Stereochemistry

Dr. Wilton sighed deeply. “Jean, I won’t tell you again- you need to start putting more thought into your future! This can’t go on!”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me again,” Jean replied, sourly.

Dr. Wilton stood up. His usually neat gray hair stuck in numerous directions, and his expression was weary. “I simply don’t understand why you’re failing science classes. I remember our first meeting. Out of all the advisees I’ve ever had, you were probably the most enthusiastic. So determined to be an excellent chemist…”

Jean shrugged. Dr. Wilton arranged some papers on his desk. “The world is your oyster,” he said, sadly. “There’s so much in the field to love. I mean thermodynamics, biochemistry, quantum mechanics, stereochemistry, chemical engineering…”

Jean froze in the act of pouring out the cup of paperclips on his desk.

“What was that?”

Dr. Wilton brightened. “I knew you weren’t a lost cause! Chemical engineering?”

Jean ignored the first statement. “Before that?”

“Stereochemistry,” Dr. Wilton repeated. Jean looked thoughtful.

She visited the chemistry lab that afternoon, sure that it would still be there. It was. A furry, blue monster settled comfortably at her desk – which no one else could see, hear, or acknowledge. Every class, she found it occupying her desk and fume hood. Jean had tried to thwart it, arriving to class early to try to get there first, and arriving late in case it gave up and left. Nothing worked. The monster spilled her solutions and burned her papers, and broke her watchglasses and beakers. It was harmless otherwise, but she knew she could no longer tolerate its butchery of chemistry. She’d compiled a list of information about the monster, listing everything she knew about it. It was benign except for chemistry, which was also her weakest subject: she’d always been a bit scared of chemistry. The monster was least difficult when they were studying something she was comfortable with. The harder topics were completely controlled by the monster. It seemed almost to disappear when the class was interesting to her. The problem was that the class was hardly interesting at all. But… stereochemistry. She woke up early the following morning. Instead of her usual bag, she lugged a tremendous home stereo system. Taking no notice of Dr. Wilson’s alarmed expression, she dropped into her seat and turned to face the monster. It was gone. Dr. Wilson was right! All she’d needed was a bit of confidence.