Robert Miller was getting bored to death, listening to a lecture in his 6th grade. As the lecture went on, keeping himself awake was becoming a real challenge.
It was a lecture on Einstein and his works.
Robert wasn't a dull student. In fact, he liked to answer questions from his lecturers, but, not today. He had already lost interest. In fact, he kinda started hating Einstein when his lecturer told him that Einstein's calculations gave more accurate results than Newton's.
Robert had a great admiration for Newton since last year. He didn’t know much about his work other than his famous laws of motion. First time he heard about Newton was at his last birthday, when his mother told him that Newton was a great scientist. That was just that day, when his mother told him about Newton. But it was of great importance to Robert as that was the last thing he heard from her. She died in a car crash the very next day.
He remembered his Ninth birthday a couple of months back, when his father had invited all of his friends for his birthday party.
'Mom, what was that, Dad and his friends were making fun of Charmaine?' boy asked his mom after the party.
'Oh, you mean the Newton's laws?'
'Yeah..'
'Well, they were making fun of a thesis Charmaine had submitted to her lecturer when she was in high school'
'What is a thesis?'
'Kinda research work, I guess' mom replied.
'What was that about?'
'I have no idea. Ask your father. He was her class mate and he should be knowing. I think in her thesis, she came up with some laws like a scientist'
'And what has that to do with the name Newton's laws'
His mom sighed heavily on how much more questions she had to answer, but continued to reply as she washed the dishes.
'Your father and all the friends he invited home today studied together till high school. Me, your mommy, also studied in the same school, but a year junior to your father.'
'Really?'
'Yeah. It's Newton High school, a few miles down south in Hillsville. Your father and his gang of friends made fun of her thesis during her high school days and even conducted some funny convention where her thesis was accepted as the Newton's Laws'
'Like the laws of the Newton school?!'
'Well, it meant 2 things; one- conveyed that the Newton school had accepted her laws. Second was to convey that her thesis was as great as that of Newton. No more questions, now you should sleep.' his mom, completed her dishes and picked a magazine to read.
'Just a few more, mom'
Mom looked at the boy. She knew, he is not going to let her read the magazine, if she doesn't answer him. She looked at the clock, 'Robert, see you got 5 minutes for all your questions, will you sleep after that?'
'Yeah' the boy also quickly took a note the time. He thought for a moment on what he was about to ask.
'So, was her thesis so famous? It was accepted by the school?'
'The school didn't accept. Her lecturer, in fact tore her paper and she started crying. Just to tease her, your father and other friends setup some funny student convention where her thesis was praised. Your father's gang of friends claimed to represent the school and accepted her thesis as the Newton schools laws'
'I see..'the boy wondered, 'so the name comes from the school she studied'
'Well, as I said, it is just one meaning. It was also supposed to mean that her theories were as great as that of Newton's...it is all for fun, her thesis was really something stupid...never mind..'
'So, Newton is some scientist?'
Mom thought, this is never going to end. She looked at the clock. He got 30 more seconds.
'He was a scientist and a mathematician'
'How good was he?'
'Dear, your time is up'
'Just answer this one, please..' the boy pleaded.
'Good night, Robert'
The boy was disappointed that she didn't answer him. He turned and started towards his room without saying a good night.
Mom, turned him towards her, kissed him on his forehead.
'Believe me, he was the greatest scientist'
'Good night, mom' the boy now happily ran to his room.
And today, he couldn't accept any one a greater scientist than Newton.
To him, Newton was the greatest, because his mom said so!
Physics Lecturer Mathew Dewman liked Robert as he always showed great interest in his class. To see him uninterested, today, disappointed Mathew a bit. He decided to stop his lecture now. He didn't want to bore Robert anymore.
To re-vitalize Robert's interest in physics, he decided to end his class with some questions on Newton's Laws.
"Who remembers Newton's first law of motion?" Mathew looked at the class.
Robert got his life back and as a sign of life his hands raised.
"It is the law of inertia and every body in its state of rest or uniform motion continues to remain in that state unless an external force is applied"
"Good Robert!" lecturer felt happy that the boy still had interest in his class.
"Any one else wants to try answering the second law of motion. Yes Mary" he pointed to the girl who raised her hand.
"Force = mass times acceleration"
Robert was much excited to discuss more, but he didn't want to annoy the class answering every question.
"Now, I want some one to explain the third law with some examples but not from your text book?"
This time it was just one hand. And the class was eager to hear.
"Yes. Robert," as he pointed to Robert, the bell rang to Robert's disappointment and the English lecturer was waiting outside.
"Robert, you will explain tomorrow. See you all" Mathew walked out as he waved to the English lecturer who was walking by the corridor.
The class was a bit eager to hear some examples from Robert on the 3rd law, the next day. But hardly did anyone have a clue that he would not be there in class the next day to explain it.
However, the readers need not worry. You will not miss the 3rd law. As you might have guessed, the story is all about it!!!
