19 The Stickiest Situation

CHAPTER NINETEEN THE STICKIEST SITUATION Colloids (noun). Mixtures in which the particles are evenly stirred in everywhere; it looks all nice and smooth like milk. Also, like a jump-worthy mud puddle. FLINGING OPEN THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD, I dug out anything that could be used to make glue. I was determined to figure out a way to keep the unicorn horns from falling off—and to do it quickly, since I really didn't have much time. It was close to dinner. I found a jug of Great Lakes Maple Syrup, wildflower honey, blueberry jam, and a jar of chunky peanut butter. But I didn't think any of those things would work to make face glue. Though they would all be tasty on bread. When Dad made a sugar water concoction for the hummingbirds, it got pretty sticky on the counter if it spilled. A sugar mixture could probably

最棘手的情况胶体（名词）。 颗粒在各处均匀搅拌的混合物；它看起来很好，像牛奶一样光滑。 而且，像一个值得一跳的泥坑。 我打开厨房的橱柜，翻出任何可以用来做胶水的东西。 我决心想办法不让独角兽的角掉下来，而且要快，因为我真的没有多少时间了。 快吃晚饭了。我找到了一罐大湖枫糖浆、野花蜂蜜、蓝莓果酱和一罐大块花生酱。 但我不认为这些东西可以用来做脸胶。 虽然它们放在面包上都很好吃。 爸爸给蜂鸟做了糖水混合物，如果洒了，就会粘在柜台上。 糖的混合物可能可以

be used to stick paper onto someone's forehead, but not a cardboard horn. On the internet, I discovered that special effects people in Hollywood used something called spirit gum—which sounded perfect for a play full of spirit, which ours was. But it was supposed to be really hard to work with and took forever to dry. Anyway, I didn't have time to order it. The unicorns needed a strong glue. That way they could whinny, toss their manes, and prance onstage without the horns smashing to the floor. Adhesive is a more science-y word for glue, and it made me feel like a real scientist to say it. "Adhesive," I said aloud, imagining myself as a professor in a lab surrounded by my future graduate students. "Adhesive. Yes, please pass me some of that adhesive." Mom popped out of her office in back of the kitchen. "Did you want me, Kate?" "No, I was just talking to myself," I admitted. "That's supposed to happen when you're my age," said Mom. "When you have too much on your to-do list and get frazzled." "Guess I'm ten going on forty-one then." "Thirty-nine," corrected Mom. It was this running joke that she never grew older and that every year was her thirty-ninth birthday. "Anyway,

它用来把纸贴在别人的额头上，而不是硬纸板的角。 在网上，我发现好莱坞的特效人员使用一种叫做精神胶的东西——听起来很适合一部充满精神的戏剧，而我们的就是。 但它应该很难处理，而且要花很长时间才能变干。 总之，我没时间点。 独角兽需要强力胶水。 这样他们就可以发出嘶嘶声，挥动他们的鬃毛，在舞台上昂首阔步，而不会把喇叭砸到地板上。 “粘合剂”是一个更科学的词，它让我觉得自己像一个真正的科学家。 “粘合剂，”我大声说，想象着自己是实验室里的教授，周围都是我未来的研究生。 ”胶粘剂。是的，请递给我一些那种粘合剂。” 妈妈突然从厨房后面的办公室出来。 “你需要我吗，凯特？”“不，我只是在自言自语，”我承认。 “这应该发生在你像我这么大的时候，”妈妈说。 “当你的待办事项太多，感到疲惫不堪的时候。” “我想我快41岁了。” “三十九，”妈妈纠正道。 有一个广为流传的笑话说，她永远不会变老，而且每年都是她的39岁生日。 “无论如何,

I wanted to let you know that the grant committee just asked for a bit more documentation," she continued. "So back to the grindstone. I'll be in my office if you need me. Tell Dad when you see him that it would be good to eat dinner a little later tonight." "Sure, I better get back to work, too. I'm trying to make face glue." "Maybe when you get your formula, you can also glue me to my desk. That way I can stay put and figure out this grant." "Watch out. I might just try that." Pacing around the kitchen, I tried to figure out how to make the perfect face glue. Once in Girl Scouts, we had made glue from milk, vinegar, and baking soda. It looked like Elmer's white glue. I decided to try it. I heated a little bit of regular milk from the carton. When I whisked in the vinegar, the milk curdled. "That's a chemical reaction," I murmured, staring in fascination at the gloppy pieces that looked like cottage cheese. I used a paper towel to filter out the liquid. I added a little bit of water and baking soda. The mixture bubbled and looked like sea foam. I knew exactly why. It was the carbon dioxide making a great escape.

我想让你知道奖助金委员会只是要求你提供更多的文件，”她继续说。 “所以回到磨刀石。 如果你需要我，我就在办公室。 你见到爸爸的时候就告诉他，今晚最好晚一点吃晚饭。” “当然，我也得回去工作了。 我在试着做脸胶。” “也许你拿到配方奶的时候，还可以把我粘在桌子上。 这样我就可以留在这里，解决这笔补助金的问题。” “小心。我想试试。” 我在厨房里踱来踱去，试图弄清楚如何制作完美的脸胶。 在女童子军的时候，我们用牛奶、醋和小苏打做胶水。 看起来像埃尔默的白胶。 我决定试一试。我从纸盒里加热了一点普通牛奶。 当我加入醋时，牛奶凝结了。 “这是一种化学反应，”我喃喃地说，着迷地盯着那些看起来像白干酪的黏糊糊的东西。 我用纸巾把液体过滤掉。 我加了一点水和小苏打。 混合物冒泡，看起来像泡沫。 我很清楚为什么。这是二氧化碳的大量逃逸。

The texture was nice and lumpy. If it was too watery, it would slide right off someone's skin. I needed those lumps. I also needed to find a test subject.

质地很好，凹凸不平。 如果水太多，它就会从皮肤上滑下来。 我需要那些块状的东西。我还需要找一个实验对象。