Adolescents Only

by Irving E. Cox

"Adolescents Only" by Irving E. Cox, Jr. is a science fiction story published in the early 1950s. The narrative centers on the theme of adolescence and the unforeseen consequences of giving young people knowledge and power beyond their years. It explores the chaotic interplay of education, responsibility, and the adolescent desire for experimentation, set against a backdrop of fantastical events triggered by a mysterious rocket and its contents. The story follows Gary Elvin, a disillusioned teacher who finds a rocket that contains strange colored spheres. When high school students inadvertently consume these spheres during a party, they gain vast knowledge and abilities, leading to wild experiments that wreak havoc on their small town. As the situation spirals out of control, Elvin becomes both an observer and a participant in the resulting chaos. Ultimately, the students, realizing the gravity of their actions, find a way to reverse the events, leaving Elvin to confront the challenge of guiding youth towards responsibility and maturity without losing sight of their potential. The interplay of humor, fantasy, and moral lessons makes this tale a reflective examination of adolescence and its impact on society.