Let Me Prove It

My buddy Bill had been studying in Germany for three years. But even after he finished his studies, he refused to leave. Instead, he insisted on coming with me to teach in a poor mountainous area, saying he wanted to do his part for rural education in Germany.

One day, Bill and I finally made it to a remote village school deep in the mountains. The moment we arrived, we caused quite a stir in the tiny village. Villagers brought us all kinds of local specialties, and the warm welcome overwhelmed Bill. He promised he would teach the kids well and live up to their kindness. And so, Bill and I settled in the village, doing our best to teach the children.

One morning, Bill suddenly rushed into my office, all fired up, and told me he wanted to start a health class for the students. He’d noticed that the sweet, innocent mountain kids had zero basic knowledge about their bodies—some had even been misled by their parents. Bill said he had to set them straight.

I laughed and asked how he planned to explain it to kids who knew nothing about human biology. Bill said confidently, “Just wait and see.”

After careful preparation, the first-ever health class in the village school began. I was invited to sit in. Bill hung up a human anatomy chart he’d somehow gotten hold of and asked the kids seriously, “Do you know where you came from?”

The kids burst out laughing. One boy named Sam raised his hand and said, “Teacher, my grandpa said I fell out of his pipe when he tapped the ashes out.”

Then Lisa shyly stood up and said, “My mom said she found me when she was picking wild vegetables on the mountain.”

One by one, the kids excitedly shouted out their answers. But among all those crazy stories, not a single one mentioned growing inside their mother’s belly.

Bill shook his head. He pointed at the chart and explained everything in detail, but the kids still wouldn’t buy it. Finally, Bill patted his 6-foot-tall frame and said, “I also grew inside my mom’s stomach!”

The kids stared at the tall, strong foreign teacher and asked doubtfully, “Your mom’s stomach is so small, and you’re so big—how could you fit in there?”

The kids just wouldn’t believe him. Bill started sweating. He thought for a moment, then announced seriously, “I’m gonna prove to you exactly where humans come from!”

After class, I pulled Bill aside and worriedly asked, “How can you possibly prove it? Maybe just let it go. The kids will figure it out when they’re older.”

But Bill was determined. “No. I have to make them believe what I’m saying is true.”

For the next few days, Bill busied himself in secret. He hiked all the way to the county town, then locked himself in his room to prepare. Finally, his lesson was ready.

Before class, Bill found me and asked me to help him with this special lesson. I scratched my head, embarrassed. “What can I do? Proving where people come from isn’t exactly easy!”

Bill grinned mischievously and whispered in my ear, “It’s a secret for now. Don’t worry—I just need to borrow you for a bit.”

My face turned bright red. What on earth was Bill planning?

Right before class, Bill carried a small glass cabinet to the front of the classroom. The kids cheered, clapping excitedly. “The teacher’s gonna do magic!”

But Bill was dead serious. “This isn’t a trick. I meant what I said, so today I’m gonna show you exactly where human beings come from!”

The kids widened their curious eyes and stared at the foreign teacher. Bill quietly took off his coat, revealing a tight-fitting shirt underneath. Then he started stretching on the stage, warming up. I froze.

Then Bill turned to me and smiled. “Come up here and stand next to me!”

The students giggled. My face turned red again. What was Bill doing? Wearing a tight shirt, stretching all over the place, and making me stand next to him in class?

When I walked up, Bill handed me a piece of paper. He stopped smiling, stood quietly in front of the glass cabinet, closed his eyes, and put his hands together in prayer. He looked completely focused, like he was in a trance.

I unfolded the note—and immediately understood. But my heart started racing for Bill.

Slowly, Bill bent his tall body. He put one leg into the open side of the glass cabinet, then tucked his head down. His body, once stiff, suddenly seemed as flexible as rubber. He carefully squeezed himself inside the cabinet. After a little adjusting, Bill curled up inside the glass cabinet exactly like an unborn baby in the womb.

I was truly impressed. Bill could do yoga—like, master-level yoga. I’d seen Guinness World Record holders on TV who could fit their 6'3" bodies into a glass box just 20 inches tall and 16 inches wide, then stay underwater for six minutes. Reaching that level of yoga takes unbelievable willpower.

Just as Bill had told me, I quickly grabbed a cardboard cutout he’d prepared. When I turned it around, I froze. On the front was a drawing of a pregnant woman’s belly, with a pear-shaped hole cut out where the uterus would be.

I held the cardboard in front of the glass cabinet, lining the hole up with Bill curled up inside. From where the kids were sitting, Bill looked exactly like a full-grown baby sleeping inside a mother’s womb.

The classroom, which had been chatting and laughing moments earlier, went completely silent. Every kid stared, wide-eyed.

After two or three minutes, Bill seemed to wake up. One by one, his arm, leg, head, and body slowly came out of the cabinet. When he was out, he took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

Before he could even say a word, the classroom erupted in thunderous applause.

Bill looked at me, excitedly made an “OK” sign, and smiled.