American Girl (Wyoming)(Lea Sheryn) Wyoming

Tennyson Flowers squatted over the wire grate, sifting through the bits and pieces left behind. The long, hard object felt heavy in her hand. Dunking her brush into the pail of water beside her, she deftly cleaned the ivory piece. A tooth. She worked to thoroughly clean it before calling out to Burke Milk. The paleontologist professor didn't hear her. He was busy examining another find.
Tennyson carefully cataloged the fossil and placed it in a plastic bag. Using a black marker, she wrote the date on the bag and the word 'tooth.' Then she added Wyoming. Grasping the brush again, she swiped in the sand. A hard place emerged. Following the outline, she discovered it grew larger and larger.
"Professor Milk," she cried, rising. Her teacher remained deaf to her exclamation. Tennyson hurried to his side and, tugging his sleeve, drew his attention. "I found something."
"In a minute, Miss Flowers," Burke Milk dismissed her. He held a tooth similar to the one she recently uncovered. Clapping his hands, he gathered the paleontology group together.
Tennyson remained on the outskirts, listening to him describe the fossil he held. After twenty minutes of steady lecturing, she could no longer hold on. Interrupting, she exclaimed that she uncovered something more significant than a tooth.
The Professor chastised her for interrupting. Tennyson held her breath and counted to ten. Again, she tried to explain. Her teacher cut her off, explaining he was in the middle of a teachable moment. Tennyson turned away, folding her arms across her body. She kicked at a clump of dirt.
"Patience is a sign of a good paleontologist," Professor Milk snapped, interrupting himself. "If you are unwilling to show patience, you will fail this course, Miss Flowers. Perhaps you should find a different major."
Tennyson's temper rose. She felt her skin heat up. Ever since she was a little girl, she had wanted to study paleontology. Dinosaurs and the world before man thrilled her. She worked hard to get a scholarship and find the right university. Professor Milk was highly acclaimed in his field. Tennyson wanted to study with the best, but he had something against her. He made little of all her essential discoveries.
"I FOUND SOMETHING HUGE!" she screamed, hands on hips. "DON'T YOU CARE? DON'T YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT?"
"Don't raise your voice, Miss Flowers," the Professor hissed, clenching his teeth. "You will fail my class if you do not control yourself."
"Fine, I'll fail your class," Tennyson sobbed, turning away, "but I think I found a Triceratops. I'm beginning to outline it. I thought you would want to know." Hanging her head, she walked to her dig site.
Squatting, Tennyson went back to work. Carefully, she followed the fossil's outline. She wanted to know for sure, even if her Professor wasn't interested. As she worked, Professor Milk appeared at her side. He also began removing the dirt. Finally, he leaned back on his heels and conceded to her discovery.
"May I have your attention, please," he stated, rising. Clapping his hands, he gathered the class. "We have made a significant discovery." He indicated their position. "I want everyone working in this area."
The class fell to its knees and began scraping at the dirt. Tennyson remained at the Professor's side for most of the afternoon. Her heart welled with pride in her discovery. The fossilized dinosaur's jaw emerged. Professor Milk pointed out the shape using his walking stick, indicating it was a Triceratops. He invited Tennyson to join the discussion.
"Triceratops," she began knowledgeably. "genus: chasmosaurine ceratopsian dinosaur. It roamed the earth approximately 68 million years ago in the late Maastrichtian age. A part of the late Cretaceous period. It was one of the last non-avian dinosaurs. It lived until the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. Its name translation means three-horned face."
"As you can see," the Professor picked up, "its horns are just emerging as you continue to dig." He indicated the area with his stick.
"Triceratops is classified as an herbivore," Tennison continued, meaning it only ate plants. “It defended itself using the horns on its head. Its most prevalent enemy was Tyrannosaurus Rex, a carnivore."
Charlie Biggs waved his hand frantically, seeking attention. Tennyson swung her eyes in his direction, and the Professor called on him.
"Stegosaurus and Diplodocus are known to have lived in Wyoming, too," Charlie offered, grinning widely. "Don't forget them."
"Thank you for the information, Charlie," Professor Milk acknowledged dismissively. Fossils of both dinosaurs were recently discovered in these parts. We are now studying Triceratops. If we discover more fossils, we'll touch on the others."
Charlie merged into the group with his head bowed. Tennyson didn't appreciate the Professor's tone. She felt he was too indifferent concerning the information her classmate offered.
They continued to uncover the fossilized dinosaur until darkness fell. Carefully cordoning off the find, the class returned to their nearby camp. Sitting around a roaring fire, the group continued to discuss the Triceratops. The conversation turned to the Cretaceous period and the creatures who roamed the earth during that time. Many students pumped Tennyson for information. She suddenly became the center of attention.
Tennyson felt good when the group split up for the night. For the first time, she thought she accomplished something significant. Professor Milk acknowledged her abilities instead of dismissing her attempts to learn. It was the break-thru she sought.
"Great day for you," Monet Blake stated as they strolled toward their shared tent. "Wish it was me."
