Microbe Sample

With a handful of paper, Lidia rushes to the science building. It is a large building made of brown bricks. She crosses the grass in her flat shoes. On the stone steps, she grabs onto the railing of the building for support. Faraway, she hears the church’s bell signaling the time for service. It is nine o'clock in the morning! Professor Zee will be looking for me, thinks Lidia.

Her hand slips from the door handle. Lidia pulls with great force and walks into the foyer of the science building. Only two students are in the armchairs in the corner of the room talking in hushed voices. With quick steps, Lidia walked to the left corner toward the biology offices. Passing by the clock, she checks the time. Only two minutes past nine. He won’t mind too much, she hopes. Next to the ticking clock on the hallway wall is the office of Professor Zee. Before entering the room, Lidia adjusts her shirt. She knocks on the door three times.

“Enter,” says Professor Zee in his office.

Lidia stepped into the cramped office; piles of books and paper piled high along the off-white walls of the small office. She watches her step, tiptoeing into the empty chair.

“Good morning Professor, I have the notes prepared for the class on Monday,” says Lidia.

Professor Zee types on his computer keyboard; lights from the computer cast light on his pale face.

“Good morning Lidia, place the quizzes on the table,” says Professor Zee, waving his hand at the desk.

Lidia looked at the desk, where there was a free spot for her papers in one corner. She takes out the stack of quizzes from her folder. On the table, the quizzes start to flap with the breeze of the air vents. Professor Zee reaches for a heavy book and places it on top with a thunk. Only the corner of the top page curls up in the air. Reaching with her pointer finger, she lays the pages down flat in the corner. To pass the time, she swivels in her chair; Lidia waits for a minute. Professor Zee likes to finish his typing before giving her the workday tasks.

The clicking of the keyboard stops. Professor Zee turns to Lidia and looks at her with his blue eyes through his round glasses. His eyes sparkle like the deep depths of the ocean.

“The research has been going great!” exclaims Professor Zee.

Lidia shook her head, saying, “Yes, it is, Professor.”

The air circulation from the vents stops for a few minutes while the professor continues to type on his computer. Lydia turns her chair to the right of the mail stack. As part of her job, Professor Zee asks her to sort the mail into piles.

She organizes the mail into urgent piles of yellow, orange, and red. Red is the most urgent. On top of the red pile is one sole letter from the research committee. She must mention it to the professor. Clearing her throat, she turns back to the professor.

“There is mail from the research committee, professor,” says Lidia.

“Let’s see the letter,” says Professor Zee, outstretching his hand.

Professor Zee finishes reading the letter printed on thick cream paper.

"Well, there is exciting news," says Professor Zee.

"What is it?" asks Lidia.

"We will present the research at the convention in a month. We must finish the research by then," says Professor Zee.

“Congratulations Professor Zee,” says Lidia.

"Much to do, much to do," mutters Professor Zee.

On Monday afternoon, the last class of students turn in their quizzes at the front of the classroom. The last student exits the lecture hall. Lidia takes the quizzes and retreats to Professor Zee’s office. Inside the office, she makes quick time to grade the quizzes. With a red pen, she makes the final grade on each quiz. Once she completes the grading, she checks her phone. There are thirty minutes to grab a bite to eat before researching in the lab. Lidia lays the quizzes on the graded tray before exiting the room.

Across the campus, she enters the university's cafeteria. There are multiple options in the sandwich line. She orders a chicken wrap filled to the brim with lettuce and rice. Her favorite smoothie drink flavor is out, so she grabs mango. Finding an empty table to sit down on, Lidia devours her food. The cafeteria is in medium capacity usage at the moment. The noise of the surrounding students is good background noise while she reviews her notes. She put away her notes in her bag. Lidia takes her tray to the station and walks out of the cafeteria.

The sun shines warm as Lidia walks back to the science building. To the back corridor, Lidia enters to retrieve her lab gear. Inside the closet were her lab coat and gloves. A pair of goggles sits on the top shelf of the closet. With care, Lidia changes into her gear, putting it on top of her civilian clothes. Once finished, she exits through another doorway by punching in a code.

They placed various instruments on lab tables inside the cool temperature room. The professor’s Zee’s back stood turned away from Lydia. His puffy, short white hair is visible like a dandelion in the spring wind. Lidia walked to the table, going to his right to make her presence known to him.

“You have arrived on time,” says Professor Zee, glancing at his wristwatch.

“Indeed, I have read the notes you sent this morning,” says Lidia.

“We need to put the test samples in a darker environment,” says Professor Zee.

Lidia retrieves the sample of microorganisms from the sample cultures. Sitting in the well-lit area in the lab. They will have to be moved for the next part of the experiment. Professor Zee arranges a space inside an unlit case where only slight waves of light enter inside.

Before she puts the microbes into the darkness, Lidia checks them under the microscope. She takes notes diligently. Writing down the organisms she sees with her naked eyes. Afterward, the culture goes into a special case and everything inside goes into darkness.