LET’S not be greedy and let’s share this recipe with all the underachievers in the class ... Let them become top-scorers, too!

‘Oh, shame on you, loser!’ the sixth grader Danny said sadly to himself after examining his mark sheet. ‘You’ve failed your tests again! With such performance, you’ll be trailing at the bottom of the class till your matriculation!’

Daily complaints from his school teachers, endless lectures (and at times punishments!) from his parents and, on top of it, open mockery from his own able classmates …. Self-pity twisted his mouth into a bitter smile.

‘I wish I had some magical technique to score the top position without boring myself with studying!’ he thought wistfully, but his sweet meditation was heartlessly interrupted by the recess bell.

The next day after classes ,Danny spotted Alina, the monitor and the brightest pupil of his class, and, after a moment of hesitation, determinedly came up to her.

“Look here, Alina,” he started anxiously, ready to be laughed at any moment. “Can you advise me … hmm … how to become an excellent student? I mean, are there some shortcuts to turning oneself into an achiever? Other than attending to schoolwork, of course!”

The girl didn’t even smile. She was thoughtful for a while, and finally nodded: “Yes, there is one. You must try the magic drink.”

“Is that all?” Danny’s face was suddenly lit up with relief. “What drink?” he asked.

“It’s called ‘Turning into an A-grader’ drink. You know, earlier I also used to fail my tests, but then my grandma gave me that recipe. I drank it, and since then I am a constant position holder in the class!”

“Wow!” admired Danny. “Why I didn’t ask you earlier! By now I would have already become a brilliant student!”

“But ... mind you … it has quite a complicated composition,” Alina seriously explained Alina. “Might be you won’t understand ...”

“Hey, just spill the beans! I’ll figure it out, surely!”

“Okay then, you’ll have to measure a quarter cup of sugar and one-third cup of water in a large glass …”

“A quarter and a third? How much is it?” Danny interrupted.

“There is no time to go into the details,” the girl waved off the question. “Look it up in the math book. When sugar is dissolved, add a spoonful of dried and crushed leaves of any cruciferous plant ...”

“Wait-wait! How will I be able to tell the difference between cruciferous plants and non-cruciferous ones?” Danny asked.

“Take a look in your botany book. Now stir your drink thoroughly and leave it on windowsill for the night to infuse. But remember, it must be the night of the new moon!” explained Alina.

“New moon? You mean the round one, right?” Danny looked puzzled.

“Well, check it with the 1qth chapter of the geography book,” answered Alina.

“Okay. And then?”

“For the best result, it is imperative to have the drink exactly on a day which coincides with the date of some important event.”

“Which one?” Danny raised his eyebrows.

“Well, for example, the birthday of an eminent statesman or a date some great battle was fought … the Battle of Waterloo, for instance. Choose the day that’ll be nearest to the famous date and enjoy your drink.”

“Got it,” Danny scratched his head. “The only thing … How am I supposed to learn about the nearest dates?”

“Very easy — just thumb through your history book. But most importantly,” Alina raised her index finger, “before you drink it, a magic incantation must be recited.”

“Which?” Danny instinctively lowered his voice.

Alina darted a dreadful look at the boy and whispered with malice: “The names of 12 famous scientists along with a list of their inventions and discoveries!!”

“Oh, my! Where shall I find all these scientists?” Danny clutched his head in panic.

“You’ll have to rake into a book or two here,” prompted Alina. “If you want, you can take my encyclopaedia.”

“Thank you so much for your help!” beamed Danny and scurried home to prepare the magic drink.

Few weeks later, having received his first “A” in history, happy Danny approached Alina again.

“Alina, that drink really works!” there was a genuine amusement and gratitude in his voice. “But you know … let’s not be greedy and let’s share this recipe with all the underachievers in the class, huh? Let them become top-scorers, too!”