"I just got lucky," Tennyson shrugged. She liked the dark-skinned girl, although they weren't close friends. "Maybe you'll find something tomorrow."
"Probably not," Monet answered. "There's usually only one big discovery on these digs, if anything. Most times, it's just teeth and other random stuff."
"You never know." Tennyson smiled encouragingly.
"Can I see you a moment, Miss Flowers?" Professor Milk asked, stepping in front of the two young women.
"Of course." Tennyson smiled at her teacher. "I'll see you later, Monet."
Falling in step beside the Professor, Tennyson accompanied him to his large tent. She had never entered it previously. It was stuffed with tables containing paperwork, bagged fossils, and maps. Stacks of books lined the floor, and a single cot resided in the clutter's midst.
"Quite an accomplishment, Miss Flowers." Professor Milk smiled at her.
"I expect Beginner's luck," Tennyson shrugged. Picking up a paleontology book, she flipped through it. "I didn't do anything special."
"Oh, but you did, Miss Flowers." Burke Milk stepped close behind her. His hands clasped her shoulders, and he massaged her back. "Or may I call you Tennyson."
"If you please," the young student answered demurely.
"All right, Tennyson. And you can call me Burke." Deftly, the Professor bent to plant a kiss on her neck.
"I'd rather stick with Professor Milk if you don't mind." Tennyson's back straightened, and an uneasy feeling descended upon her. A thick silence fell between teacher and student.
"I always give my best students the very best of myself," the Professor finally stated. He turned Tennyson to face him and, pressing his body against hers, kissed her mouth.
Tennyson pushed her hands against the Professor's chest and shoved him. His grip tightened, and she felt his masculinity press against her body.
"Please, Professor." Tennyson struggled to free herself. "I…I have a boyfriend. We're going to live together next semester. I…"
"Mark Waxfield?" the Professor snorted with a derisive laugh. "A mere boy. You should start out with a man, not a child. I can teach you many things. I can make you my right hand and teach you everything you want to know. You'll become my assistant in more ways than one."
"I don't want to become your assistant," Tennyson cried, struggling earnestly. Once, perhaps earlier in the day, she would have given everything to work closely with her Professor. She longed to learn, to grow in her chosen profession. She sought the best of the best for instruction. Still, she would not give herself away cheaply for advancement.
"There are many ways to get ahead in this world, Miss Flowers," Burke Milk sneered. "I'm giving you one of them. I've taught many other young women, many successful ones, too. I'll give you all my knowledge if you give me one thing of yourself."
"That one thing is not for sale," Tennyson spit out. "Release me!" As she pulled away, her khaki shirt ripped, exposing her breasts.
"I just have." Professor Milk lifted her and placed her gently on his cot. Straddling her frozen body, he unzipped her shorts and pulled them downward. "Now, I'll release you of your inhibitions."
"Please," Tennyson cried, tears flowing down her reddened cheeks. "Oh please, someone help me."
"Tyrannosaurus Rex, genus theropod dinosaur." The voice reached Tennyson's ears from a far distance. "Also known as the Tyrant Lizard and colloquially as T-Rex, it lived in the American Northwest during the late Campanian-Maastrichtian age of the Cretaceous period or about 72 to 66 million years ago."
Tennyson squeezed her eyes shut. Professor Milk loomed above her. She wanted to wish herself far away. The voice droned on, then stopped.
"Tennyson?" Charlie Biggs asked, peering through his thick glasses.
"Charlie," Tennyson gasped, sitting up. She pulled her torn shirt over her exposed body. The Professor stood and pretended to study a bag of fossilized dung. "Please, Charlie, will you take me back to my tent?"
Her fellow student swallowed hard. He continued to ogle her before nodding his head slowly. Tennyson rushed to Charlie's side and, taking his arm walked briskly from the tent.
"Are you all right?" her companion asked when they reached her shelter.
"Yes, I'm…" Tears streaked Tennyson's cheeks. "No, Charlie, I'm not all right. Professor Milk tried to rape me." She swiped her face with her palms. "He wanted to exchange sex for my education."
"What are you going to do?" Charlie asked.
"I don't know," Tennyson wailed. "Paleontology means everything to me. I wanted to study and make a career out of discovering dinosaur fossils. Wyoming is the best place in North America to dig. I felt so good about the Triceratops."
"Expose him, Tennyson," Charlie suggested encouragingly. "I'll drive you to the Sheriff's office. Okay?"
"They won't do anything." Tennyson kicked at the dirt. "It's his word against mine, and he's the best of the best."
"You don't know unless you try. File a report."
Charlie Biggs drove Tennyson to the Sheriff's office. After she filed the report, the media picked up her story. Twelve other women emerged with similar stories about the Professor's behavior. Gathering together, they all filed a formal criminal report against him. Professor Milk was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to life without parole.
Tennyson Flowers continued to study paleontology. She enjoyed working closely with Professor Margot Tomlinson. Instead of focusing on her sexual assault, she built her career upon her discovery of the Triceratops. After years in the field, she became a Professor and continued to encourage others interested in her chosen field.

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