Ever since the black hole named Obscurity had slithered it’s way to earth, the world has been different. You see, Obscurity is constantly shooting off weird energy waves that are having a strange effect on earth’s creatures. Fish are starting to grow wings, the clouds are raining oil, and we humans are starting to have a strange craving for really hot cuisines.

No one knows why the black hole moved from its original spot, forty galaxies away, to our planet. Some say it’s the end of the world, some are going about their normal lives, and some are genius enough to think of a solution to stop Obscurity from giving off these strange energy waves.

One particular person that falls in that category is James A. Aardvark. James, unlike most kids his age, is so brilliant that he is in his junior year of high school at the age of thirteen. Because of this, no one at school likes James. They think he is some kind of freak nerd. (I kind of agree with them.) I mean, no other kid I know does all the problems in his calculus book for fun on a Saturday afternoon. But, as if on cue, James is sitting in his bedroom right now doing just that.

“JAMES!” Said his mother as she entered the room. “What are you doing? It’s a beautiful day outside and your hiding in your room doing math and such.” James’s mom was your average mom. Except she is probably one of the very few mothers who really pushes her son to be average Joe. “Ok, ok just one more.” He said with a sigh.

“James, sweetie, it’s ok to be smart, but remember-“

“I know, I know people hate it when you make it known your smarter then them.”

“Exactly! Now you go on outside.”

James finished his problem, checked it, and went straight outside just like his mother had asked.

It was a bright shiny day, which was good because it’s a pain to clean up the oil after it rains. Once he got outside, like being out there instead of doing math wasn’t enough, Neptune Rustywater was outside waiting for him.

You see, Neptune was a nice girl, a nice neighbor, but she is simply obsessed with James.

“H-hey James.”

“Oh, hey Neptune. What’s up?”

“Nuttin, just, ya know- hangin aroun’”

“Hanging around my front yard?”

“Ya” She said with a giggle. “I knew you’d be out sometime. Your mom always makes you get some fresh air when you do math-I mean on Satur-I mean I wasn’t watching you or anything.”

“Whatever Neptune, I’m a little perturbed right now.”

“Why?” She said.

“Well, ya know Harriet, the girl with the big house on Snooty Street?”

“Ya she doesn’t like me much.” Neptune said looking up at the sky as she twirled her hair.

“Well, she’s having a party tomorrow night and I wasn’t invited.”

“Em, that’s funny cause I got invited.” Neptune said with a wink. “Figures too, I mean your only thirteen, James.”

“You got invited!”

“Ya, I could bring you if you’d like?”

“On what condition” James said suspiciously.

“Well…… You gotta’ be my date.”

“Neptune I refuse to be your date to Harriet’s party.”

“Ok, fine, no date and no party.” She knew she had this one in the bag and James could tell to from the look on her face.

“How about this. You get me into this party and I’ll be your date for the next party.”

“Emm na.”

“Ok you win. I’ll be your date for the party.”

“Ha! YES! See ya’ there James!”

“Bye Neptune” Said James with a sigh.

“Oh, and James. Watch out for the lizards, they spit fire now.”

“Ok, thanks for the heads up.” And before James knew it Neptune was skipping away to her house that was nestled across the street. Even though James was really pumped to go to Henrietta’s party at the finest house on snooty street, he could never shake off the feeling that Neptune might be lieing about being invited.

After a few hours of swinging on the swing set in his backyard, James decided to go inside to return to his math problems. When he entered the front door he heard the television on in the kitchen and something caught his eye.

“Oh there your are hon. Come over here and look at this.” James’s mother pointed to the TV.

“Lizards are spitting fire now, I know Neptune told me.” He said after watching the news report on TV.

“Ya, it’s kind of a big deal. The lil’ rascals are burning down the fields and people’s houses.” His mom said with her hand on her hip as she stirred a pot boiling hot sauce.

“And I’ve just been having these cravings lately. Ya know for hot stuff.”

“So, that’s why you’re boiling the sauce?” James asked her with a grotesque look on his face. “Ya. I guess sweaty. I’m getting worried. These energy wave thingies-“

“-Energy wave reactions mom”

“Ya, there really worrying me. I mean you can practically see the black hole outside the window.” She pointed to a large black dot that was adjacent to the sun.

“Ya, I guess it is pretty scary.” James said as he starred at Obscurity.

“Oh, dinner’s ready.” James’s mom put a bowl of boiling hot sauce on the table. “Uh, I’m not hungry mom.”

“You sure?”

“Ya, pretty sure.”

“Ok, suit yourself, more for me.”

After worrying about his mom’s well being James went into his room to search stuff on the Internet before bed. James loved the Internet. (Most people like him do.) But tonight the Internet was full of pop-ups about the end of the world and weird theories about Obscurity. James paid no attention to this nonsense. He of all people knows that our bodies will eventually adapt to Obscurities rays. Will they though? Will Obscurity harmful rays kill the species of Earth? This bothered James all night when he went to bed. Maybe he could fix this little dilemma. Maybe this crisis has a simple solution…