Professor Smith wore a look of concern on his face as his astronomy students took their seats in his classroom.

“Settle down, everyone. I have some extremely important information to tell you today.”

They came to order and turned their eyes to a man who’s been teaching his understanding of the stars, planets, galaxies and the cosmos for 32 years.

“This will sound crazy, but I have terrifying news,” he said. “I have reviewed my calculations a dozen times trying to prove I’m wrong, but I’m now convinced that due to a phenomenon of a massive, pressurized vortex that has virtually eliminated the helium gas and the ….” He paused. His students leaned forward in their seats.

“The moon is falling from the sky,” he said, “and it will strike the United States in four days.”

His students sat back.

“No way,” said Kim with a laugh.

“Professor,” said James, “look at the calendar. You still got two months before you can pull an April Fools’ joke on us.”

The teacher took a deep breath. He picked up a marker and began to write a long formula on the white board. His numbers popped from the marker like air bubbles. As he moved across the board, he muttered about mass and gravity, the moon’s diameter of 2,159 miles, its circumference of 6,784 miles and its weight of nearly one-quarter of that of the Earth.

“The helium gas that holds the moon in place is rapidly dissipating,” he said with a stutter in his words. “Today is Friday. The moon will crash into the earth on Tuesday just before noon.”

Jaws dropped. Pens fell to the floor. A collective gasp filled the room.

“We the people will have to prepare quickly,” he said. “Mobilize backhoe machines to dig deep holes for shelters. Store food. Bring only as many valuables as one can carry.”

He lowered his eyes. “We won’t be able to save everyone.”

From the back of the room, Susan reached for her cellphone.

“No, don’t make the call,” he said. “As foreboding as this news is, we must minimize panic. I have already notified government authorities, and they are putting operational plans in place that will include public address announcements.”

Lori from the first row began to cry. Billy from the seat behind her shouted an obscenity. A chorus of chatter engulfed the room.

“Quiet, please!” The professor waved his hands to restore order. From the third row, Jack stood from his seat.

“Why are you telling us?” asked Jack. “Shouldn’t you have canceled class and informed the faculty here first?

“They already know and are getting ready to leave as we speak,” said the professor.

Jack continued. “Did you run your formula by any of the world’s leading scientists?”

“I have reached out to Professor Stewart at Oxford. He confirmed my formula and is passing it along.”

“Why would you even come here today?” Jack asked. “And why is the moon only crashing into the United States?”

“How dare you question my expertise when you don’t know a thumbnail’s worth of astronomy compared to my knowledge!” The professor shouted. “I am a scientist recognized by my colleagues all across this planet!”

The room became still. The professor slammed his hand on his desk. Jack folded his arms and slouched back into his seat.

“Well,” said the young man while staring at his mentor. “I for one am going to do nothing until I get more information.”

Suddenly, Professor Smith changed his demeanor. He smiled at Jack and clapped his hands.

“Mr. Parker,” he said to him. “Thank you for your fine example of critical thinking. Class, you can all relax now. The moon ain’t goin’ nowhere. This was an experiment to see how many of you would question my formula, which was just a bunch of nonsense.

“Your compliance with what I told you is a small example of a bigger problem that’s going on in our country and in the world today. Facts have become opinions. Opinions have become facts. We believe those in positions of authority will tell us only the truth.

“Look what I did with you. I lied about the helium gas, yet you didn’t question that. I lied when I said we need to dig holes for shelters, a preposterous idea. Can you imagine trying to get 342 million Americans shoved underground?

“Then I lied to you about telling the government and about a professor at Oxford, whose name I made up. You trusted everything I said.”

He paused and took a breath.

“I put fear in you and when I showed anger and all of you but Jack believed me even more.

“Here’s what you have learned this morning: Do not accept what people in authority tell you without questioning. If someone keeps lying about the same subject, like I did with you, the lies become your truth.”

From the second row, Lawrence raised his hand. “That’s a fact and I know why. Once somebody makes up his mind, that’s it, no matter what. They don’t want to feel stupid if you prove them wrong.”

Andrea raised her hand. “That is so true even with me. I’d rather be stubborn than stupid. Don’t matter how many facts you give me. I’ll defend my opinion against them all.”

“Why are we like that?” John asked the professor.

“It’s very difficult to find facts and know they’re not slanted opinions,” he said. “It takes time and effort, and we’re too busy or we don’t want to be bothered. The other problem is what Lawrence just spoke about. Andy Rooney, who was a TV commentator, once said, ‘People will generally accept facts as long as those facts agree with what they already believe.’ ”

John raised his hand again. “What if Jack didn’t question you about the moon falling out of the sky and we went home and started a panic that spread everywhere?”

Professor Smith laughed. “We’d all be jumping in holes dug in the ground.”

Email Rich Strack at richiesadie11@gmail.com