Flashing

Date/Timing: 21 April 2006
Setting: library; Berlin, Germany
.
Hermann leans back in his chair, drums his fingers on the library worktable, frowns at his laptop screen, the example code copied from Doctor Umarov's projection very /nearly making sense.
The idea coales—shatters as an item on the taskbar flashes.
He sighs, internally curses himself for leaving his email open, clicks into it anyway.
-
/From: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/To: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/Subject: YOU SUCK
It's totally YOU'RE fault I'm going to fail my english exam. I'll disappoint Dr. Baxter and I don't want to do that because he's the first person to make this shit LEARNABLE. But he's given up on my spelling. That's what spellchecker is for dude.
SIGH.
This's the only thing holding me back now. High school fucking sucks dude. I want to get to college fulltime ASAP enough of this pissing around.
Lectures. Whats the point of lectures. This professor asshole threw me out of the room this week because I was interrupting him  too much. So he says. I have to Skype in now which I like better anyway. I can record the droning and watch the important bits when I can focus better on them. -
Hermann rolls his eyes.
-
/From: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/To: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/Subject: RE: YOU SUCK
How, exactly, is it /my fault you cannot pass an English exam?
In addition, how can someone who speaks English a majority of the time struggle to pass a course on the language? -
He clicks 'send', goes back to his notes.
Aha!
Flashing.
Hermann grumbles.
-
/From: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/To: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/Subject: YOU SUCK
It's YOUR FAULT because I have to learn Russian now and Uncle Ilia isn't the greatest teacher but we don't have the money to hire me another tutor so I'm wasting too much time on this shit.
So IT'S YOUR FAULT.
Happy now motherfucker?
Oh wait that' syour dad.
BRAINBLEACH.
BREAINBLEEEEEEEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy mental images of your dad having sex asshole. ^u^ -
Hermann shakes the picture from his head, growls.
-
/From: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/To: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/Subject: RE: YOU SUCK
You can't blame /me for /your inability to handle another course of study. It's important to know and respect one's limits.
You're home-schooled? If so, it seems we have something in common after all. I, too, was educated privately until I passed the Abitur and began university.
I remain curious as to why you are struggling with formal study of your mother tongue. -
With a sigh, Hermann closes the programming environment /and his lecture notes, opens his draft essay for Doctor Schulte. He reorients himself, adds the next three sentences.
Flashing.
-
/From: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/To: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/Subject: YOU SUCK
I can SPEAK English just fine, thank you very much. Its the grammar and spelling shit that keeps throwing me off. Like I said, even Dr. Baxter's given up on tha t one.
Yeah, I'm homeschooled. I go too fast to sit in a class with all the normals. They just hold me back. And the teachers got annoyed that I couldn't keep quiet when they were getting shit wrong or didn't answer my questions etc etc. So Dad, Ilia and the neighbors make sure I pass the tests at the end of the year and otherwise stay out of my way.
Dad says homeschooling's illegal in Germany so how'd you manage that?
Oh yeah! English is my SECOND language anyway. I was born in Berlin and only started with English when I had to start school here. So there. 
You figured out a major yet? Anything tickling your fancy yet? -
"Why must you be a broken record?" mutters Hermann.
-
/From: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/To: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/Subject: RE: YOU SUCK
I was educated outside of the school system because I was diagnosed with severe sensory issues and anxiety in addition to being sickly. My father applied for and received permission to have me home-schooled by tutors. My problems had resolved themselves well enough by the time I passed the Abitur to join the mainstream population. -
Hermann grits his teeth against the old lie.
- Since it is only the second week of the term, I have yet to decide on my major. I doubt I will even begin to seriously consider declaring a programme before the the summer break. -
He sends the reply, returns to Russian.
Another six sentences join their fellows.
Flashing.
-
/From: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/To: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/Subject: YOU SUCK
It's pretty cool we have something in common besides being college students. Home-schooling cause we're not normals. -
Hermann winces.
- Anxiety's bad, dude. Glad that's cleared up.
I've got these WICKED mood swings on top of my ADHD that makes life SUCK a lot. Everyone says it's hormones and I'll grow out of them. Whatevs.
You REALLY need to start thinking about your calling dude. Life's to short to fuck around in random classes.
Hey why has your brother stopped writing? I was getting a kick out of messing with him. -
Hermann blinks, mumbles, "Are you truly /this oblivious?"
-
/From: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/To: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/Subject: RE: YOU SUCK
I will choose my programme when I am ready to do so. Meanwhile, I am completing my general requirements so my time is not wasted.
If it will stop your pestering, my natural inclination is toward astrophysics or mathematics, though it remains to be seen if either will be my 'calling'.
Bastien does not enjoy your 'messing with him' and has broken off contact because of it. If you treat him with respect and kindness, he will resume correspondence. -
He lightly taps his fingers against the keys, decides against adding an explanation for Bastien's aversion to even teasing abuse, and clicks 'send'.
Back to work—
Flashing.
-
/From: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/To: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/Subject: YOU SUCK
I have to head to my shift at the aquarium.
And if you make one more crack about tentacles I SWEAR I'm gonna fly over there and fuck you up. -
Hermann snorts.
-
/From: Hermann Gottlieb (hermann.gottlieb@tu-berlin.de)
/To: Newton Geiszler (ng2505@columbia.edu)
/Subject: RE: YOU SUCK
Enjoy your date with the cephalopods. -
Congratulating himself for his restraint, Hermann closes his email and goes back to work on his essay.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Newt
Category:Newt (ficlet)
Category:Ilia (mention)
Category:Jakob (mention)
Category:Bastien (mention)
Category:Lars (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Conversations via email
Category:Newt needles Hermann about his major
Category:Celestial Mechanics