Alternate Reality: Drugs

Professor Alfred Hopkins glanced at his watch, and saw that the time was 2:53. "Okay class, I'll see you on Monday. Remember that the test will be an essay based examination on some aspect of the operations of the British Central American Company between the years of 1650 and 1800." As the class filed out of the lecture hall, he gathered up his lecture notes and transparencies. As he was doing so, a chart labeled "Tea Exports: 1670 to 1770" fell to the floor and slipped under the podium.

After everyone had left, he turned off the lights, locked the doors, and headed back to his slightly cluttered office on the third floor. He tossed his disorganized notes onto his desk and settled into his slightly worn leather chair. He was tired. Never again would he agree to teach three lecture classes in a row. But he could not go home and relax, because the History Department's weekly staff meeting would begin in thirty minutes. He opened the bottom drawer of his desk and took out a box that was labeled, "Classic British Roast." He took a tea bag from the box, filled his mug with water, put the tea bag in, put the mug in the small microwave on the floor behind his desk, and set the timer to boil the water.

He was sipping his tea and reading the paper when Joseph Wagner stepped into his office. Hopkins greeted his friend and fellow professor, who appeared disturbed. Wagner quickly revealed what was on his mind. "Did you hear that they found caffeine paraphernalia in one of the fraternity houses?"

"No, I hadn't" replied Hopkins. "This will reflect badly on the university, especially after the Chancellor's drug prevention efforts." He glanced down at his paper. "It says here that the DEA and the Chinese authorities recently finished a bust on one of the major drug cartels operating out of the Indian subcontinent. Hopefully that will make it harder for the students to get their drugs."

"Don't bet on it," replied Wagner. "That area is full of farmers who need to grow caffeine to survive. A new cartel will take over, as always. They can still use connections that were formed when the stuff was legal."

"Yes, that is a problem. It is too bad that caffeine products used to be pretty widespread around the turn of the century, before they realized how dangerous it could be. They even used to put the stuff in Coca-Cola."

The two professors continued to chat about current events, while Hopkins finished his mug of tea. At 3:24 they left the office and headed toward the department conference room. Hopkins was now reasonably confident that he would not fall asleep during the department head's speech. His doctor had advised him to moderate his cocaine intake, but there were just some times when he needed a mild stimulant.