12 Getting Launched

CHAPTER TWELVE GETTING LAUNCHED Endothermic reaction (noun). This is a chemical process that absorbs heat. When you mix vinegar and baking soda together, you have an endothermic reaction. This is because it takes a bunch of energy to break up the baking soda and vinegar molecules. It's sort of like how it takes more energy to pull apart stacked LEGOs than to collect them from two separate piles. "ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER?" said Jeremy, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "That's the special material? Man, I should have bet on myself." "Who would have thought toilet paper makes the rockets really fly?" I fished out another roll from a package under the supply table.

"TP is essential," said Jeremy, who balanced the roll on his head. "Especially because the rolls make nice hats." "Ha ha," I said. "The toilet paper is for little fuel packets of baking soda," said Tala, pulling off a sheet. "You put a tablespoon of baking soda in the middle of one square. Then cut off a piece of string and tie the corners of the toilet paper up into a mini package." Phoenix strolled over. "It looks like a little sack of flour for dolls. So cute." I glanced over at Birdie, who was busy decorating her rocket with perfect stars. "So they're fuel packets," I said. "The baking soda mixes with the vinegar to form a chemical reaction that changes the internal pressure to make the rocket go up into the sky." "Exactly," said Tala. "You got it!" She did her happy dance. The twist, kick, twirls, then claps and snaps. I did it, too. Because I really wanted to feel upbeat. "Happy dance!" we both cried. "We have to make our rocket launch extra happy," I said, hoping that Birdie would hear me and maybe it might start to nudge a smile out of her. Memito tossed up his rocket and caught it. "If you want it to be fun, you're going to need snacks."

"I was thinking we could make snow slushies," I said. "Too cold." Grimacing, Memito shook his head. "I was thinking more like going to Brewster's Coffee Shop. They have Bunsen burners where you can roast marshmallows and make s'mores." He licked his lips. "Melted chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Do you think Ms. Daly will let us go there after the rocket launch?" "Maybe," I said. "Will you ask?" Memito put his hands together. "It's your idea," I said. "You should get credit." "I don't care about credit. I just want to go to Brewster's. And she's more likely to say yes if you ask. Please," he said. "Yeah, Kate," said Jeremy. "You know how much Ms. Daly loooooves you." I shot him a look. Then I proceeded to march toward Ms. Daly, who was still in the back of the lab going through our supplies. As I walked on the tile floor, Memito cried, "Kate, stop!" "What did I do?" I asked. "You were about to step on a crack. Which would, you know, break your mother's back. And your mom is the principal." I whipped around and stared at him. "You don't believe that, do you?"

"Pretty much. Sort of. Yeah. Anyway, the rocket launch is on the thirteenth, so I don't want to make it worse." "What are you talking about?" I said, starting to panic. "We're having the rocket launch the weekend before winter break. Which is far away." Glancing up from her clipboard, Ms. Daly said, "Actually, Kate, Saturday the thirteenth is the last Saturday before winter break. That's when we agreed to have the rocket launch." My throat tightened. I guess I hadn't checked the calendar. The thirteenth was Liam's birthday party. At eleven a.m., just like the rocket launch! "What am I going to do?" I shrieked. "That's the same time as my brother's birthday party!" "I guess you can't do rockets with us," said Birdie. No. That couldn't happen. I just had to figure out a way to do both!