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Description

As the deadline for her AP Biology final project quickly approached, Connie Zhào was fresh out of bright ideas to preserve her perfect grade point average and secure a coveted spot at the Ivy League institution of her choice. She had already written a paper about the Krebs Cycle for midterms, complete with a papier-mâché model of the mitochondria containing a gel filling and glass marbles representing ribosomes. That was enough for full marks before Christmas break, but the bar was always raised for final projects; and Connie knew she would have to out do herself.

Just then, like a stroke of genius, Connie remembered the small antique birdcage suspended from the ceiling of her mother’s study by a gossamer golden chain; its ornate and intricate design reminiscent of late Ming Dynasty craftsmanship. While rare and beautiful, the cage itself was of no interest to Connie; instead her mind fixated on the little man trapped therein. On the one hand, the star student and dutiful daughter was forbidden from entering her mother’s study. She knew that her mother would be furious if she discovered someone had entered her private study without permission; much less stolen ZhenZhen, her beloved pet man. But on the other hand, her mother would also be furious if she earned a “B” (or god forbid a “C”) in AP Biology. Plus, while little pet men were expensive, Connie's family was rich and ZhenZhen could always be replaced. Most of her classmates and teachers had probably never even seen a little person up close. So presenting a paper on the biology of little people, complete with a real mounted little man in a glass display, would all but guarantee Connie an “A+”.

She knew what she had to do.

Connie found the entire ordeal incredibly fascinating. ZhenZhen was so puny. . . so delicate and emotional. . . so rebellious. . . hardly adjectives typically describing a good and faithful pet. And yet, this little pet ranked among her mother’s fondest possessions. He didn't seem like anything special dangling from the tips of her fingers; studying his fearful expression for a time before gathering his warm pink form completely in her fist and walking back to her bedroom. ZhenZhen was inconsolable when the giant girl laid the glass display next to him on the table along with a small box filled with metal straight pins. Though neither brave nor faithful, little man pets were extremely intelligent. He kicked and fought against his giant captor's fingers as they deftly positioned him within the padded display. For Connie’s part, after wetting the pointed end of the first pin with her mouth, the fragile little man yelled and screamed so violently as the rod pushed its way through his hand that she had to remind him several times to stop flailing and moving around so much. Ripping his limbs away from the pins would only cause further injury and she promised to just pin them down once again. Connie figured that her project would be far more impressive if the little man was still breathing and conscious during her class presentation, and so she would need to be firm but gentle while driving the rest of the pins into ZhenZhen’s hands, feet, and thighs. Her presentation was tomorrow morning and this was happening whether he liked it or not. And so Connie slowly pressed her enormous finger into the little man’s chest for emphasis, gradually and painfully folding him backwards onto the floor of his display case. She would have to use her superior size and authority to impress on the little man that throwing a hissy fit would only make things harder for himself.

Description

As the deadline for her AP Biology final project quickly approached, Connie Zhào was fresh out of bright ideas to preserve her perfect grade point average and secure a coveted spot at the Ivy League institution of her choice. She had already written a paper about the Krebs Cycle for midterms, complete with a papier-mâché model of the mitochondria containing a gel filling and glass marbles representing ribosomes. That was enough for full marks before Christmas break, but the bar was always raised for final projects; and Connie knew she would have to out do herself.

Just then, like a stroke of genius, Connie remembered the small antique birdcage suspended from the ceiling of her mother’s study by a gossamer golden chain; its ornate and intricate design reminiscent of late Ming Dynasty craftsmanship. While rare and beautiful, the cage itself was of no interest to Connie; instead her mind fixated on the little man trapped therein. On the one hand, the star student and dutiful daughter was forbidden from entering her mother’s study. She knew that her mother would be furious if she discovered someone had entered her private study without permission; much less stolen ZhenZhen, her beloved pet man. But on the other hand, her mother would also be furious if she earned a “B” (or god forbid a “C”) in AP Biology. Plus, while little pet men were expensive, Connie's family was rich and ZhenZhen could always be replaced. Most of her classmates and teachers had probably never even seen a little person up close. So presenting a paper on the biology of little people, complete with a real mounted little man in a glass display, would all but guarantee Connie an “A+”.

She knew what she had to do.

Connie found the entire ordeal incredibly fascinating. ZhenZhen was so puny. . . so delicate and emotional. . . so rebellious. . . hardly adjectives typically describing a good and faithful pet. And yet, this little pet ranked among her mother’s fondest possessions. He didn't seem like anything special dangling from the tips of her fingers; studying his fearful expression for a time before gathering his warm pink form completely in her fist and walking back to her bedroom. ZhenZhen was inconsolable when the giant girl laid the glass display next to him on the table along with a small box filled with metal straight pins. Though neither brave nor faithful, little man pets were extremely intelligent. He kicked and fought against his giant captor's fingers as they deftly positioned him within the padded display. For Connie’s part, after wetting the pointed end of the first pin with her mouth, the fragile little man yelled and screamed so violently as the rod pushed its way through his hand that she had to remind him several times to stop flailing and moving around so much. Ripping his limbs away from the pins would only cause further injury and she promised to just pin them down once again. Connie figured that her project would be far more impressive if the little man was still breathing and conscious during her class presentation, and so she would need to be firm but gentle while driving the rest of the pins into ZhenZhen’s hands, feet, and thighs. Her presentation was tomorrow morning and this was happening whether he liked it or not. And so Connie slowly pressed her enormous finger into the little man’s chest for emphasis, gradually and painfully folding him backwards onto the floor of his display case. She would have to use her superior size and authority to impress on the little man that throwing a hissy fit would only make things harder for himself.