Chapter Three
314. A sign on the door said “Mr. Carlson.” Aidan double-checked his schedule, then tentatively pulled open the door. Unfortunately, it made a repetitive clicking sound as it opened, so as he entered he found all eyes in the room focused on him.
Aidan looked around the room for a place to sit. There were two tall chairs per lab table, and most of them seemed occupied.
“Most of you probably think chemistry is all about mixing stuff up in beakers and making them go kablooey!” said Carlson.
On the second row from the front, Aidan spotted Earl, his best friend from junior high. Unfortunately, there was someone in the other seat.
Earl winced at him and shrugged.
“Wrong!” said Mr. Carlson. “Chemistry is all about finding out how things work together.”
The table in front of Earl was empty, so Aidan walked to it and sat in one of the chairs. He dug into his backpack to pull out the chemistry textbook.
“For our first experiment,” said Carlson, “turn to the person at your table and say hello.”
There was a buzz of activity in the class. Aidan looked at the empty seat next to him.
“Congratulations! You just met your new lab partner.” Carlson’s announcement was met by groans from some of the students. He didn’t seem to notice and continued, “During this semester, you’re going to find out how well you work with that person.”
From behind him, Aidan heard Earl say, “Mr. Carlson?”
Mr. Carlson raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”
Aidan looked over his shoulder at his friend.
“Can we switch?” asked Earl. He glanced at the guy next to him and added, “No offense.”
The guy shrugged.
“No,” said Mr. Carlson. “Maybe in a few weeks, we’ll see. But you have to try it out. Science is all about trying things out.”
Aidan raised his hand, and Mr. Carlson nodded at him. “Should I join their group?” Aidan said, waving his hand in Earl’s direction.
Mr. Carlson shook his head. “When I have an odd number of students, I make one of them my lab assistant. Looks like you’re elected by default.”
Aidan wasn’t sure whether being a lab assistant was good or bad. “I don’t have to get a hunchback for that, do I?”
With a slight smile, Mr. Carlson said, “All you need to do is help me demonstrate experiments. You see . . .”
Mr. Carlson pulled his right hand out of the pocket of his lab coat and held it up for the class to see. Except for a thumb and the nub of an index finger, it had no fingers.
Someone in the back of the room gasped. Aidan was surprised, but he remembered vaguely that his sister had mentioned a teacher with missing fingers.
“I don’t mean to scare you. Actually, I do mean to scare you. Chemistry can be dangerous.” Mr. Carlson waggled the nub of his index finger at them. “So pay attention or else–kablooey!”
The clicking of the classroom door opening made Aidan turn with everyone else to look.
Aidan forgot to breathe for a moment. The girl walking through the door almost seemed to glow with beauty, making the rest of the world dim by comparison.
“What is your name?” said Mr. Carlson.
“Gwendolyn Gracen,” she said. “I just moved here, and my parents forgot to register me for classes.” She held up a slip of paper and walked past Aidan’s table to hand it to Mr. Carlson, who took it with his good hand. His other hand was back in his lab coat pocket.
Aidan wished he had been asked to take her to the office, instead of that football player. A momentary daydream played out in his mind: he walked her to the office, cracked a few jokes that made her laugh, helped carry her books, and then . . .
“Everything seems in order,” said Mr. Carlson, handing the paper back to Gwendolyn. “I guess I’ll have to do without an Igor this time. Take a seat next to Aidan here–he’ll be your lab partner for the semester.”
Flashing Aidan a smile that seemed powered by California sunshine, Gwendolyn sat down next to him.
“Now that we’re really all here, let’s get to work,” said Mr. Carlson. “Open your books to page thirteen.”
Aidan flipped open his book.
Gwendolyn leaned toward him. She smelled like peppermint. “I don’t have my books yet,” she whispered. “Can I share?”
Aidan’s mouth felt suddenly dry. “Uh, share. I mean, sure.”
He slid the textbook over so she could see it.
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