by Raymond Bean
CHAPTER 28
Rise of the Emmpire
After weeks and weeks of work at the lab, the AWSC finally arrived. Mr. Gonzalez called the team together in the conference area. All the adults were there, too.
“This has been an interesting past few weeks for me,” Mr. Gonzalez began. “I have watched you grow, and I have also watched you refuse to grow. I have to admit that I feel that some of you wasted a great deal of time during the first few weeks of this process. With that being said, I want to make sure we all understand what is going to happen next. Only one of your projects will be entered in the AWSC. Once that project is announced, the rest of you will support that project as your company’s best work. Are there any questions?”
No one said a word.
“You are encouraged to continue working on your experiment, and to perhaps enter it in a contest like this another time. But for now, only one project may be entered. Mr. Michaels, Mr. Cherub, Grandma, and I have met several times to decide the winner.”
“How did we do?” I asked sheepishly.
“Most of you did fine. There was one person who clearly stood out, though. This person surprised us all. I want to remind you guys that before we reveal the winner and new president of the company, you must agree to take the news in an appropriate way. You must show respect for the winner, as well as the losers. No name calling, no teasing, and the next time one of you goes and pulls a public prank,” here he paused and looked at Anthony, “will be your last day at the lab. Am I making myself clear?”
We all nodded and held our breath. That is, all of us except Emma, who didn’t seem to care one way or the other. Mr. Cuddlesworth didn’t seem too concerned either.
Mr. Gonzalez continued, “After talking long and hard with some other scientists and your families, I have decided to only tell you the winner’s name. I am not going to get into who came in second, third, and fourth. It could very well have been any of you that scored fourth out of four, and the way some of you have been acting lately, I don’t know that I can trust you to not tease one another.”
Scott winked at me and whispered, “That’s cool of him. He doesn’t want to hurt Emma’s feelings.”
“Scott, when you whisper in a silent room, you may as well speak normally, because your whispers are overheard, and then everyone is just plain uncomfortable,” Mr. Gonzalez said.
“Sorry,” Scott said, pulling the pair of virtual reality glasses down from his head to cover his eyes.
Mr. Gonzalez continued, “Thank you. Now, the interesting thing about what you just said is that Emma is not going to have to worry about her feelings being hurt, because Emma happens to be the winner.” Mr. Gonzalez walked over to where Emma was sitting. “Emma, I always knew you were one of a kind, but I had no idea you were this bright. You show signs of genius!”
Emma didn’t look surprised. She smiled and kept on petting her bunny. “I know,” she said, like it was no big deal.
“What?” I started. “But, Mr. Gonzalez, you can’t really expect Emma to be in charge of the company. She’s only five.”
“I’m aware of how old she is. I am also aware of the way you boys have been handling things lately. I think it will do you guys some good to focus on science for a while and not worry about being in charge. Emma will have plenty of support from your parents, Grandma, and me. You gentlemen need only worry about your science.”
“That, and listen to me and Mr. Cuddlesworth!” Emma said, laughing.
As I sat there watching everyone congratulate Emma, I realized I didn’t feel angry or sad. I felt relieved. I felt relieved to not be in charge anymore, and even more relieved to know that Anthony wouldn’t be taking over the company.
“I have met separately with all of you about your projects,” Mr. Gonzalez said, turning to the rest of us. “Keith is coming along nicely with his molecular gastronomy project. Scott is finally getting some work done, and I am curious to see where his virtual-reality project takes him. Anthony, would you like to tell everyone what your situation is?”
Anthony looked uncomfortable. “Well, I kind of lost track of time these past few weeks. I have been just hanging out over in my lab since I came back. I don’t have anything going on. Although I can do a jackknife, a flip, and a seriously big cannonball in the pool.”
“And you wanted to run things?” I asked.
“I figured I would win the IQ test and I wouldn’t have to do anymore projects. I thought I could just manage you guys. Who knew Mr. Gonzalez would squash the IQ challenge and that your little sister was some sort of genius?”
“I did,” Grandma said.
“Me too,” Mom added.
“Yep, she’s just like her dear old dad,” Dad said, as he gave Emma a hug.
“Anthony and I have talked about it, and if he doesn’t have a project up and running in the next month, he is out,” Mr. Gonzalez said sternly. “Also, his home school days are over. He will be joining you guys at Harbor side Elementary starting next week.”
“I would like to officially offer Mrs. Weaver a job tutoring me!” I said eagerly.
“I don’t think so, Keith. The only one who is going to be home schooled around here is Emma. Mrs. Weaver and Grandma will be working with her in the lab so she can continue her science work.”
I almost fell out of my seat. Emma had not only won the challenge and taken over the company, but she was also going to live my dream of being schooled at the lab.
“Mom, I thought you said I couldn’t be home schooled at the lab?” I asked.
“I did say you couldn’t, but I think it will be a wonderful experience for Emma.”
“It’s going to be tough, but somebody has to do it!” Emma said.
We all laughed.
Mr. Gonzalez said, “You gentlemen should take a bit of advice from young Emma. She has been doing amazing work.”
