13 Chances Are

CHAPTER THIRTEEN Chances Are... Statistics (noun). This is the science of data. Data is the info you get from gathering, observing, and testing an experiment. Data allows scientists to analyze their findings and come up with new conclusions. This is what people mean when they say run the numbers. They don't actually mean that numbers need to sprint down a field. "YOU GUYS! We can go to the aquarium," I shouted as soon as I was back in the classroom. My mom didn't come with me—she had gotten called away on some principal business. "That's just fantastic," said Mrs. Eberlin. "Is she going to send a library aide?" I shook my head. "She's coming herself," I said. I'd been so excited that we could go on the field trip that I'd forgotten the principal was going to go with us. Just what the kids in my class didn't want. I swallowed hard. "Wait a minute, that means the principal is coming?" Jeremy rolled his eyes. "So we can't do

anything wrong." He moaned. "I don't think it matters if the principal is there or not," said Julia. "You should never be doing things wrong." "It will be kind of different," admitted Rory Workman. "Will she wear her name tag?" asked Jeremy. "Has she ever gone on a field trip before?" asked someone from the back. I didn't turn around. I couldn't. I knew for a fact she definitely hadn't. It felt like all of my excitement had deflated like a balloon with a hole in it. "Hey, you guys," said Birdie. "It's awesome that Kate's mom is going. It's seriously way better than not going to the aquarium at all. Anyway, she's really nice." "Yeah," said Elijah. "She's honestly a lot of fun. You should have seen the scavenger hunt she came up with this summer or the time she made dry ice bubbles with Kate."

"We should feel lucky," said Phoenix. "Because now we're definitely going to the aquarium on Friday." "Unless it snows," said Memito. "There's a thirty percent chance." "Well, it sounds like the chance is in our favor," said Elijah. "What if there's bad weather?" asked Julia, which was suddenly what I was thinking too. "You know, on the day of the aquarium." "If there's a really bad storm and the school district closes schools, we obviously can't go," said Mrs. Eberlin. There was a groan. I took a big gulp of air and thought about how the chances were in our favor. Scientists always look at statistics—numbers that communicate their findings—in order to come to the best conclusion. "But this is Michigan," continued Mrs. Eberlin. "We know how to clear up snow, so let's not worry about that." She peered around the classroom with a serious expression. "Okay, over the next few nights, I want everyone to get some good sleep. And keep working on your projects. So you can be prepared to meet your sea creature in three days." And then suddenly everyone was cheering, me loudest of all.