It was Monday. And like every Monday worthy of being hated, Jimmy had to go to school.
Yes, only forty-something hours had passed since they moved to the new neighborhood, and his mother already wanted to throw him into the school world "just to socialize." As if talking to humans were as easy as reprogramming a microwave.
"What if we just… Accelerate my education?" Jimmy asked with a very salesman-like grin.
After all, he'd heard juicy rumors that the genius kid next door, some guy named Sheldon, was already in his last year of high school at just nine years old. And of course, if that walking skull managed it, Jimmy could easily do it and surpass him. Obviously.
Judy, his mother, responded like any responsible mother: with a passive-aggressive affirmation. "You lack emotional maturity, sweetheart."
To which Jimmy replied: "That's exactly why I need to go! What better way to mature than being traumatized by stressed-out teenagers?"
And so, without making more drama than necessary, Jimmy was in the process of being enrolled in Medford High. There weren't many options. Well, there weren't any other options. It was that or found his own school… which, if it were up to him, would already be on the construction plans.
Medford High was the place where basically everyone in town studied. It had free tuition, which explained its popularity. Sheldon also studied there, along with a guy named George Jr., the brother of the weird kid who had the same name as his father, apparently classmates.
In the tense calm of the morning, the family car moved forward. Judy sat in the passenger seat while Hugh, her husband, drove with his usual calm, of course, not caring about anything.
Jimmy, silently in the back seat, seemed to be planning something between an existential attack and world domination.
"Are you still upset about this morning?" Hugh asked, breaking the silence. He knew ignoring problems was his superpower, but being a father forced him to try once in a while.
Jimmy, wearing his orange hoodie and black pants, shook his head after thinking about it for a bit. "It's not anger. It's just… All of this is weird. The move, the school… I think the company I want to start is more important."
Judy turned to tell her husband not to favor their son. Hugh raised an eyebrow, knowing the stance he had to take in this conversation.
"What product do you want to sell with your company, champ?" Hugh asked in that fatherly voice that didn't understand anything but pretended to.
"A video game console. Way better than the one that came out recently. But the quality of current TVs is pathetic, so I thought of creating a projector that works without relying on the TV. Something simple. You know, basic quantum physics." Jimmy started throwing out technical terms like he was giving a TED Talk on how to revolutionize the world from his bedroom.
Hugh nodded as if he understood, but in reality, he had no idea what Jimmy was talking about.
"Just make sure you don't bring any weird gadgets to school," Judy said, with the expression of someone who feared her son might cause a school evacuation.
"Don't worry. I've decided that from now on, all my inventions will be for my private company only. Soon we'll be the richest humans in the world."
"Perfect. That way, I can fulfill my dream of opening a pie factory," Hugh joked as he parked.
Jimmy gave him that look of "no one takes my brilliance seriously," but decided to ignore it like every good misunderstood genius.
"Are you sure I can't do this alone, Mom?"
"You're not an adult, remember?"
"Damn it…"
Jimmy got out of the car and looked at the Medford High building. Nothing special. Bricks, windows, and the classic air of adolescent despair. The usual.
He wasn't here to judge anyone, but he wasn't here to integrate either. His plan was simple: Stay under the radar, quickly study his new inventions without being bothered, and conquer the global tech market.
As they walked toward the principal's office, some students were already murmuring with the excitement of school gossip.
"Look at that kid's hair!"
"Is he maybe the new Sheldon?" whispered a girl.
"Or worse… Another weirdo!" another replied.
Oblivious to the drama he had already caused just by breathing, Jimmy entered the office where the principal and a secretary, who seemed to have survived three decades of screaming teenagers, were waiting.
And thus began a new era for Medford.
Or a new tragedy. It all depended on how Sheldon reacted.
…
Principal Tom heard a voice that sounded a bit more childish asking many questions, and he broke into a cold sweat. When he stood up and looked toward the entrance of the door, he saw a kid no taller than Sheldon standing at the door, examining everything in detail.
Medford High School advocates for liberal education, and high school is the age when students' personalities are most expressive. However, the teachers here were not prepared to deal with genius kids.
"Another problem has arrived at my school…" Principal Tom wanted to be buried alive, but knowing what was coming, he walked toward the door where a lady and her son were waiting.
"You must be Jimmy Neutron, like the Neutron, ha, ha, ha." Tom's dry laugh died when he saw Jimmy's flat expression, staring at him as if he were an idiot.
Judy was surprised by Principal Tom's bad joke, so she nudged Jimmy a little and said, "Son, say hello."
"It was a bad joke, but he seems to be a good principal who lets a lot slide as long as no one bothers him. I think I'll like this place." Jimmy extended his hand to shake the principal's.
Tom's smile grew wider when Jimmy started acting normally, although the last part he said wasn't exactly to his liking. "Ha, ha, ha, I've always been told my jokes aren't the best…"
"They're terrible…" Jimmy was a straightforward kid, definitely hated those who weren't.
"Yeah, let's forget about that." Tom felt more than embarrassed by the harsh comments of this kid, but for his peace of mind, he decided to ignore it. He had enough trouble with the prodigy Sheldon.
Tom wiped the sweat from his forehead and told himself he had to make sure Jimmy wasn't like Sheldon. He didn't want two problems at this school; otherwise, he was sure the teachers would quit.
"I've read your resume, perfect record, the best grades you can achieve, and winner of numerous national awards. We have all your data, so now we'll just evaluate you. Since you requested to be in advanced classes, we'll place you in the highest grade this school can offer. Are we good so far?" Tom didn't want to look like an idiot in front of another prodigy. All the experience he had gained with Sheldon had to be useful for something.
Jimmy smiled and said, "Even if these are senior exams or for applying to a university, no problem."
"Good, take this…"
"Thanks." Jimmy politely took the exam and went to the nearby table.
Judy talked to the principal about some of her son's odd behaviors, hinting at things he shouldn't be exposed to. One of those things was the mechanics class; he might end up building a rocket or worse.
…
No more than fifteen minutes later, the exam was placed back in front of Principal Tom.
"Jimmy, if you think the questions are too difficult, you can ask me for a different set of exams," Principal Tom said, not knowing how smart this kid named Jimmy was, but from what he could see, he wasn't any better than young Sheldon.
"No, it was a good exam to refresh some knowledge I had let slide." Jimmy hadn't lied; some things he had completely forgotten because he didn't need them very often.
Tom looked at the exam, then at Jimmy, and back at the exam. This test was designed to be answered in over an hour, but the student in front of him had completed it in no more than fifteen minutes.
"Will you review it now?" Jimmy wasn't in a hurry to go to class.
"Yes, I'll do it as soon as possible…"
"Just one thing, some of my answers are more complex, so I hope you're aware that you might not understand them."
"Yes, I understand that…"