Misguided Notions

...The taxi dropped Sagacious off in front of a large urban comprehensive high school in a city unmentioned but representative of many. He speaks to himself as he enters the front door. “The man is motioning me to come on in through a strange-looking arch. He is beginning to massage my arms, legs and back. After this long journey of 10,000 years, that is certainly a cordial, although unusual welcome for me. It is a new way they must have of welcoming strangers. It is extremely relaxing, as well. Now, I will just walk around and see what is happening. It seems terribly loud in here. Everyone is yelling and screaming at one another, even at close range. How stupid of me, this is a school for the hard-of-hearing students all gathered in one location so accommodations and adjustments can be made for their handicapping condition. ...look over yonder, there is a descendent of some of the people I know back in the Grot. He has a ring in his nose like the Omikrons, after they have killed their first elephant. It is a badge of achievement for bringing their Tribe enough meat to feed them for a month. I must go speak to him and tell him about his kinfolks. I need to remember to speak loudly so he can hear me. I will cup my hands so my voice will resonate. ‘Say young fellow, I see you have killed an elephant. Has your family already eaten it?’ ...my, that was a strange reaction and response. I have not heard that expression before, and it is not in my English Translation Manual. It was something about my mother. I can think of no reason how he would have known anything about my mother. Had it not been for the bell ringing and his abrupt exit, I would have liked to have spoken more with him. He stirred my curiosity. I see things have settled down a bit as the students are entering their classrooms. I notice that one of the teachers is walking down the hall all dressed in a dapper blue uniform with a gun on his side. Most likely he teaches marksmanship. He has a shiny medal on his shirt similar to what we give the winners of our spear-throwing contests. Evidently he was a champion marksman, and because of his tendency, they chose him to be their teacher—a wise move. I notice that a lot of stragglers are continuing to enter the classrooms, even though the doors have been closed and instruction has started. I will make myself invisible and walk in with one of them and take a seat. The loud talking is erupting again, but the teacher apparently cannot hear either because he continues to talk right through them. I hear some more students talking to each other about their mothers. This must be a special day for mothers. It is an admirable and noble thing they are doing, to honor and pay respect to their mothers. I see some have their heads down and have gone to sleep. It saddens me that they had to work all night, yet without sleep, they are so self-disciplined they are still coming to get an education and make a better life for themselves. Hopefully, after a short nap, they will be able to listen to the lecture. This must be a mathematics class because I see the teacher writing numbers on the chalk board; it actually is not chalk but some sort of grease on a stick like we use to paint on our cave walls. It seems that these students are too old to be adding one-digit numbers, yet that is what they are doing. I notice that some are counting on their fingers, and there is one using a calculator. I know about calculators because my friends that brought me to this country showed one to me, and told me all about how they work. Several are holding them to their ears and talking, and there are others fingering back and forth on their cases. It looks mighty strange to me. Hey, gather yourself. I want to look for all the positives I can. I might get a false impression because this is a new experience for me. I need to remain objective and positive. Let me see... something positive... I have one. This school feeds its students remarkably well. The great bears are not in as good condition when they enter hibernation as is this group. Most likely, the students will be placed in situations where they will not be given food for long periods of time. They are preparing their bodies for a drought or a deep freeze, and my impression is that it will not be long in coming. Another positive I see, there is broad diversity here. It resembles the Grot in many respects. I see boys and girls of every color, race and physical characteristic imaginable. I am confident that equality of opportunity is championed in this school. Well, the bell has rung and all the students have exited, leaving the teacher alone working at his desk. The noise is deafening...