Rufus, and average middle school pup who doesn't get the best grades, one day discovers a learning website. After heavy practice on his own, he gets an A+ and becomes one of the smartest dogs in biology in the class. One day, his teacher announces a surprise biology trivia. Will Rufus's biology practice help him win or will his practice mean nothing at all?
By: Zai (Founder)
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“Um, kind of, but stop talking or we definitely won’t,” Big Dog Replied.
“Fine,” Rufus said with a tone.
30 minutes later the bell rang. It was lunch/recess time. All the dogs started barking down the halls. Some went to the door outside. Others went to the cafeteria. Rufus and Big Dog brought their own lunches, so they headed outside to eat. Big Dog spotted Mr. Foxx. Mr. Foxx was their gym teacher. He conditioned them very well, but was also very nice at the end if they did the hard part first. “Good morning, Rufus. Big Dog,” Mr. Foxx said.
“Hi,” said Rufus.
“What’s up with the lack of felicity, Rufus?” asked Mr. Foxx.
“I just didn’t like biology today. The way Mrs. Doggerson teaches is hard to understand,” replied Rufus.
“Don’t worry, Rufus,” explained Mr. Foxx. “I have something that could be a boon to your edification in biology. It’s a website called ‘The Four Cells’”.
With the rest of recess time, Rufus went to the library computer lab. He looked up ‘The Four Cells’ and found just what he was looking for. It was a simple, colorfully decorated learning website. “Wow” said Rufus to himself. He clicked science at the top and then biology. He was having trouble understanding the nervous system, so he studied on the page about it.
The next day, Mrs. Doggerson gave all the pups a surprise quiz on the nervous system. Rufus was so cognizant that he got an A+! When lunch time came, he took out his phone and called his parents. “Mom, Dad, I got an A+ on my test in biology today!”
“Well that’s prodigious!” said his mother.
“I agree!” said his father.
“Well buh-bye,” said Rufus’s mom. “Your father and I have to tidy up the house.”
“Ok, bye,” replied Rufus.
Big Dog came up to Rufus. They sat down and started to eat their lunch. The expression on Rufus’s face was filled with felicity.
“Why so happy, Rufus?” questioned Big Dog.
“I just got an A+ on my test in biology today!” replied Rufus excitedly.
“But you hate biology,” Big Dog doubted the veracity of Rufus’s statement.
“I did,” replied Rufus, “until I found out about that cool website.”
“Aww man,” said Big Dog glumly, “I got a C+. What was the name of the website?”
“The Four Cells,” Rufus proudly said, “You should definitely study there.”
Over the course of the next week, Big Dog studied using the website Rufus suggested to him. He really liked the colorful decorations and modern art. One day, when Big Dog came to school, he saw Rufus in his chair. He went to sit next to him for biology. When class started, Mrs. Doggerson said “Hello class. Today you all will participate in a trivia game. I will divide you into two teams. If I give you a one, go to that side of the room, If I give you a two, go to the other side.”
“Rufus,” whispered Big Dog. “If we separate, we can be on the same team.”
“Ok,” replied Rufus.
Mrs. Doggerson came over to Rufus and Big Dog’s direction. “Mary, you’re a one. Big Dog, you’re a two. Wendy, you’re also a two. Rufus you’re a…”
Wait, that's not fair, Rufus thought. If Wendy’s also a two then that means I’m a…
“One”
“Nooooooooooooooooooo”
Rufus began to wane. “Wait a minute,” said Rufus to himself. “I have a plan.”
He counted the amount of people on each side, and saw that his side had one more dog than the other. That meant that there was an odd number, and since there was no way to cut a dog in half, It didn’t matter which side had the extra. While Mrs. Doggerson was setting up the trivia, Rufus used duplicity and snuck to the other side.
“Shh, don’t tell,” he told everyone. Rufus’s victory was ephemeral though when Mrs. Doggerson noticed the change. “Rufus, didn’t I put you on that side?”
“Aww man,” said Rufus.
“I’m sorry,” Big Dog mouthed to Rufus.
Rufus began to wane.
The quiz was hard and cool at the same time. Rufus and Big Dog wanted to be on the same team, because they were both friends and they were both smart. They both knew that since they were on opposite teams the chances of one side winning abated. Rufus truly was upset they would have to go against each other.
“Okay class, these are the rules of the trivia: each team has to form a line. I will ask a question, and the two people in the front get to go. Whoever clicks their buzzer first gets to answer. If they get it right, they stay and another teammate from the other team goes. If they get it wrong the other team gets to answer. If they get it right, they win and stay. If they get it wrong, neither of them stay and two brand new dogs get to go. Understand?”
“Yes,”
“Then let’s begin.”
First up was Wendy and Max. Wendy was on Big Dog’s team, and Max was on Rufus’s team.
“First question:” said Mrs. Doggerson. “Which body system is responsible for turning food into energy?”
Wendy buzzed first.
“Yes Wendy?”
“The digestive system.”
“Correct.”
“Sorry guys,” said Max. “Wendy’s really good at this game.”
