The WeatherBot Warning

The WeatherBot Warning

I wasn't sure where to hide. Missy knew all the best hiding spots in our middle school. I ran down to the basement. I was going to hide in the utility closet but found one of the storage rooms unlocked. I knew students weren't allowed in there, but I went in anyway. I crept to the back of the room and ducked under a tarp that was covering a large machine. " Ready or not, here I come! " Missy yelled. Ten minutes passed, and there was no sign of Missy. She must have thought I hid under the bleachers by the football field.

I leaned against the machine to rest and heard a humming sound. Green and red buttons flashed. In the dim light, I could make out the word WeatherBot. What's a WeatherBot? I wondered. I turned on my watch light and studied the device. A clipboard with some notes hung on the machine. To initiate a rainstorm, push the green button, then the red button, then flip the bottom switch.

" A rain machine! " I said. " I wonder if it works. " I pushed the green and red buttons and flipped the bottom switch. Nothing happened. I didn't hear any thunder crash overhead-only Missy's voice yelling, " Zarela, where are you? The football game's about to start. " I ducked out from under the tarp as Missy entered the room. " Come on, " Missy said. " Your mom's waiting for us. "

Mom, Missy, and I sat at the fifty yard line. A big crowd was there to see our team play against Greenville in the first game of the season. " How was school today?" Mom asked. " Good. I'm working on my science project for your class, " I said. " I can help you with that, " Mom said. " The other kids might think that's unfair since you're the science teacher, " I answered. " I'm also your mom, and we can work on it together, " she replied. " It's okay-I can figure it out myself, " I said.

The Vetero Badgers took the field, and we screamed, “ Badgers, badgers, fight, fight, fight! " By the end of the first half, the game was tied at seven points apiece. A light rain was falling. " That's weird, " Missy said. “ The weather forecast called for blue skies today. " " That is strange, " Mom said. " I hope it doesn't give Greenville an advantage. They get more rain than we do, so they're more used to playing in it. " Did I cause the rain by pushing the buttons? I wondered. I didn't think the WeatherBot even worked.