15 Something Stinks!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN SOMETHING STINKS! Protocol (noun). A set of instructions so you can re-create an experiment or procedure. You can make up ridiculous songs, but you never want to make up ridiculous protocols in science. AFTER PUTTING A SMALL PIECE OF paper on my shoe so I wouldn't get gum everywhere, I raced up to Mrs. Hansberry as she left the lighting booth. "I figured it out!" I cried. "The play?" She glanced up from her clipboard. "Life? What, pray tell?" I loved how Mrs. Hansberry sounded so old- fashioned and elegant. As if she had stepped out of a Shakespeare play or something. "How we can get the dragons to breathe out smoke during the finale. So it looks like it's coming out of their mouths and nostrils." And then words zipped out of my mouth as I explained my liquid nitrogen Cheeto concept. How we could make it completely safe using every sort of safety protocol.

A protocol is a set of instructions that tell you the right way to do something, and with liquid nitrogen you couldn't afford to do it the wrong way. "This is most intriguing, Kate," said Mrs. Hansberry, closing her eyes as if she were imagining the possibilities. "However, this is something I would need to discuss over the phone with Ms. Daly and a few others, such as your wonderful mother. But if we follow the safety protocol and give this privilege to a few dragons who are utterly up for the responsibility, we might be able to give this a green light." As I started jumping up and down, Avery shuffled past us loudly chewing gum. She plopped down in a seat on the aisle next to Phoenix. The minute I ended the conversation with Mrs. Hansberry, I headed over toward Avery. Oh boy, could I smell that gum! It wasn't just regular old bubble gum flavor. Or sour apple or peppermint. It was watermelon. Exactly like the kind of gum I had stepped on by my seat. "Where did you get that gum?" I demanded. Her face paled.

I lifted up the back of my running shoe and ripped off the piece of paper so she could see the wad of green gum stuck to the tread. "Look familiar? You really shouldn't be chewing gum in the theater, Avery." Leaning forward in her seat, she sneered, "You can't tell me what to do." "I can. I'm the assistant director." "That doesn't mean you're Mrs. Hansberry." She shook her head so her braids whipped around. "Just because your mom is principal, you think you can do anything." "This has nothing to do with my mom, Avery. This has to do with you leaving gum on the floor so I'd step on it. It was meant for me, wasn't it?" Kids stared at us. I didn't care. I couldn't let Avery get away with this. "Well, maybe you should be more careful where you walk. You're the assistant director. You're supposed to notice things." I took a step closer to Avery. "Why are you so mad at me?" "Don't you remember what we just talked about in your mom's minivan, coming back from that last soccer tournament?" "Uh, no."

"That figures. You only listen to yourself, Miss Kate the Great! Think you're super special? Well, you're not. I should have been assistant director, not you." She started to list the reasons on her fingers. "I know dance. You don't. I know how to sing. You can't. And I know how to listen." "At least everyone listens to me when I talk. And I don't sabotage people by crossing out their schedules," I hissed in a voice much louder than I intended. I didn't know it was her for sure, but I figured if I said it, her response might give something away. "Well, sorry, but you deserved it," she huffed. Phoenix nodded. "I can't"—I shook my head so fast the room spun—"I can't believe you think that." "Quiet," whisper-warned Phoenix, pointing at our teacher. "Mrs. Hansberry." I could see her hurrying toward us. Avery made a face. "All you want to do is prove you're better than me." "Not really. I don't even think about you!" "That's the problem. You don't think about anyone but yourself." "That's so not true!" It wasn't. I thought about Birdie, I thought about the dragons, I thought about—

Mrs. Hansberry now stood next to us. "I don't know what's going on over here, but I'm not pleased." She pursed her lips tightly. "Not pleased at all. You're both at risk of losing your positions in this show if you continue this fight." "I'm done," said Avery in a sulky voice. "Me too," I said, and watched Avery stalk away. If I were a dragon, I would be breathing fire right now.