The Bond

ByRobbyAcklesandErickMedina

Chapter1:HenryHydrogen
Imaloner.Allmylife,Ihavebeenanindependent.Anoutcast.Wantsomebackground?Let
meexplain.
SocietyisruledbytheUnunoctiumfamily(specificallyMr.UngerUnunoctium),andeveryatom
livesinafamilysizedaccordinglywithitsrespectiveatomicnumberontheperiodictable.TheNitrogen
familyconsistsofsevenpeople,theZirconiumfamilyismadeupoffortypeople,andtheUnunoctium
familyhas,well...
Onehundredandeighteenpeople.HowmanyfamilymembersdoIhave,youmightask?
Zero.Imtheonlyone.Accordingtolawsestablishedalong,longtimeago,Iwillneverever
haveanysiblings.Thesizeofmyfamilywillbeforeverdependentonmyatomicnumbernobuts
aboutit.NomatterhowdesperateIamtohavealovingmotherorfatherorasisterIcouldhangoutwith
orabrotherIcouldrunaroundwith,itllalwaysbejustme.ThatswhyIwanttoBond.
ThetermBondisusedinourworldtodescribetherelationshipbetweentworomantically
attachedatoms.CertainatomscanonlyBondwithotheratoms,andthisconnectionisreliantuponeach
memberselementalproperties.LuckyforHalandHenriettaHelium,theyhavealreadyBondedandwill
beforevertogether.IfonlyIcouldfindsomeonethatIcouldcallmyinfinityandbeyond.
ForallofthefamiliesinthePeriodicTable,eachatomknowswheretheycamefrom.Lizzy
Lithiumwasborncourtesyoftwocaringparents,andsheisanonlychild.IndiaIndiumwasalsobornto
amotherandfather.HowaboutOsemeleOsmium?Check.ScarlettScandium?Ofcourse.
Noticeatrendthatdoesntapplytome?
IhavenoideawhereIcamefrom.RumorhasitthatIwasdiscoveredwaybackin1766B.P.T.
(BeforePeriodicTime)byHenryCavendish,somescientistdude.HencemynameHenry.Icantlog
ontoancestry.comtofindoutwhomyparentsorgrandparentswere.Ilivelifebymyownstandards,yetI
havenootherchoice.
SinceIdonthaveasolidfamilybackground,IoftenconsultmyneighborCarlyCarbonfor
Bondingadvice.ShelivesintheNonmetalNook,too.Carlyismybestfriend,andIcanalwayscounton
hertokeepanysecretsImighthave.(EvenifIhaveneverhadasecretinmylife.Whatistheretohide?)
IdontthinkofherasbeingapossibleBondingpartner,ohno.Iliketokeepmyfriendsseparatefrom
prospectivelovematesforthefuture.
Itisnow4:31p.t.(periodictime).Iwanderaroundthekitcheninmytiny,darkapartment.The
mossgreenpaintonthewallsisdecaying,andthescratchedfloorboardscreakunderme.Iamtryingto
developanewstrategyforcookingmealsformyself,sincePeriodicBanquetsonlyhappenonceamonth.
Everyteenatommyagehasamotherorfathertomakethemfood.ButIdont.Whatelseisnew?
Iwouldcomplainthatmylifeisunfair,butitsnot.IalwaysthinkabouttheUnunoctiumfamily,
andhowmiserablethekidsmustbehavingtolivewithonehundredandfifteenothersiblings.Theyare
infactthemostwealthyoutofallofthefamilies,butIstilldontunderstandhowtheycanmanagetopay
theirPeriodicbillswithallthosepeopleinonehouse.
Ohyeah,theirfathermakesallthelaws.Iforgot.

