekinesing out of class to spend time on the beach and her refusal to do her homework, made their work untenable. Ultimately, both prepared letters of resignation and were now waiting transportation to take them away from Slim’s enclave. It seems the little teddy bear got wind of the fact that Feather and Hammer were on the way with a knowledge key, a key purportedly so rich in it’s comprehension of the universe that Ellie’s scholastic achievements were guaranteed. Knowing this, Ellie spent the summer entertaining her many indulgences; smelling the enormous barbecues staged at the main cottage, lying on the beach in the hot sun and mischievously telekinesing in and out of other guests’ rooms.
Summer turned to fall and fall into winter when Ellie got word that the seagull carrying the key had lost it and it was now in the possession of a porcupine who took it upon himself to deliver it to Ellie. Porcupines are slow land creatures who do not like to swim, so when she finally got to the lake she had to wait until the water froze over before delivering the precious key.
The key in the hand of the chosen teddy bear would miraculously produce a small locked box said to be from the fairy on Ellesmere Island, and the key now in Ellie’s possession would open the box revealing the knowledge key. It was an exciting day for Ellie, a day she had waited for these last six months. She placed the box in front of her, sat down in that most usual of teddy bear ways, held the key up to the sunlight, then slid it into the lock chamber and turned it.
Inside the box she found the knowledge key, a hand written note:
STUDY HARD…
THE REWARDS ARE ENDLESS!
Share if you dare
WHAT IT IS/WHAT IT IS NOT 