Chapter 1. Birmingham, 1968
“How many of you have heard of Sherlock Holmes?” the professor asked.
Everyone in the classroom raised their hands.
“Of course you all have,” the professor added as he shrugged while scoffing. Now, I will ask you all the following question: who here can tell me the name of the author who wrote Sherlock Holmes?”
Five of the students raised their hands, but the one the professor pointed at was a young blonde woman.
“Bram Stoker,” she answered.
“I’m sorry, my dear, but that is incorrect,” the professor then corrected her, “Bram Stoker was the author of the horror novel, Dracula.”
Thankfully, the fellow students were mature enough not to laugh at the young blonde woman. On top of that, a young woman with brunette hair raised her hand. The professor then pointed at her.
“Arthur — Conan — Doyle,” the young brunette woman answered; granted, she stumbled.
“Correct,” the professor responded, blatantly satisfied in his tone. “Now can you tell me the name of the story in which the character of Holmes first appeared?”
“If I can recall, I believe it was called The Scarlet Letter.”
The professor then gave her a look of disappointment. He then responded, “You were very, very close, my dear. But the correct answer is “A Study in Scarlet.”
Surprisingly enough, the young blonde woman raised her hand again. To which, the professor pointed at her. “Yes?”
“I’d like to make another correction and say that The Scarlet Letter is another novel written by the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne.” While uttering those words, she looked directly at the brunette. It seemed as if she wanted to gloat.
Almost everyone in the classroom looked surprised, including the brunette. The professor didn’t look that surprised, but he did act upon it. “Very good, Ms. …” He paused for a bit. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is your name?”
“Tate,” the blonde answered, “Caroline Tate.”
“Well Ms. Tate, I admire your words of intellect.”
The brunette then gawked at both of them. ’Are you serious?’ she asked in her own head. “That is it for today,” the professor announced, “class dismissed.”
Immediately then, each of the students began packing their supplies before leaving. Both the blonde and the brunette did the exact same thing, but the latter couldn’t shake off the feeling of dissatisfaction. She couldn’t remove the thought that her thunder had been stolen. She then watched as the blonde girl was the last classmate to walk out the door.
But just as was about to leave the room herself, the professor halted the brunette. “Pardon me, young lady, but I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.”
Smiling in an unfazed manner, the brunette introduced herself, “I’m Sky Jones.”
“Christopher Sherman,” the professor responded while immediately holding out his right hand.
Sky then grabbed and shook it.
“How well do you know Sherlock Holmes?”
Sky shrugged. “As much as I have memorized.”
“Have you been to Baker Street?”
Sky shook her head, looking somewhat ashamed. “No.”
The professor’s eyes then widened. “No …? Well then I recommend we go there one day.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, who are we?”
“You, the entire class, and I,” the professor clarified with sheer enthusiasm, “what do you say?”
Sky hesitated, “I’ll have to think about it.”
“Well let me know as soon as possible,” the professor responded. “Good day.” After saying those last two words, he then walked away.
That was when Sky knew that she was dismissed. Upon stumbling through campus, she ran right into a familiar person.
The latter was, of course, the blonde girl, Caroline.; and much to Sky’s dismay, Caroline had been walking right up behind her on her left-hand side. “Pardon me, Miss?”
Sky slowed down and froze. She then turned around and faced the blonde girl.
“I don’t believe I got your name.,” Caroline said to her. She seemed genuine.
Sky then held out her hand introduced herself to the blonde girl, “Sky Jones,”
But for whatever reason, Caroline decided not to shake nor even grab Sky’s hand. She just introduced herself without making any physical contact with Sky whatsoever.
‘What is she, a germaphobe?’ Sky wondered. But she did her best to keep her cool.
“I’ll see you next class,” Caroline said, immediately before walking past Sky. She then turned around and added, “Assuming we have another one together.” She looked less enthusiastic while saying that.
