Apples

Chapter 10 ~ Science Class

I get up early again and get myself presentable just in case Lincoln is in the class. I log on early and check the webcam. I don't see him. I made sure to check yesterday in Math and English too, he wasn't there either. He's probably not in any of my other classes, or he would have been messaging me there too right? Or maybe there is another girl he likes better in those classes? AHHH! when did I turn into a jealous school girl? Could I like this boy without ever having even seen him? Duh, he probably just took Lizzie's spot. She and I only shared history together, sometime we complained about many times. Lizzie, still no word from her, it's been 4 days, surely she would have had a moment to message back. Her tablet must have gone missing. And she probably didn't have my personal number memorized to call on someone's else's tablet, because who actually memorizes numbers anymore?

Mrs. Olsen logs in to start the class. "Good morning all my lovely students!" Polar opposite of Mr. Dupree, she's always smiling.

"Today we are going to talk about The Fire Garden and how it's formed. After the attack, the ORP realized that there was not enough fertile soil on the mainland to feed our nation. They needed to be creative and find a way fast to feed its people. Over half the nation was killed in the attack. That's 160 million people. Another 80 million were sick with radiation poisoning and would soon die as well. Another 40 million would die of starvation. We were losing half of our nation again and again and again. They were determined to stop the loss. Only one eighth of the population was left. They had to do something, and they had to do it quickly."

My Pa was one of the casualties of the starvation. Ma said at times she longed to join him. But she kept going because of me. She swears if she wasn't pregnant, she wouldn't have made it. Pa made sure she got more than he did, always said she was eating for two, that's why she made it and he didn't. I wish I could have met him. I can't imagine anyone more selfless than ma.

"Thanks to brilliant scientist, plans were quickly set in place to build new fertile land. We owe them our lives. They learned to manipulate the volcanoes lining the pacific coast. They learned which volcanoes were ripe and ready to burst. Before we talk about how they manipulate those volcanoes I want to talk about champagne."

"Champagne was a drink they used to make from grapes. They would pick the grapes and press them just for the juice. Then they would let the juice just sit there and rot and rot for weeks. Then the would add some sugar and yeast and place a cap on top while the juice rotted even longer. Slowly the yeast would eat the sugar and create two by products: alcohol and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a gas. Which gives the champagne it's bubbly trademark. The carbon dioxide wants to escape but can't. The more carbon dioxide created, the more pressure created. This was not a fast process. It took years to create the perfect bottle of champagne."

Whenever I hear about the world before the attack, I'm just flabbergasted. It was only 17 years ago, but things were just so different. I can't imagine there used to be enough grapes in this world that people would use them for nothing but juice. And not just that, but just let the juice sit there, to rot. Rot!

"Now, I'll show you a historic video of someone opening a champagne bottle since you've never seen it in real life. Watch closely."

All of our videos, movies, TV shows, you name it, are "historic." There is no more Hollywood. Anything we watch is from the past. Thank goodness for youtube. We don't have TVs in our homes like everyone used to. There are no factories to make those frivolous items anymore. Only the must haves are produced, which has been pretty much whittled down to a tablet. Everything else is recycled. Clothes, beds, tables, chairs, cars, anything. This serves two purposes, you no longer have to have the space and products to make new things and you no longer have so much garbage to dispose of.

Mrs. Olsen shows the video. It's in slow motion. The cork flies off and white foamy liquid pours out.

"Now, imagine a volcano is like that bottle of champagne. There's a lot of pressure inside, but left undisturbed it will not explode, for years. However, if you budge that cork just a bit.... Pop!" She screams with dramatic jumping effects. "Essentially, that is what they are doing with those ripe volcanoes. The scientists, well actually the correct terminology is volcanologist, find a way to relieve just a bit of that pressure and lava bursts out to create new fertile land! Isn't it just brilliant?!

"OK students, thank you so much for your time and attention! I will see you all again tomorrow morning!" Mrs. Olsen logs off.  

I log off of science class and get ready to go to my mandatory work time at the potato crop. It's more of a dressing down affair. Suddenly waking up early to get presentable seems like a silly decision. I search for my work boots, overalls and shirt. Pull my long hair up into a ponytail and tie a handkerchief around my head in an effort to try to keep dirt off my hair, but it never works. Voila, I'm ready.

I head out of my room and see ma has some potatoes ready for me to eat before I head out to pick more potatoes to eat another day. Every day.

"Thanks ma."

"Sure sweetie, how was science class?"

"It was pretty interesting I guess, they taught us how The Fire Garden was created. Show a video of some drink called champagne, do you know what that is?"

"Yeah, it wasn't a drink people had every day, it was alcoholic and it was very expensive. Usually saved for really special occasions like weddings." she explained.

"Was it good? She said it was rotten, why would people want to drink a rotten drink?" I asked.

"We did a lot of things that don't seem to make sense now." She said, thinking of the past. Perhaps longing for the past, I couldn't quite tell.

"Anway, Lincoln's father seems to be getting better, that's good news."

"Yeah, that's great. You didn't bring me up and say something embarrassing did you?" I ask worried.

"No honey, in fact, Lincoln wasn't even there. Not sure where he was." she replied.

Phew. Good. One less thing to worry about. The last thing I need is for ma to start playing match maker.

"OK, ma, thanks for breakfast, I'm heading over to the potato fields, I'll be back in a few hours." I say as I head up the stairs.

"Bye sweetie see you later."