“There it is, kids,” Mr. C said proudly, standing on the sidewalk with his hands on his hips and a big smile on his face. “The new Applied Mathematics Building —the latest and greatest addition to Rutgers University!”
It was a most impressive structure, all steel and glass and concrete, shining majestically in the midmorning sun.
“It took them more than a year to build,” Maya said. “I read that on the Rutgers web site while I was listening to some new music.”
Simon nodded. “Since my dad’s a professor here, he got to see it go up a little at a time. He said they worked super hard on it.”
“And it was done with almost no impact to the environment,” Jamal added. “This was nothing more than an empty field here on Busch Campus. They didn’t have to knock down trees or anything, which is wonderful.”
“Oh, and speaking of that,” Chelsea went on, “please tell your dad thanks again for all the cool rocks, Simon.” Chelsea loved anything and everything relating to geology.
“No problem at all,” Simon replied. “They were all over the place while the construction people were working.”
Cooper made a face. “I really do love math. Y’know—how many hamburgers I can eat, how much hot dogs cost, stuff like that.”
Gabby rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t take a genius to know you’re going to have to start counting your calories one of these days, too.”
“Speaking of geniuses,” Mr. C said, checking his watch. “I believe Dr. Newton should be arriving any minute now….”
He and the six kids—who were known together as the Jersey Trackers—turned and looked excitedly toward the road. Dr. Trig Newton was one of the most famous mathematicians in the world. He had spent some of his early college years at Rutgers, and he was coming back now to dedicate the new building. There was going to be a brief ceremony in the main hall, followed by a lecture by Dr. Newton to explain a new mathematical theory he’d been developing. Other noted mathematicians from all over the world were going to watch via the Internet.
As the Trackers waited, a woman with blond hair and glasses, and dressed in a neat navy suit, came out of the new building. As she drew closer, the kids could see that her nametag read ‘MARGIE.’
