Ruby and their group topic ready for Boulis. 

     "Mr.  Boulis,  we have our item that we are going to be doing our project on." Ruby speaks up after about 35 minutes of arguing about what to do. We decided on doing The Chest of Nephora."

     "Bold choice,  Mrs.  Sky" Boulis says with a smile.  "You know that chest has been there in the tomb for centuries and to open it to get one single item out is going to take far longer than the week that you have.  Once this week is over,  it's time to write the paper. No object to write on,  no paper, and no object,  no credit, and by the way,  this piece is worth a third of your grade."

     Ruby mumbles some words inaudible to the human ear before slowly mumbling, "Fine.  I will so it on something else." "Good.  Now get to class before you're late.  I don't write late slips."

----- The next day

     "Mr.  Boulis,  I have my subject matter.  We are going to do our project on a staff that they found in the tomb.  It was something that didn't have anything to do with the history of the Queen or the tomb,  but it was just there.", Ruby exclaims loudly in the hallway but then gets softer as she gets near him.

     "Good Ruby,  since the staff was among the tomb,  I will allow you to do your project on the staff.  I always said that simple tasks require more effort than harder tasks. Since your group wants to do a simple staff,  you're going to have to find  out everything you can for your project.  You're going to need it for the upcoming future.", Boulis smirks at Ruby's future.

     "After class,  meet me at my desk to give you some information about the project since you chose to do it on the staff.  I'm going to give you the extra info you need to get full credit."

---- Presentation Day
    "Alright class," Boulis turns to face the class after writing "Presentations Due Today"  on the dry erase board with a squeaky blue marker, "Your presentations are due today and if your group isn't ready,  you start to present in about 10 minutes. 
   
   Ruby and her group get together to finalize their information on their project. " Do we have everything on our poster board? And what about the staff,  what do we know on it?" 

      John perks up, "Yes,  we have everything on the board,"  John goes to check the black and red glittery decorated poster board reading off the list of topics, "intro, what is it,  what does it do,  where we found it,  history,  pictures,  we have everything covered."

     "Great and the staff?" "The staff is safely tucked away in my backpack.", Brad reports.

     "Your ten minutes are up and now it's time to present.  I can't wait to see what you're all presenting. Since you already know what you're presenting,  I will just see if you have everything that I requested of you... Even the extra stuff." Boulis says with an evil smirk staring directly at Ruby making her shudder.

  "Tommy,  Duncan and Ashley,  you're up with your replica crown of Queen Nephora.  I'm not sure how you got that since it wasn't on display,  but just know that if you mess up,  it counts against your grade and you will be suspended for theft." He smirks again hoping they screw it up.

     Duncan stands up first followed by Tommy and Ashley with Ashley holding the poster board and Tommy holding the crown and Duncan setting up the PowerPoint.

     Ashley explains the history,  the introduction of and the crown itself.  Tommy explains the what does it do,  where they found it and the pictures that they took in detailed quality while Duncan navigates through the slides. The entire presentation lasts for about five minutes followed swiftly by two or three questions.

     The next two presentations are followed by pretty much the same routine with two group members each telling one half of their item and  the other group member navigating through the visual aids. 

     Some of the items include the crown replica, the staff,  a scroll from Her personal cupboard hoping their team gets bonus points,  an urn,  and some fibers from the long flowing silk robes that she wore.

     It came time for Ruby's group to present their staff to the class and most importantly,  to Boulis. 

     As they start to come to the front of the classroom with John carrying the staff and Ruby holding the poster board,  the staff in John's hands start to rattle,  at first lightly and then more violently.

     John,  freaked out from the staff rattling,  drops it in a confused panic and Ruby,  anxious not to fail the project and the class swiftly hands John the poster board. 

     Boulis had said that if they were to stop presenting at any point in time during the presentation,  their grade was to automatically fall to 50%. 

     Even if that group was to make straight A's throughout the rest of the term,  it would be nearly impossible for them to pass the class without remedial.

     When Ruby tries to pick up the staff from the carpet,  the staff  suddenly turns from a very solid wooden staff to a slender pillows soft gel that spenders up and around Ruby's fingers that wraps around her right middle finger to form a nice size carved band with a giant ruby melted on the center.

     Boulis smiles at the scene while a confused Ruby figures out what just happened and why no one saw it. In that instant that the staff transformed into the ring,  five to ten minutes had gone by. 

     "Congratulations,  Ruby, John and Brad for passing the first part of the project. The other part,  your papers,  will be graded soon enough as these projects are graded." The bell rings as Boulis makes his final remarks and everyone files out of the class.

     After school,  Boulis goes into the basement,  deep into the basement to talk to Ruby's father in an old cave under the school. Her father stretches out his football field long wings and long scaly thick four legged body to sit up at attention to see who calls him out of slumber.

     Boulis reports, "Ruby's  transformation is complete and it shouldn't be long before she starts to experience what she is turning into.  I can't  follow her because it will seem creepy,  but I do have someone in mind and I know he will be very reluctant to comply."

     "Great,  get on that so she won't be alone in her transformation. I want my daughter to have a friend in  her time of need." Her father smiles widely and goes back to sleep.

*Please be sure to comment.  Your opinions are highly appreciated.