11 One Step Closer

CHAPTER ELEVEN ONE STEP CLOSER Solutes (noun). Substances that dissolve. Like what happens to cocoa powder when you pour steaming milk (called a solvent) to make hot cocoa. MAYBE I COULD PLOP the backpack into the freezer. If the glue froze, I might be able to break it off the fabric lining with my hands. Or I could use a knife to peel it away. When I opened the freezer, I saw ice cream, frozen peas, burritos, and Popsicles. Unfortunately, Dad had just gone shopping at Costco. The freezer was jam-packed and there wasn't enough room for the bag. As my grandma Dort would say, now it was time for me to face the music. Or rather the glue. I yanked out the bottle of Elmer's from the bag and read the label. It said it was water soluble. The glue would soften like butter if I got it wet. After filling our kettle with water, I set the bag on the counter. A bit later, I poured warm water onto a rag, and then attacked a glob of glue. Total fail.

Disgusted, I slammed the wet rag into the perfect, shiny, Mom-cleaned sink. Then I realized something. In science, when you eliminate one thing, you are one step closer to the solution. A fail was a win.