Beyond Time

Andre did his best with the three P’s of public speaking: Pronunciation—crisp and clear, with open mouth vowels and exaggerated consonants. Projection—fill the diaphragm and speak to reach the rafters. And P number three—don’t drink too much, or you’ll have to.

“What is life?” Andre began, adding an aristocratic flair. “That is the question I place before you, my young proteges. Expect spot quizzes any time, and don’t forget the six-thousand-word essay due on my desk tomorrow morning.”

“My robot shredded mine,” said Brad, who actually got away with that in middle school.

With a performance that would impress Hollywood, Andre completed his talk. “In life, as in science, the most important step is to have the courage to affirm what we do know…and admit what we don’t. Let’s start with existence itself. A single profound conclusion stands out: there is no reason for existence…to exist. Why should there be anything?

“Our past hides embarrassing shame. Men who wheeled respect, with impeccable credentials, have thrown logic out the window…proclaiming somethingness can come from nothingness. Aside from the obvious violation of every law of entropy, a single-episode process would have played itself out long ago. There is no honor in contradicting science with make-believe, just as there is but betrayal genuflecting credence to superstition…or sanctifying mindless tradition.

“That long night ends tomorrow. Explorer Seven will penetrate creation. Explorer Seven will expose truth. Explorer Seven will solve existence. This I solemnly promise each and every one of you…by the time we return, you will confidently answer the questions ‘Who am I, and what am I doing here?’”

“Bravo,” Michael cheered, standing. “Truth is the product of reasoning, the final phase of unprejudiced analysis. We’re doing it!”

Brad, glaring askance, wondered why anyone would quote Emerson in science class or get one bit excited sitting in a hole that deep in the ground when deep space was waiting to be explored and spring fashions were coming out.

“Attention, class,” Andre resumed. “We are all, each one us, Duchess of Windsor or Liverpool street swag, a consortium of protoplasmic bags…doing their thing, as you young people say. So, let’s begin Socratic. What is life?”

Michael jumped up and down in his seat like a second grader, raised one hand, and said, “Pick me, Teach, pick me!”

Andre was relieved to the relieved of the spotlight. “Yes, Mr. Asunda. What is life?”

“Well now,” Michael said, standing behind everyone else, “I may not know everything about life, but I do consider myself somewhat of an expert on living.”

“Excellent, lad,” Andre proclaimed. “I’d love to hear more. What is living?”

“Living—real living, great living—is one Bora-Bora bungalow, two Pina Coladas, and a beach of babes alongside my buddies.”

“Why settle for one beach when you and a dozen friends,” Brad grinned, “can have the entire Caribbean off the stern of a two-hundred-foot schooler?”

“You just described two of my weekends,” Janie said. “I’ll also be hosting the season’s grand ball at the governor’s mansion.”

“All too noisy for me,” Sarah said. “My mind visits a place where crickets and laughing children are all I hear from my Vermont farmhouse, porch swing included.”

Andre tilted his head down to look over an invisible pair of glasses before addressing Karen, “And how about you, Miss Wellchild? Would you like to define life or living for your fellow students? And remember, class participation is half of today’s grade.”

Karen stretched the moment, eventually pursing her lips as she sat bac., “What is living? I’m not sure. Every life mentioned is exquisite, but for me, the where and what that is me…remains vague. I just know that when I get there, my heart will never be alone. What about you, Andre? What sweetens your dreams?”

Caught off guard, prepared for microbiology only, Andre plugged in his real voice to say, slowly, “Living…well…it is said that he who hurries is, by definition, not content with now, always wanting to be someplace else. I do rush, but I’m not sure where I want to go, except that I’m always looking to the future, searching for the next horizon. All I know is that I can’t accept remaining where I am and know less. To achieve inner peace, if such a thing exists, I must be part of something important, by knowing that each day…heck, every second, maintains the effort.”

“Well put, Andre,” Karen said softly. “My field reminds us that we are imperfect beings dealing with, and living in, a reality of absolutes. Specific goals, grand though they be, must not be allowed to hold life ransom. In life…as in living…it is who we become that matters.

“Happiness is found in relaxed simplicity, being content with the life we are given, as we refine ourselves, and creation. And of course…every now is important.”

“What matters right now,” Brad said, in certain terms, “is that Biology 101 ends before my salon appointment. Can we move on?”