Room 22

Room 22

Grace slouches in her desk.  It is 2:59pm on Friday in early June.  June is important, what with summer so close.  Friday is even more important, because the weekend is almost here.  But the most important is 2:59pm--only 11 minutes until freedom!

The sun is shining in through the west-facing windows of room 22, Mrs. Pisk's room.  The room is located on the second floor in the very northwest corner of the building.  This means the room only gets sun at the very end of the day, but the sun's rays are majestic when they appear.  On this particular Friday afternoon, the sun and stars have aligned, and the beautiful rays are shining down on Matthew Perkins.

Matthew Perkins is the Harry Potter of Bryant Elementary School.  He doesn't have any super powers, but he does have a scrawny build, dorky glasses, and a hat of hair that he constantly has to push out of his eyes. Matthew Perkins also happens to be the nicest gentleman in the entire school.  This works out nicely for Grace, and she has spent many afternoon math classes staring longingly at Matthew, plotting the best way to get his attention and eventually be married.

The wedding will be small, just immediate friends and family.  The priest will say, 'and do you, Grace Simpson, take Matthew Perkins? To have and to hold, until death do you part?'

"I do!"

"Well, isn't this surprising." Mrs. Pisk says. "You've never been this eager to answer a math question before, Ms. Simpson."

The entire class is now staring at Grace, whose hands have shot up to cover her big, stupid mouth.

"Well, come on now, don't keep us waiting." Mrs. Pisk says.

Head down, she shuffles forward to the white board.  A word problem is on display.

'Why does it have to be a word problem?' Grace thinks to herself.

Grace knows whatever she writes will look like scribbles compared to her teacher's flawless handwriting, so she grabs the pale yellow marker.

"Oh, please take a darker marker so Henry can see." says Mrs. Pisk.

Colorblind Henry, who Grace is almost certain is not colorblind at all, smiles devilishly at Grace as she chooses the brown marker.

Grace looks back up at the board, which reads:

The Bryant coin collection is being sold to raise money for the school. Chloe bought half of the coins plus 5 more, then Steven bought 5, then Kirk bought 10 more than half of what was left, and then Jessica bought 25, leaving 10 unsold. How many coins were there originally?

"Okay, where should you begin, Ms. Simpson?"

Grace rubs her chin with her left hand.

"Well, who bought the coins first?" Mrs. Pisk asks.

Grace stares at the question, and then says "Chloe?"

"Good, and how many did she buy?"

"Um half?"

"Half and?"

"Half plus five. Five and a half?" Grace answers.

"No, no, you can not combine those."

"Oh."

"Can anyone help Ms. Simpson with this problem?  We need to finish this problem before any of you are dismissed."

A collective groan from every student, except one, who raises his hand.

"Ah, Matthew, what do you have for us?"

"I think Grace should start the problem from the end, instead of the beginning."

"Oh! What a wonderful idea.  Ms. Simpson?"

Grace, lost, continues looking at Matthew Perkins, completely unaware of any words that may or may not have just come out of his mouth.

"Starting at the end of the problem, Ms. Simpson?" Mrs. Pisk says.

"Oh man, we're never getting out of here!" Henry says.

"Quiet, Mr. Gregory!" Mrs. Pisk snaps. "Ms. Simpson, please continue."

"End of the problem, right... there are 10 unsold coins at the end."

"Good."

"But just before that, Jessica bought 25... so that means... there were 35 before that!"

"Yes." Mrs. Pisk says, slowly nodding her head.

"And before that... 'Kirk bought 10 more than half of what was left'..."

"Go on."

"But wait, I don't understand. What is half of 35?"

RIIIIING

The students in room 22 hear students from other classrooms rushing out into the halls.  Henry tries to make a break for it, but Mrs. Pisk has already placed herself directly in front of the door.

"Not so fast, Mr. Gregory.  Have a seat."

"Aw man! But I'm going to miss my bus!"

"You don't take a school bus, Mr. Gregory."

"Oh, how did you know that?"

"I know many things, Mr. Gregory, now have a seat." Mrs. Pisk says as she smiles for the first time all day.

Grace, halfway back to her seat, is stopped cold in her tracks by Mrs. Pisk's stare.

"I don't believe you finished, Ms. Simpson. Why don't we make this problem homework for everyone, due Monday morning.  I hope none of you put your planners away before being dismissed.  Once you have the question copied down, you are dismissed."