Chapter 3: C and C Squared: Integers

Chapter 3: C and C Squared: Integers

As my brother and I trudged down the hallway we had nothing to do.  The only reason why we were still in this school is the counselor said we need to make friends.  How boring, people don’t need friends.

In fact when I was 9 wandered away from fathers office at the University and ended up wandering in to a genetics class.  They were talking about cloning.

The professor said, “An identical twin is a clone; so too, are bacteria living in the same colony.  The term ‘clone’ has also been adopted by computer technology to describe a device that mimics an actual one to enable certain software programs to run correctly.”

As the professor ended this sentence, I stood in shock as my father took me away back home.

As I got home, I began working in my room with tubes and vials, by the nights end I had cloned my first colony of bacteria.  By 8 AM the next morning I had cloned myself by using my DNA.

Cloning is frowned upon, in fact one of my favorite physicists Glenn Seaborg said, “People must understand that science is inherently neither a potential for good nor evil.  It is a potential to be harnessed by man to do his bidding.”

What horse-radish I had determined.  My teacher made fun of me in front of class, because I didn't know my multiplication facts, now I cloned myself so I never had to multiply anything ever again.  MUAH-HA-HA-HA.  That is my evil scientist laugh, it still needs work.

Cloning myself was elementary, it was the same as adding and subtracting integers.  When you add and subtract integers on a number line you use the number line to move a particular number of spaces either to the left or right. 

When you move to the right, you are adding a positive integer.

When you move to the left, you add a negative number.

Of course the number line is a metaphor for DNA, and the integers are the particular space on your DNA sequence.  When you add or subtract you must change your DNA sequence.

My parents finally found out the next day when they woke up.  He became my identical twin and it seems that sometimes we can read each other’s mind.  I decided to name him C Squared after myself and he has come in good use, but now we argue furiously and get in to fights often.  It seems I might have to make another clone.

Chapter 2: Jamie: Comparing

Chapter 2: Jamie: Comparing

I had a hard time taking in all this information.  Could he really wipe my memory of today?  I doubted it, but the look in his eye looked as if he did it all the time.  Jake had murmured yes under his breath before he took off and quickly exited and had taken off down the hall.  I was going to exit before taking off before these two weird little boys would say anything else.

As I got up one of them said, “We aren't that weird and our group could use a girl.”  He went on to say, “Jake is in and we know you like him.”

How could he know that?  I didn't say anything.  Knowing that I was here because the 7th grade teacher Mrs. Gauge had recommended it since I was failing her class and since I was new, it would be a good way to meet other students.

Before the door closed behind me I said, “I’ll do it.”

In class the next day I couldn't concentrate on what Mrs. Gauge was saying and even the teacher knew I wasn't paying attention as she called on me.

“Jamie,” she said “What do positive and negative integers make up?”

Integers of course, our old school went over this 2 years ago.  This class had bored me so much all I could do to waste my time effectively would be to write Jake’s name all over my math textbook.  I finally said over an embarrassing 2 minutes, “Uh, I don’t know.”

“Did you take notes yesterday Jamie?”

“Yes.”

“Well where are they.”

A different student whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “Maybe she burned them in a sayonce?” 

“That’s enough.” Mrs. Gauge said before moving on to start notes.

Mrs. Gauge had began talking about absolute value and opposites.  My mind was starting to wander, when my chair gave me a little shock.  I jumped enough to catch the attention of those around me, I settled back down.  As I gazed up I could see C and C Squared in the air duct.

Mrs. Gauge caught me off guard, “Jamie, what is the definition of absolute value what do they have to do with opposites-“

Before she stopped I rambled off, “The absolute value of a number is the distance from the number to zero on a number line.  The opposite of a number is when two different numbers have the same absolute value.  For example, -10 and 10 are opposites since the distance is the same.”

The class sat in silence for what seemed like minutes, as did Mrs. Gauge.

“Or something like that.” I finally said.

“Well,” Mrs. Gauge finally said “this is your homework Page 67, 1-80 all of them.”

As the bell rang, I saw C and C Squared taking off down the hall and chased them down.

“What did you do to my chair?”

“We had to give you a shock, you were starting to day-dream.”

“How did you know where my seat was?

“We hacked the school’s server and found where you were sitting in each class, by the way if you need a math tutor Jake can help you when we have our meetings.”

“What? No! I don’t need anyone’s help.”

“Okay. Okay.  By the way our next meeting is tonight.  See you 6th period.”

“Tonight, but tonight is Wednesday.”

“We have to start tonight.”

As the bell rang for the beginning of 4th period, I had English class and I was already late.  Just as I turned to go to class Jake bumped my shoulder.

“Hey!” he said.

“I’m late.” I said and took off down the hall.