“Ugh,” Rufus said with a gall tone.
Next up was Gordon.
“Which organ secretes bile?”
Wendy buzzed first again.
“Yes Wendy?”
“The bile duct.”
“Correct.”
Gordon gulped.
“Ugggggghhhhhh,” Rufus was as angry as black eyed peas with anchovies and chocolate tomato sauce.
Next up was Toyota.
“Give me an example of a reproductive strategy.”
Wendy buzzed first yet again.
“Yes Wendy?”
“A peacock shows its beautiful feathers to attract a peahen.”
“Correct”
This time Rufus didn’t disparage Toyota. He just told her that she did a good job trying to beat Wendy.
“Hey, why did Rufus get mad at us but not Toyota,” Max whispered to Gordon.
“It looks like someone has a little crush,” Gordon whispered back, giggling.
Next up was Rufus. The other team already had three points while Rufus’s team still had zero. Rufus was about to change that. The teacher began the next question.
“Which system pump—”
Rufus buzzed before she even finished the question.
“The circulatory system.”
“Correct”
Wendy moped to the back of the line.
Rufus beat the opposing team a few more times and was beaten by Big Dog once. Eventually, the score was tied 6 to 6, and Big Dog and Rufus were up next.
“Time for the tiebreaker,” said Mrs. Doggerson. The class oooed.
“What is the biggest organ of the entire body?”
Big Dog buzzed first.
“The liver.”
“That is… incorrect.”
The class gasped.
“Rufus, if you get this right, your team will win.”
“You got this, Rufus,” said Toyota.
Rufus blushed.
“Um,” he said. “The skin.”
“That is…”
Rufus gulped.
“Correct!”
Rufus’s team cheered with excitement. They threw Rufus into the air and cheered him on for making their team win.
“Sorry guys,” Rufus told Max and Gordon. “I just got carried away with winning. I didn’t mean to be mean.
“It’s okay,” said Max.
“I forgive,” said Gordon.
“Good game,” Big Dog said. Big Dog might have lost, but he was a really good friend and wouldn’t spurn their friendship over a trivia.
“Thanks, Big Dog,” said Rufus. “You’re a great friend.”
“Thanks. That website is actually really good though,” said Big Dog.
“Yeah, Mr. Foxx told me about it when I said I was having trouble with biology class,” replied Rufus.
“Well thanks for telling me about it,” said Big Dog. “Otherwise I probably would’ve failed big time.”
“You’re welcome,” said Rufus.
Later on, at lunch, Rufus and Big Dog sat in their usual spot outside. They were both feeling pretty confident about their biology smarts.
“Mmm, that was delicious!” Big Dog exclaimed as he jettisoned his doggie treat cereal bar wrapper. His hands were mottled with dirt.
“Umm, Big Dog?” questioned Rufus. “Did you wash your hands?”
“Yes, of course, who doesn’t?” replied Big Dog.
“Then why do they look dirty?” asked Rufus.
“Because it’s from the bar. I’d better go wash my hands now, heheh,”
Bghrrrrrriiiiiiiiiingggg, the bell rang. It was time for math class. The two friends hurried over to class. They didn’t want to be late. Nope. Their day was already going too well to be late. When they got inside, they saw Tweet already sitting there. That was strange. Tweet never got to class early. Once all the dogs were settled in their seats, Mr. Barker began class. All of a sudden, as usual, Tweet interrupted with levity, putting the whole class into laughter. Rufus and Big Dog were starting to get tired of Tweet’s jokes. They were rather hackneyed and kind of lame.
Later that day, Rufus’s mom took Rufus and Big Dog to one of their favorite restaurants: Lil’ Doggie’s Pizza. When they got there, it was closed down. It turned out, the owners were insolvent and had to close down.
“Aww, come on!” said Rufus. “Now where are we going to start eating?”
“There is another pizza place not too far from here,” Rufus’s mom said. “I heard it has some pretty good reviews.”
“That sounds good!” Big Dog said.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” said Rufus.
“Ok, great,” Rufus’s mom said. “We’ll try something new.”
The dogs went to the other pizza place. Rufus didn’t think he’d like it at first and thought nothing could replace Lil’ Doggie’s but when he took a bite, it was so good.
prattle - to talk at length in a foolish way
bombastic - high-level language that holds little meaning
felicity - joyfulness; happiness
boon - a helpful or beneficial thing
edify - instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually
cognizant - being aware of something
prodigious - impressively great in extent, size, or degree
veracity - the state of being truthful and straightforward
wane - to decrease in vigor, power, or size
duplicity - deceitfulness and dishonesty
ephemeral - lasting a very short time
abate - to become less intense or widespread
gall - bold, disrespectful behavior
disparage - to regard as being worthless
spurn - to reject with hatred
jettison - to toss away something that's no longer wanted
mottled - covered with spots or patches of color
levity - humor or frivolity, especially when discussing a serious matter
hackneyed - lacking significance because of overuse
insolvent - unable to pay one's debts