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explaining things right. But I was confused, too. It was getting hard to keep everything straight in my mind.
    â€œWhere did this ooze come from?” Mom asked.
    I hesitated. Tell them, I ordered myself. You have to tell them. They are the only ones who can help you.
    I opened my mouth to answer—and the doorbell rang.
    â€œI’ll get it!” Michelle yelled from the kitchen.
    I started to speak again—but Michelle let out a high squeal.
    Mom jumped up. “What is it?” she cried. “What is it?”
    Michelle practically skipped into the living room. “It’s a registered letter from the Eastland Technological Institute!”
    I didn’t have to ask what that meant. Eastland Technologies has an annual science contest every year for high school students all over the country. You have to be a total brain even to enter. So, of course, Michelle did.
    She ripped open the letter. Mom and Dad crowded behind her. Reading over her shoulder.
    â€œYou won, honey!” Mom exclaimed. “You won!”
    â€œFirst prize!” Dad crowed. “We’re so proud of you!”
    â€œMom! Dad!” I pleaded. “I need to talk to you about the ooze! Right now.”
    â€œAren’t you going to congratulate your sister?” Mom asked as she reread Michelle’s letter.
    â€œCongratulations,” I muttered. Michelle didn’t bother to answer. “I’m trying to tell you something important,” I insisted. “You have to listen. The ooze is why Chester and I have been acting so weird.”
    â€œDo you know what I think?” Dad asked.
    Yes! I thought. Dad is going to help me!
    â€œWhat’s that, dear?” Mom asked.
    â€œI think we should celebrate,” Dad announced. “Let’s go someplace really fancy for dinner. It’s Michelle’s big night.”
    Thanks a lot, Dad, I thought.
    I pulled on Mom’s arm. “This is a matter of life and death!” I wailed. “I was playing with the chemistry set and—”
    Mom and Dad both turned toward me.
    â€œYou played with the chemistry set?” Mom demanded.
    â€œBefore Michelle gave you the safety lesson?” Dad added.
    I nodded slowly. “And now the ooze is in the cooler and it—”
    Mom turned to Dad. “Let’s not spoil the celebration for Michelle,” she said.
    â€œWe’ll talk about this tomorrow,” Dad told me.
    â€œBut I could be so much dumber by then,” I protested.
    â€œDumber? Dumber than using the chemistry set without permission? I don’t think so,” Mom snapped.
    â€œGet your coat, Michelle,” Dad said. “Al, we’ll talk about this tomorrow.”
    I sighed.
    Well, maybe going to a restaurant would at least help me get my mind off the ooze. After all, eating was one thing I still knew how to do.
    â€œI’ll be right there,” I said. “I left my coat in my room.”
    â€œAl,” Dad called after me, “It’s the Science Bowl day after tomorrow.”
    â€œYeah, Dad,” I said wearily.
    â€œDo you know how Michelle won her Science Bowls?” Dad asked. “By working hard. By making sacrifices.”
    Michelle came back with her coat and stood next to Dad. Smirking at me. She was loving every second of this.
    â€œMaybe you should stay home,” Dad continued. “You will have the house to yourself—the perfect environment for a good study session.”
    â€œBut I have to eat, don’t I?” I asked.
    â€œYou can heat something up in the microwave,” Mom said.
    â€œBut, Mom . . . ” I stopped and shook my head. Nothing I said would make them change their minds. I could see that.
    â€œHave a good time,” I muttered as they trooped out the door.
    I flopped down on the couch. Now what was I supposed to do? It was clear Mom and Dad weren’t going to help me.
    Chester strolled into the living room. He jumped up