2 Something Stinks!

CHAPTER TWO Something Stinks! Compound (noun). A compound is a substance made when two or more elements are bonded together. Like how hydrogen hitches with oxygen to form water or when besties hold hands and skip down the hallway. They become a united team—Best Friends Forever "OKAY, YOU HAVE FIFTEEN SECONDS before the challenge begins," said Ms. Daly. "Be prepared to read the directions on your index cards." Kids snapped their goggles onto their heads. Mine were a little too tight, but I'd just have to deal with it. "Ready, set, you bet!" called out Ms. Daly. Everyone flipped over the index card with the directions for how to make the Ghost. "Why don't you read it aloud," I suggested to Phoenix. "Birdie and I will grab what we need." After drawing in a deep breath, Phoenix read dramatically. "The goal is to make a spooky Ghost that reaches the finish line."

"What finish line?" I said, glancing around the science lab. "Where?" Birdie gazed up, and a smile grew on her face. "Up there!" she pointed. The other two teams focused on the ceiling, where yellow crepe paper hung from one side of the room to the other. "Aha!" I whispered. "Now I get it." "In order to complete this challenge and go on to Moon Rocks," continued Ms. Daly, "your Ghost must touch the yellow line. Remember to pick up your supplies here." She pointed to the table next to a large potted cactus. "Our Ghost's going to get a gold medal," said Jeremy, twirling his pointer finger like he was number one. "Correction," said Julia. "That would be ours." "More like ours," I said. "And ours is going to be like Casper, a very friendly ghost." Elijah giggled, Memito shook his head, and Jeremy smirked. Phoenix plunked her hands on her hips. I could tell she was as serious as I was about the competition. And just as annoyed at Jeremy, too. Meanwhile Birdie kept on peering up at the ceiling with a dreamy expression. She's an artist, so

it didn't faze me too much. I'm definitely used to the ways of my BFF. "Keep reading, please," I urged Phoenix. "Hurry." "Okay." Phoenix shoved her long reddish- brown hair over her shoulder. "To make your spooky Ghost, you'll first need: one empty soda bottle and a few drops of food coloring." I sped to the equipment table with Birdie tagging right behind. "No running," Ms. Daly called out. My cheeks warmed. I hate getting called out. First of all, I don't like it when anyone's upset with me. Second of all, I have a little more pressure than the average student at Franklin to behave. My mom just happens to be the principal. Believe me, it's something I can never forget. Birdie and I wove around everyone as they grabbed what they needed off the materials table. "No pushing," reminded Ms. Daly. "Follow our lab rules." Birdie scooped up little bottles of red, yellow, green, and blue food coloring. "I can make purple and other colors," she cried enthusiastically as I snagged an empty plastic soda bottle. Together, we speed-walked back to Phoenix.

"What's next?" I asked, trying to keep my impatience in check. Only I couldn't help bobbing up and down in excitement. "You have to add water to the soda bottle," said Phoenix, reading the card extra slowly. She over- enunciated as if she were giving a speech. It irked me, but I tried not to let it show. Glancing over at the other teams, I noticed they were all reading together silently. I zipped around to glance over Phoenix's shoulder. "Next, add the food coloring and stir," continued Phoenix. "Oh, and then add dry ice." "I'm on it," I said. "The getting water part, that is." At the table in front of us, Jeremy frantically motioned to Elijah. "Hurry," shouted Jeremy and Memito at the same time. We were obviously on the very same step of the Make-a-Ghost challenge. This wasn't good. Elijah rushed ahead of me toward the sink. "I'm on it!" I huffed in frustration. There was no way I could beat him without sprinting, and I wasn't about to do that again. "Hello, I'm just walking over here," I said, smiling and waving at Ms. Daly, who stood in front

of the dry ice cart. I beat Julia to the sink but was too slow to catch up to Elijah. "Sorry, Kate. Maybe you'll beat me next time," he said, grinning. "Then again, there might not be a next time." "Oh, there's always a next time!" I said in my most light-hearted voice. But I was feeling as rotten as a sulfuric compound. That's the stuff that makes skunks reek. In dismay, I watched Elijah turn on the faucet full blast. As water rushed out, he hooted with happiness. Then over by Julia's table, there was a burst of cheering. I whipped around to see that Julia wasn't in line behind me after all. Instead, she gloated as she filled up the soda bottle with the water from her insulated blue drinking bottle. Avery and Skyler clapped and whooped. Biting my lip, I studied the speckled tile floor of the science lab. Why hadn't I thought of that? Of course, my water bottle sat in the very bottom of my backpack, in the very back of the classroom. There was no way I could use Julia's water bottle trick to pull ahead. "Tra la la! I don't need to go to the sink," Julia sang out, taunting me. As she shook the soda bottle, I could hear the ice clinking.

"Nice and cold!" Avery called out, while Skyler smiled in his shy way. Wait a minute—something was off. But I couldn't quite put my finger on it. And then, faster than a speeding electron, it came to me.