rything　that's　out　there？　No！”

Mike　and　Matt　were　grinning　at　each　other。　“Mystery　Pisser！　That　could　be　the　name　for　our

band！”

“Yeah！　Cool！”

“Band？”　my　mother　asked。　“Wait　a　minute；　what　band？”　But　they　were　already　flying　down　to

their　room；　laughing　about　the　possibilities　for　a

………　Page　30………

logo。

My　father　and　I　spent　the　rest　of　the　day　sniffing　out　and　destroying　criminal　evidence。　My

dad　used　a　spray　bottle　of　ammonia；　I　followed　up　with

Lysol。　We　did　try　to　recruit　my　brothers；　but　they　wound　up　getting　into　a　spray…bottle　fight；

which　got　them　locked　in　their　room；　which；　of　course；

was　fine　with　them。

So　Champ　became　an　outside　dog；　and　he　might　have　been　our　only　pet　ever　if　it　hadn't

been　for　my　fifth…grade　science　fair。

Everyone　around　me　had　great　project　ideas；　but　I　couldn't　seem　to　e　up　with　one。　Then

our　teacher；　Mrs。　Brubeck；　took　me　aside　and　told

me　about　a　friend　of　hers　who　had　chickens；　and　how　she　could　get　me　a　fertilized　egg　for

my　project。

“But　I　don't　know　anything　about　hatching　an　egg；”　I　told　her。

She　smiled　and　put　her　arm　around　my　shoulders。　“You　don't　have　to　be　an　immediate

expert　at　everything；　Juli。　The　idea　here　is　to　learn

something　new。”

“But　what　if　it　dies？”

“Then　it　dies。　Document　your　work　scientifically　and　you'll　still　get　an　A；　if　that's　what　you're

wor