From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea )

"Yummy," Anthea said, stuffing a tiny burger into Tanya's hand.

Tanya looked down at the burger in her hand, realizing that her new deskmate didn't share the usual disdain she was used to.

Mentally thanking her, Tanya took a big bite and chewed alongside Anthea.

First up was math class. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

The teacher droned on like a lullaby, and Anthea’s eyelids grew heavy. Soon enough, she was snoozing away.

"The student who's sleeping, come up here and solve this problem," the math teacher said, and every gaze in the room swiveled to Anthea.

Tanya nudged Anthea and whispered, "Ann, the teacher is calling you to the front."

"Me?" Anthea lifted her head, eyes misty with sleep.

"Yep," Tanya nodded.

Anthea stood up and walked to the front of the class.

The math teacher, looking exasperated, said, "You're seniors! What's with this slacking off? If you want to sleep, go home!"

Anthea picked up the chalk and started to write a solution, then paused.

"Look at that, stumped, aren't you? That's what you get for sleeping in class. If you can solve this, you can sleep however you like in my classes from now on!" the teacher challenged.

"Really?" Anthea asked, a hint of a smile in her voice.

"If you can't, you're standing for the rest of my classes!"

With a slight grin, Anthea retorted, "A gentleman's agreement, then?"

The teacher was speechless. This kid's talk was as whimsical as a dream.

This was a mind-boggling math olympiad problem – the sort even the geniuses in the top-tier class would have a tough time with!

Teaching was so tough these days.

The teacher turned back to the class and said with all the patience he could muster, "Senior year is a turning point in your life. I hope you all put in the effort and fight for a bright future. Once you're in college, you can have all the fun you want. Don't be like this unambitious student, sleeping through classes and learning nothing. You'll regret it."

That was when Anthea started to solve the problem. The class watched, slack-jawed.

Holy cow! Was this the same Anthea who struggled with everything?

The teacher thought his words had sparked some drive in these kids and nodded, satisfied.

Maybe they weren't beyond redemption after all.

"Done," Anthea announced.

Already? That quickly? The teacher was sure she had just scribbled nonsense.

He turned around to a surprise. Her solution was perfect, and her handwriting was even more elegant than his.

Was he seeing things?

Rubbing his eyes, the teacher still found the same sight before him.

Anthea added, "This problem was a bit advanced, so I used a method you'd learn in college calculus."

"You did this?" the teacher asked, incredulous.

Anthea nodded, "Can I sit down now?"

"Wait!" He scribbled another problem on the board. "Solve this."

He didn't believe Anthea had really solved the first one. It was too advanced.

Had she somehow cheated while he wasn't looking?

Anthea took the chalk. "Sure."

The teacher watched her like a hawk, not blinking until she finished.

Incredible! This was unbelievable!

Trying to contain his excitement, the teacher asked, "What's your name?"

"Anthea."

"So are you the student who transferred from the elite class?"

Anthea nodded slightly, "Yes."

The teacher had heard of Anthea, but he'd thought she was a lost cause.

If she was a lost cause, what did that make him? He was floored!

If Mr. Bain, the elite class teacher, knew he had cast aside a diamond thinking it was mere glass, he'd be gutted with regret!