The Creatives, Part 1

It was the middle of the afternoon. The sun was hiding deep behind a thick layer of clouds. They were the sort of clouds one could look up at and accurately predict the impending brutality. Rain, wind, and lightening were all just moments away. But none of that mattered to Johnny, Sarah, Cat, and Cory who were comfortably located within the confines of their school. Granted, the four kids wanted nothing more than to be outside and have the day be over, despite the looming storm, they were, however, safe for the moment. What awaited these four learners, these Creatives, on that day, would be the focus of this story and the start of something extraordinary.

"Your wrong." Mr. Laxstein calmly said without batting an eye. Actually, his response was given with such confidence that his body did nothing to assert itself, it didn't need to given the way his voice so proudly, yet subtly, delivered Johnny's fate. Johnny, for his part, smiled, knowing that this level of engagement with this particular teacher was exactly what he wanted. No one else was in the room. Mr. Laxstein sat one one side of large conference table while the four students faced him on the opposite side, three of whom were seated. Restless with anticipation, Sarah was by the window, fully engaged but physically removed from the discussion.

"So why are we here then?" Cat remarked with an air of annoyance. She had great respect for Mr. Laxstein, but did not enjoy her time being taken without her knowledge and  frankly, her consent. She moved that thought aside however on account that Mr. Laxstein, the teacher whose class was coveted above all others, was not prone to doing this, to requesting a meeting with his students after hours.

"Sarah, how does the storm look?" Mr. Laxstein asked completely ignoring Cat's question.

"Not good, Sir." She replied without looking away. "It'll open any moment now."

With this update, the teacher turned to the other three and began, "You're here because I have something for you, for each of you that I must give you today." Before any of the students could response, Mr. Laxstein lifted an old looking briefcase up onto the table. The case was not his normal should bag, it was an item the kids had never seen before and hadn't noticed. He opened the case to reveal four items, a black pen of simple design and make, a wooden instrument resembling a recorder, a pocket watch with no chain, and a pair of white sunglasses.

Mr. Laxstein grabbed one of the items and looked up at Cory, "I'll start with the quiet one." He said as he handed Cory the pair of glasses. "It's time you start seeing things differently," he said.

"Next up, the impatient Cat. This should help you better understand time." Mr. Laxstein exclaimed as he handed her the pocket watch.

"Johnny, for you, I want you to use this to listen." He said slowly, anticipating the confusion this would bring Johnny as the recorder was delivered to his possession.

"And last but certainly not least," Mr. Laxstein began as he turned to Sarah, "for you, I want you to always remember that the pen is mightier than the sword." With that, Mr. Laxstein handed Sarah the pen, closed the briefcase, rose, and departed without a saying another word.

The kids thought about stopping him, asking what this was about, but knew better than to question him. Moments later the storm began.