“Surface area is easy to calculate.”

Chalk squeaked. Equations appeared. The teacher picked up a wooden box and a steel ruler.

“All that’s needed is a good ruler and the right formula.”

The box rattled.

“What’s inside?” shouted a student.

“Not important,” said the teacher. “Won’t be on the test.”

Bruce Meredith retired from the practice of law about seven years ago. For most of his career he represented educators. After he retired, he started writing fiction. He has had six submissions accepted for publication, four of them in Veterans’ Journals.