The physicists who bombarded uranium atoms with neutrons made an unexpected discovery. Those atoms split and emitted more neutrons, enough to sustain a chain reaction. This sensational finding, which led to the atomic bomb, caused huge excitement among the scientists. They were like a stirred-up anthill. My story has little to do with science, but it does involve an unexpected discovery. Every human is a pilgrim passing through the world. Where are we going? Is death the final act, or is there more? I wanted answers. We all do. The decade I spent as an atheist gave me some answers, but they were mere assertions without evidence. So I explored the marketplace of ideas. There I found an unexpected treasure. It was the most tremendous thing that ever happened to me.

Polly wondered why her scientist dad gave her such a huge challenge during summer vacation. He made for her a ring with five different jewels. When she touched the ruby, she shrunk to the size of a red ant. That was frightening enough, but it was only the start of an adventure in the realms of both bugs and ideas. With the ring's magic Polly could go to Daddy's summer school - a black box he could hold in one hand. Inside the little box Polly and her friends found that ideas have consequences. Each of the seven teachers had a different idea about reality. Polly's mission was to find which teacher, if any, taught the truth. Polly's story is a worldview primer for smart pre-teens and imaginative adults.