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 Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:20 pm
Chances were about even that, after class, one would find Tara in a science lab or out on the grounds. Puttering with chemicals. Dragging out her telescope. Wreaking havoc on the local wildlife. But she did try not to disturb the ecosystem too much, and if she slipped up once or twice, well, it was in the name of research. Surely the ants would forgive her.
That day was, as the second Tuesday of the month, the day for her biweekly soil testing. Which meant that Tara had her large shoebox- more of a bootbox, really- filled with vials and sample bags and small scissors and a Swiss Army Knife and tiny plastic shovel and a few other odds and ends. There was a partition separating the box in half, and one half of the box was empty, save for few filled sample bags.
And Tara, with her hair tied back and her sleeves rolled up, was working a garden trowel through the stiff ground just outside the dorms. While she had to take samples from all over the campus, she tried to stay close to the buildings when possible. Just in case someone asked what she was doing. Usually no one did, but that wouldn't stop Tara from trying.
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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:45 pm
Apparently he would be one of the outliers in the situation. Topher had been minding his own business, slipping out of the dorms after finishing a bit of his homework. With a little time to himself, the teen figured he would shuffle over to the music room to listen in on whatever they were playing at the time. Perhaps someone he knew would be there as well. It was a long shot but one he was definitely willing to chance. To his surprise, instead of continuing down the corridor to make his way to the music room, he nearly tripped over someone digging just along the side of the building. That would have been an awful place for a garden. Besides...wasn't there already some sort garden on campus. He was sure that he passed it all the time.
Something about this seemed off. Why would someone be gardening on the other side of campus? Well, whatever the case, it aroused his interests. "Why exactly are you digging outside of the dorms? I'm sure there wasn't a giant 'X' when I was out here before? Should I have gotten my eyes checked when I went to the nurse a few days ago?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:56 pm
Tara was so into her digging that she didn't even notice Topher until he nearly tripped over. "It's always good to get your eyes checked," she said seriously, straightening up. "Heya Topher, what're you up to? If you're not busy, want to give me a hand?"
She gestured to the holes in the ground- including in the lawn, which the landscapers probably wouldn't thank her for- and her shoebox. "I'm taking samples to see if the chemical composition of the soil has changed over time. It's important to take them frequently and from a wide area, or else it's possible to miss what you're looking for, you know?"
Having help would be good, but there was another reason Tara was hoping he'd agree. She didn't often admit it, but sometimes being a ufologist was a lonely business.
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