Chemistry: A Short Story - Part Two

We all know lessons learned often don’t stick for life.

After a few minutes of preparation, I inserted the acid ball in the left end, and she popped the base into the right. We waited awhile, and I stifled a yawn.

After a full minute, no ring.

We had both done the experiment several times before, first as coursework when we took the class, then later as lab assistants when we supported other students. It always took just a few seconds for the ring to form, and like the distance calculations, the time lapse should have been consistent from one trial to the next.

We repeated the experiment four more times that day, each time with the same – that is, no – result.

As we were about to clear the counter at the end of the period, Maxwell hustled over: "Well?"

This time, Liz spoke. "It seems we're doing something wrong, too."

Maxwell looked totally stumped. "That so? Show me."

It took two minutes to repeat the experiment in front of him.

Again, a negative result.

We all stared at the clear tube. Perhaps to appear more diligent, I checked my watch.

"Imagine that," Maxwell muttered, and walked back into his office.

"This is stupid," I said to her after he'd gone. "There's something he's not telling us."

"I know," she said. "And it makes me feel stupid. Must be something really dumb we're overlooking."

"We'll nail it next time," I said.

With a meaningful glance over to Maxwell's closed office door, she said, "We'd better."

During our next session, we tried reagents from different trays. Then we tried different tubes, and we broke open a fresh package of cotton balls.

A dozen tries, a dozen total failures.

As we stared at yet another blank tube, suddenly there was Maxwell.

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