The Substitute

Question

Nate Dern

Calvin looked at the orb. He moved his hand toward it. As he came within an inch of its surface, a small needle protruded from the indentation and the pulsing intensified.

At the sight of the needle, a new thought occurred to Calvin. “How do I know you’re not here to assassinate me? That thing could be filled with poison.”

“Oh, please,” Mr. K said. “There would be far easier ways to terminate you if that were my directive, Calvin.”

A bang came from the supply closet in the back of the room. Calvin turned toward the sound.

“Hey!” Mr. K said. “Forget that. Look at me. What’s it going to be, Calvin?” His wristband band was beeping louder, and there was a new urgency in his voice.

“Even if you are me,” Calvin said. “I can’t trust my future self. I can’t trust anyone but my now self. I mean, how do you know that you coming here didn’t make things worse? Maybe you coming here is what planted the idea in my head about wanting power in the first place!”

Mr. K froze. His eyes widened. Slowly, the corners of his lips inched upwards. “I knew you’d get there, bud,” he said. His wristband’s chime became a solid, incessant tone. “Go time.” Mr. K grabbed the orb off the desk and tossed it into the air in front of Calvin as he ran past him. In a split second, Calvin knew he had a decision to make: catch the orb or let it drop to the ground.

Calvin grabbed for the orb, just as Mr. K flung himself toward the supply closet.

Calvin felt a dizziness that seemed to resolve through a reorientation of his baseline, like he’d fallen while spinning circles on a balance beam only to land somewhere completely new and sturdier than before. He was still himself, but a variation of himself he hadn’t been just moments ago. He saw everything that had already happened as if it could have been another way; he saw everything that could be as if it was up to him to make it so. If a vision can be transformed into a memory with a simple shift in time, then a conversation, with a prophecy attached, can become a roadmap just as quickly.

A few moments later, Calvin realized he was lying on the ground with his eyes shut. He opened them. He looked at the clock. The final bell was about to ring. Although the orb was no longer in his hand, he thought he could still feel the pinch of where it pierced his palm.

He pushed himself up. There was a scuffling that seemed to be coming from the supply closet. He walked toward it and opened the door. Mr. Taupe was curled up in a ball, wearing his corduroy suit coat. His arms and legs were bound with electrical wire, and his mouth was covered with tape.

“Mr. Taupe,” Calvin said.

Mr. Taupe struggled to mumble something unintelligible, his eyes wide and unblinking.

“Don’t worry, I’m going to help you, but you’re going to help me first,” Calvin said. “Can we discuss my grade? I want to ensure the likelihood of my future success.”

Write: What is Calvin's point of view about Mr. Taupe at the end of the story?

Answer 1

At the end of the story, Calvin's point of view about Mr. Taupe is tinged with a blend of opportunism and sympathy. While he sees Mr. Taupe's predicament—tied up and vulnerable—as a means to leverage his own academic future, it also reflects Calvin's underlying desire for control over his circumstances. By choosing to address his grade amid the chaos, Calvin is prioritizing his ambitions and perceived self-interest, demonstrating a strategic mindset.

However, there is an element of recognition of Mr. Taupe's humanity in Calvin's approach. The fact that he reassures Mr. Taupe, saying he will help him, shows that he is not completely devoid of compassion. Instead, he acknowledges Mr. Taupe's plight while using the situation to negotiate his own future. This duality in Calvin's perspective indicates that he is evolving—he is learning to navigate his own ambitions while acknowledging the complex, often messy realities of human interactions and power dynamics. Overall, Calvin sees Mr. Taupe not just as a victim but also as a crucial player in his own quest for success, blending pragmatism with a hint of empathy.