Read Brendan Buckley's Sixth-Grade Experiment for Free Online Page B

building. By the time this was over, I would look like the electrocuted stick figure on Mr. H’s sign.
    â€œNow,” Mr. Hammond said, “hold your balloons by the strings and bring them near each other.”
    I didn’t want to have to get too close to Morgan—especially in front of the whole class—but again, for Mr. H and for the sake of science, I went along. We brought our balloons together. They separated, as if under a magic spell. Of course, it wasn’t magic. Just two negatively charged balloons repelling each other.
    Morgan leaned in and whispered, “Same charges repel.”
    â€œYeah. I know,” I whispered back.
    â€œNow,” Mr. H said again, “watch this.” He put a piece of paper between the balloons.
Swup
. They glommed together.
    â€œOoo, they’re kissing!” Cordé shouted out. I felt my face getting warm.
    Mr. H pulled out the paper and the balloons moved away from each other. “Uh-oh. Lovers’ quarrel,” Javier said. More giggles.
    â€œCan we get them to make up somehow?” Mr.Hammond asked. Did he have to play into all this mushy stuff? It was bad enough we had to talk about it in health.
    Lauren Dweck spoke up. “Use the paper again.”
    Mr. H slipped the paper between the balloons and they went right back to sucking face.
    â€œCan anyone give me a scientific explanation for what we’re witnessing here?”
    Morgan jumped in so fast I didn’t have a chance. “The balloons picked up electrons from our hair, giving them an overall negative charge. Like charges repel; therefore the balloons moved away from each other.”
    â€œVery good. And now?” Mr. H asked, looking down at the stuck-together balloons.
    â€œIt looks to me like Brendan’s and Morgan’s balloons are
attracted
to each other!” Cordé said. Some of the guys laughed, including Kahl. I scowled at my best friend out of the corner of my eye. He’d better watch it.
    â€œActually,” I said, “they’re attracted to the paper, which has a positive charge.
Not
to each other.”
    â€œThat’s right, Brendan,” Mr. H said. “Opposite charges attract. Same charges repel. Hopefully, this was just a review for everyone, but if you didn’t know it before, you should learn it now. Let’s give our volunteers a round of applause.”
    Everyone clapped. I kept my eyes down and returned to my seat. Khal nudged my arm. I ignored him.
    Mr. Hammond went on to talk about how electronsmove around and that’s where electricity comes from. I had to write like lightning, but I got it all down. By the time he was done, I felt all charged up, like a big rain cloud.
    â€œNow, I have a very important announcement to make,” Mr. H said. “This year, we have the opportunity to participate in an online science competition for middle school students. The theme is ‘Making the World Better.’ ”
    A science competition!
Yes!
I buzzed from head to toe.
    â€œThere are divisions for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade teams, and each team must consist of at least two people.…”
    I bumped Khal’s elbow with mine.
    â€œRegional finalists will be chosen from across the United States.”
    Kids from all over the country? This was huge!
    â€œThe winning team will receive a nice sum of money—”
    â€œKa
-ching
,” Khal whispered. “Now we’re talking.”
    â€œâ€”to enhance their school’s science program.”
    Khal groaned in disappointment.
    â€œThey will also get to travel to an institute of higher learning to work with top scientists in the field of their project.”
    Whoa
. Now,
that
would be cool!
    Mr. H smiled. “I believe we have some finalistpotential in this room.” His eyes dared us to rise to the challenge. “Who knows? Maybe even a first-place team.”
    I grinned. Winning the top prize in a national science