Reluctant Genius

** "Reluctant Genius" by Henry Slesar is a science fiction story from the 1950s that deals with evolution and the capacity for greatness. The story centers around Buos and Laloi, beings from elsewhere tasked with studying a planet and its inhabitants. One of the beings, Buos, grows impatient waiting for progress from the primitive people, while the other, Laloi, grows fond of what she sees. They talk about how these undeveloped people will never be able to unlock their knowledge without help. In the end, the two celestials bear witness to a man pausing to consider an apple that has fallen, and they conclude the observers will guide the man toward a future where he understands his calling. **