So instead of doing a reflection essay, my teacher said we could write a short story (500-800 words). But this story has to be based on a story that we heard and it can't be based on a story that we read or watched. Mr. Bartel was telling us about the origins of the Torrey Academy Thesis Formula in class one day. " it all started when Gary Hartenburg was working on his final paper one semester in college. He just couldn't get the thesis right......." Here's my take on the story. As my Psychology Prof. once said "A story doesn't have to be true to be good". This is for credit, so please... put comments or suggestions. Otherwise...
The Quest For the Sis
Gary stared out the window of his dorm room at the field where his friends were playing a game of soccer. Instead of enjoying the beautiful sunny day, Gary sat chained to his desk and computer as if he were a slave to his final term paper. Although he had pulled an all-nighter editing, he still could not help but feel that his paper spelled out the impending doom of his grade. He just could not get the thesis straight. Gary wrenched his eyes from the window and stared tiredly back at the blinking cursor. Oh how it mocked him. The stationary and rhythmic disappearance and reappearance of the vertical line was a harsh indication of his inability to produce genius.
His tired mind began to play tricks on him. The cursor took the form of a fluffy sheep while the text transformed into a white picket fence. He lazily moved the left and right arrow keys and began to count the little white ball’s leaps across the fence, “1…2…3…”. His eyelids and muscles grew heavier and heavier, beckoning him to rest. He gave into his exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep, an experience that only Sleeping Beauty could relate to.
“Thy bidding is simply ridiculous!” exclaimed a masculine voice. Gary found himself sprawled out on the stone ground of a medieval castle. He picked himself up and noticed that he was sporting knight’s armor. Gary turned his head in the direction of the voice and found a similarly clad knight arguing with a crowned man dressed in royal purple robes. “The Sis has been thought to be a myth for ages Sir Mark, but I saw it forged with my very eyes. The legendary power of this formula has been rumored to convince even the most stubborn person to conform to user’s ideology. Our naïve citizens are thwarting to overrule me. Their uneducated minds would only destroy this Kingdom if given a position of power. Thou must retrieve the Sis and use it to unite the people’s opinions before the kingdom erupts in a civil war.” instructed purple robed king. Sir Mark’s eyes widened at the mention of the equation’s power. Now accepting the reality of such a formula, Sir Mark replied, “But legend tells of a magical protection around the Sis!” The King said, “Ah, but legend also dictates that a pure heart which seeks only truth can easily bypass the enchanted barrier. I would trust that thou hast pure intentions? Nevertheless, Sir Gary, won’t thou accompany Sir Mark and assist him?” Gary, momentarily shocked to hear his name, hastily acknowledged and agreed to the King’s request.
Gary and Sir Mark each mounted a winged horse, the only means of travel to the Sis, and beckoned the magical beasts to direct them there. Gary’s horse immediately took flight at the sound of his request while Sir Mark’s steed began to roughly kick and fly the opposite direction. Alas, Sir Mark yelled, “arrogant beast, if thou wilt not obey my command, wilt thou follow Sir Gary’s trusty stallion”. The creature ceased it’s thrashing and flew after Gary’s horse.
After a long and tiring journey, the two horses gracefully descended in front of a dark cavern. Upon crossing the threshold of the cavern, the two knights heard a deep voice bellow, “From where doest thou cometh and to where art thou going?”
Gary proclaimed, “We hail from a kingdom where there is fighting amongst the people and we wish to acquire the Sis’s power to unite the people in truth.”
“Thy intentions pure, proceed.” answered the voice as a door containing the Sis at the back of the cavern opened.
“Sir Mark Wentworth, thy desire to use the Sis to gain the support of the people for thyself is wretched. Thou shalt not proceed.” Called the voice.
However, it was too late, Sir Mark had already slipped past the door. As Gary stretched his hand to pick up the Sis, Sir Mark interceded it and yelled, “It’s mine! My power! ALL MINE!”. At the touch of the stone, Sir Mark’s hand literally caught on fire. He began to burn and scream. Gary looked closer at the stone. There was a distinctive scratch between the letters e and s of the first word. It was engraved:
THESIS FORMULA: ALTHOUGH…I THINK…BECAUSE.
Suddenly, the stench of man odor violated Gary’s nostrils and Gary was thrown back into reality as he awoke to see his sweaty roommate return from the game of soccer. Gary looked back up at his computer screen and the blinking cursor could mock him no more. Gary preached the thesis formula to all those who were pure of heart and it became a legend in reality for its uncanny ability to sway the opinions of the stubborn.
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