IpickupmyoutdatedtelephonetocallCarly.ItisinmomentslikethesewhenIfeelmost
lonely.Idialhernumber:(666)6666666.(Itsnotdemonic,trustme.Nothingscaryhashappenedto
me.Yet.)
Ihearthephoneringtwice.
HowdoHydrogen,OxygenandLanthanumsayhello?
Carly,thisisntoneofthosepuns,isit?
HOLa!shelaughed.Icouldnthelpbutsnicker.Carlyalwaysknewhowtocheermeup.
Whatsup,Henry?Nowshehadenteredseriousmode.
Nothing.
Nothing?ThenIbetterhangup
Wait!ThereactuallyissomethingIwantedtotalktoyouabout.
Sure.Whatisit?
Ivebeendepressedlately.
Why?IcouldtellCarlywaslegitimatelyconcerned.
IdontknowhowImgonnaBondinthefuture.Noonewantstolivewithaloner.
Oh,HenryItotallyforgottotellyou!ApparentlytheyreTheUnunoctiumarehavingsome
typeofdatemixerthingforallofthesingleatomsinthenextfewweeks.Everyonesinvited!
Evenme?Henryasked.Hisheartstartedracing.
Ofcourse,yousilly.Youreanatom,right?
Mmmhmm.Henrythoughtaboutthis,andaglimmerofhopemadeitswayintohismind.
Thenyoureinvited!Oh...holdon
What?
SorryHenry,Ivegottago.Talktoyoulater.DontwantPopstoyellatme.
Okay.ByCarly.
ByeHenry.
Henrysmiledandsetdownthephone.Ifthismeetupthingwasreallyhappening,itwashis
chancetoshineandshowthePeriodicTablethathewasaworthybachelor.

Chapter2:UnaUnunoctium
SometimesIwishthatmylifewaslikeinmydrawingpad.Igettoliveinahomewithanother
atom,andIgettocomevisitmyonehundredandseventeenfamilymemberseveryonceinawhile.Yet
whenItellmybrotheraboutmydreamsofalifeoutsideofNobleGasneighborhoodmybrotherjusttells
methatImusthavelostanatom.YetsometimesIwishthatmylifewaslikeIdrewitinthepages.Smiles
oneveryonesfaces,andabigroomalltomyself.Yetmyfatherwoulddisagreetosuchalife.Mostly
becauseheisthepresidentofthePeriodTablesoifheeverfoundoutaboutmydreamsIamsurethathe
woulddismissthemimmediately.
Whatareyoudaydreamingabout?"mybrotheraskedmeashewalkedintomyroom.Iquickly
putmysketchbookaway.
NoneofyourbusinessUriah,Itoldhim,closingthedrawer.
Letmeguess,youwerebeingsickinthenucleusanddreamingaboutadifferentuniverseagain,
weren'tyou?"heaskedme.

No.IwasjustdrawingwhatIseeoutsidemywindow,"Ilied,lookingoutthewindow.IknewI
hadtochangethesubjectsoIquicklyasked,Whatbringsyoutomyhumbleroomatthistimeinthe
morning?
OhIwasjustwalkingdownthehallwaywhenIwonderedwhatmy
lovely
sisterwasdoing,"he
toldmewithastupidgrinonhisface.
Wellnowyouknow,ItoldhimasIsignaledforhimtokindlyexittheroom.Herolledhiseyes,
andthenlefttheroom.Ithenopenedmydrawer,andgotmysketchbookupagain.Istarteddreamingofa
differentlifeagain,butthenmybrotherstormedintomyroom.
DidIforgettomentionthatfatherwantstoseeyoudownstairs?"heaskedmewiththesame
dumbsmileonhisfaceasIquicklyputmysketchbookundermypillow.Ithengotup,andwalkedallthe
waydownstairstoseehim.
***
"Goodmorning,daddy,"ItoldmyfatherwarmlyasIwalkedintohisoffice.AsIlookedaround
theroomIwasimpressedbyallthatwashunginthewall.Therewasalistofpeoplethatlivedinthe
PeriodTable,andtherewereabunchofawardsandcertificatesofrandomstuffmyfatherdoesaround
town.Itneverfailedtoamazemethenumberofdecorationshehadonthewall.
"Goodmorning,"hetoldme.IfakedasmiledbecauseatthistimeIknewthathedidn'tknow
whatmynamewas."HowcanIhelpyoudad?"
"Wellyouseeweareplanningonhavinganeventinwhichatomscanmeetotheratoms,and
possiblybondandIwasjustwonderingifyouwantedtoyouknowifyoucanifyouwannadodaddy
afavorbyplanningtheevent,"hetoldme.Iknewbetterthantoneglectanyofhisideas.Fatherwould
nevertalktomeagain.
"Ofcoursedaddy,"Itoldhim,continuingmyfakesmile.
"Perfect!"heexclaimed."Nowstartplanningbecauseeverythingneedstobereadyby
tomorrow."IknewtherewasnowayIwasgoingtoplanthiswholethinginaday,butIalsoknewbetter
thantotellmydadthathisplanswerenotlogical.Thatwashisassistant'sjobafterall.Iwalkedoutofthe
roomtoseeUriahwaitingoutside.Thedoorclosedbehindme.
"Sodadaskedyoutodoataskforhim?"heaskedme,barelyabletocontainhislaughter.
"Yes,andyou'regoingtohelpme,"Itoldhim.Ithengrabbedhimbytheshirt,andbroughthim
tomyroom.
***
"Weshouldcallitsomethingsimple,"Uriahtoldmeashecontinuedtowritedownourideason
thepieceofpaper.
"Idon'tthink'FindYourOtherAtomInTwentySeconds'isalongname.Ialsothinkthatitis
verydescriptive,"Itoldhim.
"Iknowhowaboutwecallit'SpeedDatingConvention',"hesuggested.Ithoughtaboutitfor
asecond,butIthennoticedthathewroteitdownonthepieceofpapersoIdecidedtojustmoveon.
"Wellitlookslike
I
haveeverythingplanned,"ItoldhimwhileIsnatchedthepiecesofpaper
fromhishands."ImagineitUriah.Alloftheelementswalkingaroundtheconventionlookingfortheir
otheratoms.It'sgonnabe
so
romantic.WhoknowsmaybeifI'mluckyI'llfindanotherhalf,andthen,"
Iwasstoppedbymyfatherwalkingintotheroom.
"Whatareyoutalkingabout!"heyelledfromthetopofhislungs."YouareNOTtoparticipatein
thisactivity."Istoodupinshock.


