I take the down elevator to a basement where I store memories through age 7. I rarely explore this level of my mind palace. Doors carved with sigils depicting memories line either side of a narrow hall. Fog rolls over thin carpet intricately designed with zigzagging dichromatic whimsy. Occasional knobs sport discreet “do not disturb” signs.

I turn the corner, my foot halts midair and I backpedal pressing my back against a door carved with spoked bike wheels.

Siren alarm bells activate, “Intruder alert… Intruder alert.. Intru-“ emergency protocol morphs the lighting into alternating reds. My ears muffle the alarm with the thudding from my own heart.

Panic freezes my body when a small figure emerges from the busted doorframe. “Hellu there lass” it says. “I didna mean to disturb you!” My eyes are as wide as they’ll go.

Its a fawn, slender hooves pick its way around the debris. “We’ll be on our way in a jiffy, there’s a good lass.” I noticed it held Snowflake, my old teddy bear in the crook of its arm.

It raised the other arm turning their back on me and pointed a limp finger at the door frame, tracing a rectangle. The wood righted itself, splinters rewinding into place. Just like that, they were gone. Cautiously I approach, looking for the carving. Blank?! What did they take? I open the door to a solid wall. I slam it shut and look for another breach.

I pick up speed finding more and more blank fake doors. How long Has this been happening? What could they have taken?? Why!? The siren ends, lighting returns to normal. Calmness seeps through me.

What was I upset about? Just now… hmmm. Oh yeah, I was thinking about my niece's fish. I wanted to explore the aquarium I went to when I was 4. Huh funny how easily I get side tracked! I find the door with bubbles, fish and shark carvings. I smile, open the memory to step inside and close the door behind me.

Haha :)

It’s my first time posting. I broke up the text, hope that’s better.

“Remember, show your work! I don’t just want to know that you can figure out the answer, I want to know HOW you figured out the answer.”

Paper tests were passed back the rows of students. Pencils scratching loudly in the heavy silence of concentration. Mr Hendricks graded papers and fidgeted with a spinner he’d confiscated from someone using it inappropriately. The magnets were soothing and silent. From the corner of his eye he saw Rachel put down her pencil, and look to see if anyone else was done. She turned the test back to the beginning and picked her pencil back up.

“Rachel,” She looked up at him. “Bring me your paper please.”

Startlement turned to distress. The other students were focused on their work, though a few curiously watched to see what the oddity was about. Rachel dragged herself and the paper to his desk and held it up as if just looking at it would satisfy his order. Mr Hendricks kept the spinner in his right hand going as he reached out for her work. Rachels fidgeted as he confirmed his suspicions. “You’ve filled in the answers without showing any work.” He said, keeping his voice low enough the other students couldn’t hear. Rachel scuffed her toe against the carpet, hands clasped behind her. “I was going to fill in the rest.” She said

Mr Hendricks brought out a fresh test. “Sorry, I need you to start over. Take the empty desk here by the chalkboard.” Visibly swallowing she obeyed. After the bell released the children she turned in her work and gathered her things. “Are your parents still coming to the parent teacher conference tomorrow?” He asked. Rachels gaze didn’t leave the ground; she mumbled something he couldn’t make out before she slid out the door slick as an eel.

The conference could have gone better, could have gone worse. Rachel's parents arrived precisely on time. Mom spoke first “Rachel told us how you humiliated her for finishing first yesterday and took her test away, making her do a different one, practically accusing her of cheating. I hope you have better proof than she’s a head for numbers Mr Hendricks.”

“Oh, ma’am I am troubled by the misunderstanding. I have no intention of humiliating any of my students. See, Rachel's head for numbers is exactly what I want to talk to you about. You’re right I didn’t bother making her show her work on the first test because I’ve seen her homework. The second test I created just for Rachel. With problems interspersed we’ve never looked at and no answer key. Removing her from other students was to forestall naysayers that she might have had help. There’s no possible way she could have cheated. There’s no logical way she could have passed it either.”“Are you saying you set our daughter up to fail?” dad asked

“All due respect Mr and Mrs Walker, Rachel is a fish in water when it comes to numbers. I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re studying pre-algebra and she answered trigonometry; questions I used a calculator for, in her head.”

Mr and Mrs Walker met each other's eyes for a long moment. Their body language was defensive. “Rachel is an ordinary little girl. Your test was a fluke. A cruel joke to play Mr Hendricks. From now on focus on teaching 5th grade math like you're paid to do and leave Rachels advancement to us and her councilors.” said Dad. “Is there anything else Mr Hendricks?” Mom asked. Mr Hendricks hesitated. This was not entirely unexpected reactions, but surely they must know he’s a mandated reporter of Carnate behaviors. “I did report my findings Mr and Mrs Walker. You will be hearing from RBU.” A small cry slipped from Mom, Dad took her elbow, they stood and walked away.

“I’m Rob Cane with RBU. Reincarnate Behavioral Units mission, I’m sure you are familiar, is to find those with extraordinary abilities and enfold them where they will do the most good for society with their enhanced potential.” Said the RBU man “Teachers are required to keep files on all students, Rachel in particular has large folders in several classes, especially math and music. She is unequivocally gifted. My job is to determine if the spark is wholly original to her.”

Mrs Walker's knuckles were white on Rachel’s shoulders. Mr Walker stood looking out a picture window, his back to the agent.

“We’ll set up here, little miss. No need to be nervous, just answer the questions truthfully and everything will be fine.” While he spoke a flurry of people set up equipment including a desk, two chairs and a large rolley contraption with wires coming off it from every angle. Rachel sat in one of the chairs, a female agent walked her through removing her coat to reveal a sleeveless top, and began attaching electrodes front, back, head. They moved the desk to Rachel and handed her a blank piece of paper and a pencil. On the desk they placed a fidgit spinner, a pencil sharpener and a bottle of water.

Rachels feet dangled above the floor, white shirley temple shoes toe pointed down. She kept her eyes focused on the paper as she took the pencil. The test was tedious. She wrote her name over and over. Then they asked a series of questions; Math yes, also history and economics, some things “everyone” knew, some experts might struggle to answer. They came at her in such a flurry that left no room for faking the results. They asked some questions twice.Once a paper was full they took it away and gave her a new one. Someone scanned the paper with a bar of light then a picture flashed up on a screen where the Walkers couldn’t see, some parts highlighted. Rachel endured patiently. Mr Walker never moved, Mrs Walker paced. When nature bagan to call her, Rachel started shifting in her seat, raising the hand with the pencil she asked barely audible if she could use the restroom. “Of course! Perfect timing. We’re almost done. Just write your name for me one more time.” Agent Crane said.

After signing her name with a flourish, she hopped down, agents swarmed her removing wires and electrodes and off she scampered. The agent picked up the paper, scanned it and on the monitor a copy, barely legible highlighted read ’A. Einstein.’