“Today, we will be discussing the North American system of weights, avoirdupois.” Dr. Gimlet adjusted his boutonnière, a lively red carnation tucked into his lapel, and continued: “Contrary to popular belief, the metric system is not the only system used in America. In fact..”

It was going to be another thrilling lecture, I could tell. Dr. Gimlet’s voice was prone to be monotonous, and the subject of the course, Obscure Physics, did not exactly lend itself towards exciting discussions.

I looked around his class, admiring the poster of a locomotive with its sturdy cowcatcher thrust forward. Then I noticed the gramophone on Dr. Gimlet’s desk. It had a dusty pile of old records on it. That hadn’t been there last class. Hmm..

“Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Smythe?” Dr. Gimlet’s voice suddenly cut through my reverie. I noticed the whole class was looking at me, waiting intently for my reply. Sad to say, this was not the first time I was brought back to reality in media res with no idea of what was going on.