Chapter3:HenryHydrogen
Icouldntcontainmyexcitement.Todaywasthedayofthe1stAnnualSpeedDating
Convention,presentedbynoneotherthantheUnunoctiumFamily.
TodaywasthedaythatIcouldBond.
IhoppedinmybeatupHydrocarandraceddownthehighway.TheNobleGasNeighborhood,
wheretheeventwastakingplace,wasontheothersideofthePeriodicTable.Ididntwanttobelate.
OnceIgotoffthebusyindustrialstreets,Iheadedeast,coastingpastTransitionTrailand
PostTransitionPark,andsoonthefieldsofMetalloidMeadowswerebehindme.Idroveafewmore
milesthroughthecityskylineofHalogenHeights,andeventuallyIhadarrivedattheapproximate
locationoftheconvention.Alargebluestructuretoweredoverme,andIimmediatelyrecognizeditas
thePeriodicTableGovernmentBuilding.Thereweremanyothercarsparkedinfrontoftheprestigious
building,soItookmycarandstoppeditonthesideoftheroad.Ihoppedoutandpressedthedoorshut,
notwantingtomaketoomuchnoise.Ithoughtthatmaybebyactingconservatively,Icouldfitin.I
knewtherewasachanceIcouldbesingledoutformyfamilystatus,andIdid
not
wanttobeembarrassed
infrontoftheentirecommunity.
OncemycarwasinasecureplaceandIwasconfidenttomoveforward,Inearedclosertothe
frontdoorsofthebuilding.Itookadeepbreathandruffledmyhandthroughmyshockofhair.Icould
sensemyelectronbuzzing,andIwasgenuinelyexcitedtofindmymatch.
Thenahintofdoubtcreepedinmymind.

Chapter4:UnaUnunoctium
Myfathertoldmetogotohisofficeimmediately,andIwentdownstairsrunning.Iwalkedinto
hisroom,andthistimetheroomlookeddifferent.Thelightsweredim,andeverythingonthewalllooked
muchscarieranddark.
"Didyoufinishplanningtheevent?"heaskedmewhilehewashanginganotheroneofhis
awards.Everythingintheroomwasdark.Ididn'tknowifIwasexpectedtoanswerorifhewasgoingto
gostraighttotheyelling.
"Letmerepeatmyself.DIDYOUFINISHPLANNINGTHEEVENT!?"heyelledsoloudthatI
thoughtthatmyearsweregoingtoexplode.Itookadeepbreath.
"Yesdaddy,"Isaidinaveryquiettone.
"Good,"hesaid."Isthereanythingelseyouwanttotellme?"Istoodthereinhisoffice,andlooks
aroundtheroom.IstartedtohopethatwouldhappensothatIdidn'thavetohelphim.Luckily,aftera
couplemoresecondsofsilenceUriahraninside.
"Itwasmyfault,"hetoldourfather."Ipressuredherintosayingthatasabetshedidn'tmeanto
sayanyofthat.Sheknowsthatshecan'tdateanybodybecausethatisjustnotright.Wealreadyhaveone
hundredandeighteenpeopleinourfamily.Wecan'thavemore."WhenUriahsaidthatmyheartinstantly
broke.ItseemedlikeeverythingthatIhadspentmytimedrawingonpaperhadburntdowninflames.I
didn'tknowthatthereweremoreoftheseuselessrules.
"TellhimUma,"Uriahtoldmeashewasstaringatmeintensely."Telldadthatyoualreadyknew
that."
"I,"Ihadaatomicbreakdown.Ididn'twanttoanswerbecauseofthesimplereasonthatIdidn't
knowhowtoanswer.Ididn'twantUriahtogetintroubleforlying,butIdidn'twantdadtoknowabout

