//------------------------------// // Cobalt's Presentation // Story: Articulate // by Starlight Uplifting //------------------------------// Before class started. Cobalt Jet went to talk to our teacher about the presentations today. I secretly followed to hear what was being said. Not to exploit it, but to see if my presentation will have any effect. I got close to the door. It was cracked open. "P-please, Ms. Cardinal, I can't p-present in front o-of everyone. I-I get really a-anxious...because I have s-social anxi-" Cobalt pleaded. "Everypony gets nervous, you'll present today. Do I make myself clear?" Ms. Cardinal said firmly. "I-it's not just being n-nervous. You don't u-understand." He replied. "DO I make myself clear?" She repeated in her professional voice, emphasizing she doesn't care. "I g-guess..." Cobalt whimpered, I hurried back to where we normally talked. The quiet area next to the library. Where nopony hung out. He had the hood of his sweatshirt up over his head, and I knew what that meant. He was going to cry. I quickly went up to him. "It didn't go well did it?" I asked, he nodded weakly. Looking up at me, he wasn't crying. His eyes were hurt, but not wet. His jaw was clenched, as if he was trying to hold in a flood of emotion. I gently hugged him. I didn't think getting to high school would keep him in such a stink. He didn't hug back. He sat the look still on his face. I had to resist doing anything to fulfil my hopes. He was my best friend. And I was his only friend. He had anxiety attacks in crowds. Sometimes just being in class was hard for him. This presentation might just set him over the edge. I didn't want to see that. What could I do...? My presentation, intended to tell them what social anxiety does to a pony would be after Cobalt's. His was about psychiatric disasters and unethical experiments. I don't know if he'll get through the whole thing before he freezes up. I might have to intervene He looked towards the courtyard area, where there were dozens of ponies chatting. Students, security, janitors, teachers. His head lowered. I lifted his chin up, "Hey, you'll be okay. I want you to know that even if everyone else is laughing, I'll be silent. I'll be hoping you can get through this. You need to be strong. Do it for me, not for the grade. Please?" "But..Greyscale...I can't. You know that." Cobalt said hopelessly. Then an idea hit me. "Pretend you're presenting to me. I sit in the back in the middle. Focus on me and you'll be fine. You never stutter when talking to me. So present like you're speaking to me. You can do that right?" "Maybe. What if I mess up? What if I'm too quiet? What if.." I gently covered his mouth. "Worrying about 'what if' is a mistake. Focus on 'I can'. Think of things you're good at when it comes to these presentations." I say kindly. He thinks, "I can do great research, I can focus, I can hide my fear. I can do this. I can." He says going from weakly muttering to determinedly speaking. "There you go. Just keep your eyes at my eyes. And you can do this!" I say getting him to stand confidently. He smiles. "What did I do to earn your support?" He asked. "You are my friend, right? Obviously friends must work as a team." "Damn straight." He says. My jaw drops. He never swears. Unless he is... Confident. We sit down, waiting for the presentation. He looks determined. Unafraid. For he has a tactic. He looks at me and winks as his name is called. He trots up with a smile. And looks right at me as his PowerPoint begins. He begins to speak, no stutters and perfect volume. "My presentation is about the unethical psychological experiments conducted in history. Such as the Stagford Prison Experiments. Where men were given roles as guards and prisoners. But the experiment let the guards enact violent actions against the prisoners." He was doing well, I flash a smile. He seems to be happy with this reaction. He suddenly looks across the room and says. "Most of these experiments were conducted because of a misunderstanding. Power structures are around us all the time, and trying to prove that they are bad is a mistake. Thus, I believe we have to restructure for future experimentations." His eye lock back in on mine, and I understand what he did. He made himself look around so he wouldn't call attention to who he was looking at. Smart. He smiles as he says, "...Furthermore, anyone in here could one day be a participant in a study without consent. Some ponies could even consider stalking a pony as naturalistic observations. Which is bizarre if you think about it. Because I can affirm that none of you would like to be observed without consent." He managed to finish the presentation. And even answered a few questions without problems. He sat down in his seat next to me. And whispered "Thank you." But that was only half of the help I'd be giving him.