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couldn’t.
    Albert gave me a doleful look. Matt approached our table and I gathered my books. As I started to walk past Matt, I paused to glare at him.
    He shrugged. “Sorry, Del,” he said.
    “Your apology is not accepted,” I told him.
    I made my way to the back of the room and plopped down on the lab stool next to Bob.
    “Hello, Delfurnit —”
    I raised my finger to his face to silence him. I was not in the mood. “Listen to me, Bob,” I snapped. “I take science seriously. If you mess up this experiment I’ll …”
    “You’ll what?” he said with a smirk.
    “I’ll …” Hmm. He was right in a way; he already had detention. What could I do that was much worse? Break his other leg? Too violent. Tell his mom? Too second grade. Send him a bouquet of dead flowers from the store? Too Aster. Finally, I got it. “I’ll make you do this lab all by yourself,” I threatened. That would fix him.
    But it didn’t.
    Things started out okay. Ms. Studdert handed out safety goggles and materials. I placed several pieces of cabbage into a large beaker and covered them with hot water. But as soon as the water cooled down, my new lab partner picked up the beaker, drank the liquid, and burped. My mouth fell open in shock. This was beyond gross, even for Bob. I had to start all over again, making a second batch of cabbage juice and telling Bob not to dream of drinking it. Then I lined up my solutions — ammonia, baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, cream of tartar, and seltzer. I stole a glance at the clock. We were running out of time thanks to Bob and his shenanigans. That was a Gran word, and it totally fit.
    I took a medicine dropper and added some lemon juice to the cabbage water. Then I added a few drops of vinegar tothe next one. I watched excitedly, waiting for them both to change color.
    But something was not right. “These are both acids,” I said, more to myself than to my ridiculous lab partner. “So why is one turning green and the other red?”
    Bob snickered. “Because I mixed them all up, Delfrozenyogurt!” he cried.
    I stared at him in disbelief. Everyone else was finishing up and dumping their compounds down the sink. When the bell rang I really did want to break Bob’s other leg. Or at least dump an acid — and maybe a base — on his head.
    I took a couple of deep breaths to calm myself before I packed up my backpack and made my way to the front of the room. “Ms. Studdert,” I said, “can I stay after to redo the experiment? Bob messed the whole thing up.”
    Ms. Studdert sighed. “I’m sorry, Del. Of course you can.” She shut her eyes for a moment. “I just don’t know what to do with him. He’s smart, but he’s such a smart aleck.” She patted my arm. “I’m sure you’ll end up setting a good example for him.”
    Albert stopped by on the way out the door. “I missedyou today, Del,” he said. But then he smiled. “But Matt wasn’t so bad, actually. We had fun.”
    I scowled at him. “Lucky you,” I said.
    After dinner that night, Mom and I sat at the kitchen table finishing up dessert. It was Rose and Aster’s turn to clear. Dad was helping out, scrubbing the pots and pans, his sleeves rolled up.
    “Any prom orders today?” I asked hopefully, taking a spoonful of chocolate pudding.
    Mom looked glum. “Not a one,” she said. She lowered her voice. “I don’t want to panic, but where are all our customers?” she asked worriedly.
    I shook my head. “I’ve been reminding all the kids at school to go to our store,” I said. “Could they really be going to Fleur instead?” I put down my spoon and carried the bowl to the sink. I had lost my appetite.
    The phone rang, and Dad reached out a soapy hand to answer it.
    “Bloom residence,” he said. “Yes, just a minute.” He held the receiver to his chest. “Rose, it’s for you.”
    Rose looked pleased. “Hello?” she said. “Oh,
hello
.”She gave us all an excited look and took the phone into the living