myscandalousdreams."...IofcourseIalreadyknew.Goshdadhowdidn'tyoufigureoutthatitwas
justabet."
"Good!"heyelledashewaswalkingaroundhisdesknearwhereUriahandIwerestanding.
"Noneofyoubetterdreamaboutjoiningorevenleavingthisfamilybecausewealreadyhavethecorrect
numberofpeopleinourfamily.Wecannothaveonemore,andwecannothaveoneless.Nowgoget
somerestkidsbecausetomorrowtheeventisgoingtohappen,andnoneofuscansnoozeforevena
second."Hethentoldustoleavehisoffice,andonceagainIheardthedoorsshutbehindme.
"Thanksforthehelp,"ItoldUriah.Ithengavehimabighug.
"Youwelcome,"hesaidwiththesamestupidsmileonhisface."Nowlet'sgotosleep,anddon't
eversayanythingaboutlove,andwhatnot."
***
ThenextdayalloftheatomsweregatheredinNobleGasNeighborhood.Therewereatomsinthe
allcansee,andeverywherearoundustheatomsweregettingreadyfortheevent.Thepurposeoftoday
wasthatallatomsweregoingtohaveabouttwentytothirtysecondstotalktoeachatom.Afterawhileof
rotating,andtalkingtoseveralatomstheyweregoingtoafterwardsgotothebigfield,andseeifthey
couldfindtheirfavoriteatoms.
"Everythingissetup,"Uriahtoldmeashewalkedbackfromthebigfield."Allofthefood,and
chairshavebeenplaced,andwehavestartedtopassoutthenumberstomakeeachatomalittlemore
memorable."
"Okay,"Isaidexcitedly."UriahcanIaskyousomething?"
"What?"heresponded.
"WellyouknowhowIfoundthistobereallyimportantand,"ItoldhimshylybeforeI
wasinterruptedbyhim,
"Yesyoucanparticipate,"hetoldme.
"Really!"Irespondedinshock.Icouldn'tbelievethathewasgoingtoletmedothis.
"YeahjustthattrynottogetcaughtbecausethenIcan'thelpyou,"hetoldme.Ithenrantomy
housebecauseIknewtheperfectdisguise.ForonewholedayIwasnolongeraUnunoctium.
***
IputonarippedupdressedIlikeskintight,andputmyhairuprealbad.Nobodywillneverknow
thatIamaNobleGas.TheywillprobablythinkthatIamfromNonmetalNook.Iwalkeduptothe
machinethatwouldautomaticallyrandomizetheatomsthatyouwouldtalkto.ThatiswhenIsaw
him
.
Hemusthavetotallyhadelevenprotonsbecausehewassodiumfine.IdecidedthatIwasgoingtodo
anythingtotalktohimwhenitwastimetoheadtowardsthebigfield.Anything.

Chapter5:HenryHydrogen

Chapter6:UmaUnunoctium
Theeventbeganwithaverymonumentalamountofatomsgettingreadyfortheevent.Isawthe
masterplanofwhereeverybodywasgoingtobe,andImadethecalculationssothatmistersodiumandI
wouldeventuallygetthirtysecondstospeeddate.
"SostartoffbygoingthreetimestotheleftUriah,"Iinstructedhim.Tellinghimtomakesure
thatmymasterplanwentthewayIplannedit.

"Okay.Youbettergogetinsideoneofthecontraptionsinordertobepartoftheactivity,"hetold
me.Ithenrantomypartofthelocation