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The Chemistry Set
It was Doreen's first turn to have the Sunday School teachers
meet at our house. She wanted everything to be perfect.
Mom made little sandwiches and plates of
mouth-watering, fancy cakes and tarts. That was the good part!
They surely couldn't eat them 'all', and hopefully there would
be some left for dessert the next night. It was such a long time
to wait.
Bruce and I were sent upstairs early so
we wouldn't be in the way; Bruce to his room where he could listen
to his crystal radio he had made or read his comic books. I wondered
why couldn't I have comic books?
It was almost my bedtime, anyway, so I
was sent to bed. I lay very still, as I heard the teachers arrive
and then, pleasantries out of the way, get down to the business
of the monthly meeting. I was hoping to hear what went on at these
meetings. There was a lot of talk but nothing that I could make
out. It went on for a long time and I thought that it must all
be very boring.
My eyes were getting very heavy when the
most horrible smell of rotten eggs came into my room. It was so
strong that I put the covers over my head.
Unfortunately, at the same time, the smell
reached the downstairs and I heard some muffled coughs and then
Doreen holler, "Mom!"
The next voice was my mother's, and from
the bottom of the stairs she called, "Bruce! I told you 'not'
to play with your chemistry set. What are you dong?"
"Ah gee," replied Bruce, "I
was 'just' trying to make a stink-bomb."
Mom said, "Well, you have succeeded,
but that will be the 'only' one. Open the window, and, tomorrow
your chemistry set goes down to the cellar." Bruce muttered
to himself and I could hear muffled giggles from downstairs.
The meeting must be nearly over because
I could hear dishes. I wondered how the teachers could eat while
that horrible smell was in the house, but, I guess the doors had
been opened to let some fresh air in.
As I drifted off to sleep, nose still covered,
I thought that, thanks to Bruce, at least the meeting hadn't been
'all' boring, but I guessed he would get "what-for"
from Doreen in the morning, anyway. ~Joan Adams Burchell~ (copyright)
