[color=fff200][h2][i]Corrie Strickman[/i][/h2][/color]

[color=fff200][h3][i]Avian Dorm[/i][/h3][/color]

As Corrie first opened her eyes and quickly adjusted to the dark room, she tensed in fear. This wasn't her dorm! It was too... [b]clean![/b] Where was she??

Three seconds later, the owl released a groan and shut her eyes again in shame. She recalled the long evening of organizing, vacuuming, scrubbing... alongside some family members who decided to hold an intervention. Who knows how they ever discovered her hidden shame in the first place.

Well, there was one possible suspect. As Corrie scrolled through her phone during breakfast, she noticed a late-night email. The owl tensed again and reluctantly opened it.

[right]Greetings, Cordeliamycinth.

I have performed a brief qualitative analysis for you of readily available literature surrounding the topic of proper cleanliness. The aforementioned publications propose the general conclusion that discipline and prioritization exceed knowledge and skill in the aforementioned realm of essential independent habitation. I have attached a pertinent article on time management exercises which you may find beneficial to your endeavor for self-improvement without demanding excessive portions of your level of mental reserves. Additional links may be procured upon request.

Best Regards,
Robertimotheus Strickman[/right]

Corrie flushed with indignation. The bird furiously tapped out a reply email. When she finished, she took a deep breath and walked to the kitchen to add some more sugar to her coffee. Upon return, she deleted the entire unsent email. She then reworded the unforgivably rash message into a "polite but firm" reply.

[right]Salutations, Robertimotheus.

I do commend your efforts to provide aid above and beyond the customary duties of a sibling. However, I must regrettably inform you of the redundancy of your aforementioned analysis. I am already quite well-versed in the subjects of time management and prioritization. As evidence, you may consider my achievement of procuring all A's this preliminary semester, thus dexterously avoiding the pitfall of the 'small fish in a big pond' phenomena that certain animals feared to be a present danger to myself. I understood the abundance of time necessary to prepare for upmost success during final exams and thus elected to forego the soft deadline of cleansing in favor of the immutable deadline of final exams. I do appreciate your concern, and rest assured that I will request your aid if it is genuinely necessary.

Sincerely,
Cordeliamycinth Strickman[/right]

Satisfied (a little), Corrie finished her last bites of Roach Krispies. She spent some time deciding on an [url=https://mash-elle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_0322.jpg]outfit to suit the occasion.[/url] By the time she was dressed and ready to brave a crowded carnival, she had received another email.

[right]Greetings, Cordeliamycinth.

I acknowledge your declination of further assistance. However, do comprehend that any such attempts to enhance your quality of life stem from a sincere desire for the well-being of my kin. I must express some dismay at the lack of appreciation shown, not for my own gratification, but out of concern for future consequences to yourself should you replicate this behavior among less forgiving animals. I wish to help less fortunate animals out of the goodness of my heart, Cordeliamycinth, though you must not expect all animals to share the same sentiment. I wish you the best in your further studies.

Warmest Regards,
Robertimotheus Strickman

P.S. When one refers to a singular event, one should employ the word "phenomenon" as opposed to the plural "phenomena."[/right]

Corrie gritted her beak in anger. Then she blushed in shame. Then she hung her head at the shame of getting angry, and angry that she was shamed. It was impossible to explain how such proper and helpful words evoked such a sickening feeling.

Corrie considered replying for a minute, but there was no winning against the pre-law major. The owl set her phone down and curled up under her blanket. Technically, Corrie didn't [i]need[/i] to be at the carnival until 2, and she was just too... [i]tired[/i] to get there quite yet.

[i]So what if I'm inferior to Robertimotheus? I am still a genius. I am still superior to most of the students, remember that. Nobody can take that away. I am better than most, and that's good enough. That's good enough...[/i]