Twenty minutes flew past. Ivan allowed another five minutes before he called an end to the exercise.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen. Submit your pieces of paper and then resume your seat.”
Within two or three minutes, this was done. Most students submitted more than one piece of paper. Tristram noticed that Terry was last in line, and that he had a whole fistful of papers. Just before he arrived at the box, he suddenly and violently screwed them up into a tight ball. Then he sighed and placed it into Pandora’s box. He did not look at any one as he did this.
Ivan closed the lid on the large, beige cylinder and then crossed his arms, his face in serious thought.
The class waited in silence.
“Hands up those who want to read what’s in the jar?” Ivan asked finally.
No one responded, and a
