There are so many things that I don't know about myself. I don't know if I'll ever be able to dance, I don't know if I'll ever be able to get through a screening of The Titanic without crying, and until a fe weeks ago I had no idea of how much a carbon atom does.
After learning about carbon atoms in my Honors Biology class I became curious. So that night I decided to try to talk to a carbon atom. After saying hello a few times one currently residing in my hand finally spoke up. I had no idea of what I was about to learn.
Little Carbon Junior had been in my hand for a few days now, and compared to his other adventures my hand was probably pretty boring. C.J. told me of his experience in working with ATP and NADPH during the process of photosynthesis. ATP and NADPH are notoriously rude molecules, so when C.J. found himself in a sunflower in August of 1939 he was pleasantly surprised at NADPH and ATP's welcoming and positive attitudes. Together, the three of them produced glucose for the sunflower.
C.J. then told me about how neglected he often felt. After being used in photosynthesis poor little Carbon Junior was simply tossed aside as a waste product. After this happens he often just floats around the world. Once when he was in London he found himself inside the body of the queen of England! Queenie never even thanked him for participating in her cellular respiration. She obviously didn't know how important carbon atoms become when produced in the Krebs Cycle.
After hearing about all of the mitochondria and stromas little C.J. had lived in I became curious. So of course I asked him how he wound up inside of me? C.J. just laughed and said that I should really be more careful about what I eat. Apparently I picked up my new friend while eating grass outside of Kehaya. I made C.J. promise not to tell anyone else about that story.
I had assumed that C.J. would keep his promise, but then a signed copy of his biography appeared on my front porch. I wouldn't want to spoil such a good read for you, so I'll just tell you one thing. Queen Elizabeth is probably much more angry than I am...