Anthony grumbled.
“Oh get over yourself, Anthony,” I said. “Let’s hear all about it, Emm.” I was really excited for her. She looked so happy, and Mom, Dad, and Grandma were beaming. It reminded me how I felt when I invented Sweet Farts. Emma was happy for me back then, and I guess it was time for me to be happy for her now.
Emma stood up. “Well, ummm, the thing is…I don’t really know what I did.” She looked at Grandma.
“Sure you do, Emma. You have been doing great science the past few months. You were having so much fun you just didn’t realize it. Tell everyone what you told me about cute baby animals and people.”
“Oh that? I said that cute baby animals make people happy.”
“Okay, and what did you ask if you could do?” Grandma added.
“I asked if I could share the baby animals with older people and people who feel sick.”
“Exactly, and why did you want to do that?” Grandma asked.
“I wanted to do that because I knew it would make them feel better.”
“I get it,” I said. “That was your hypothesis! You predicted that older people and people who are feeling sick would feel better if they spent time with baby animals.”
“Yeah, so?” Emma asked.
“So,” Mr. Gonzalez continued. “That is how science works. You make a hypothesis, or a guess, about what you think will happen, and then you try it out and record what actually happens.”
“So what happened?” Scott asked.
“You will just have to wait for the AWSC and see for yourself,” Mr. Gonzalez replied. “I have one more surprise for you all. The Helen Winifred Show has been interested in what you are all up to. She invited you back to share your work and talk about the AWSC the day after the competition!”
CHAPTER 29
Passing the Torch
The day of the All-World Science Competition was really relaxing, actually. For once, I wasn’t the center of attention. Emma seemed to handle the pressure much better than I did. I’m always a nervous wreck when I’m the center of attention. Emma didn’t seem to mind it at all.
We all
took a limousine into the city, while some of the scientists from the lab followed behind in a truck full of animals and materials for Emma’s display. When we arrived, there was a huge booth toward the middle of the convention center. On the wall behind our table a big banner read Sweet Farts, Inc. The walls around the display were covered with thank-you letters to Emma from people she’d invited to her Smile Farm. I was amazed at how many people had written. The convention center was packed.
Most of Emma’s animals were set up in a makeshift petting zoo or Smile Farm. Within minutes, there were people asking questions and talking with all of us. It went on like this for hours.
I found myself talking about the molecular gastronomy project a lot, and I saw Scott talking with kids about his Virtual Reality Housing idea. Anthony was bragging all day long about last year’s lottery discovery. He was even complaining about how he couldn’t spend all his money now; he had to wait until he was eighteen like me.
People were even asking Grandma about Square Fruit. Toward the end of the day, we all went into this huge auditorium. It must have held a thousand people. This was a much bigger audience than the one I announced Sweet Farts to. Emma had gone backstage with Grandma, Mom, Mr. Gonzalez, and some of the lab scientists. I hoped she wasn’t too nervous.
Tons of kids presented their ideas. We saw projects on medicines, animals, plants—the list went on and on. I was amazed at some of the stuff these kids had worked on. In the end, the kid who won had built a rocket that reached outer space! He showed videos and pictures of his work that absolutely amazed me. As the winner of the AWSC, his project would be funded for the next ten years. And he didn’t have to go to school anymore. His research was going to count toward his education since he would be working with world-class scientists at NASA.
At the very end of the ceremony, the announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is the distinct honor and privilege of the AWSC to introduce our youngest entrant ever. She may not have won this year, but I think you are getting an early look at a future science star. Please join me in welcoming Emma Emerson.”
People were clapping like crazy when Emma walked out on stage with Mr. Gonzalez. She looked so tiny up there. I was amazed at how calm she was. She had a huge smile on her face and was blowing kisses. The host of the competition spoke into the microphone. “Hi, Emma, we are so proud to have you with us today.”
“Thanks, I’m happy to be here,” Emma said.
“Can you tell us about your project?” he asked. Emma went on to explain her project. The crowd seemed to really enjoy it. Then she got to the part that Scott, Anthony, and I didn’t know about. Emma said, “I knew animals would make people feel happy. So I wanted to see if there was a type of animal that made people the happiest.”
“So what did you do?” he asked.
“I set up a Smile Farm at the Sweet Farts labs. I collected all kinds of animals. They’re so cute.”
Mr. Gonzalez interrupted. “Emma went beyond simply playing with animals, which is what some of her colleagues thought she was doing. She had the scientists tracking which animals people responded to best. She tested the elderly, the young, and people dealing with illness and injury, and reached the same conclusion every time. Go ahead and tell them, Emma.”
“The animal that makes people the most happy is the bunny.”
Mr. Gonzalez continued, “Our scientists asked the people visiting Emma’s Smile Farm questions about their happiness before they arrived. Then they interviewed them after visiting with the animals and Emma. What they overwhelmingly observed was that the people who interacted with the bunnies were happier and less stressed when they left than when they arrived.”
“I knew it would end up that way,” Emma announced. People laughed and started clapping. She couldn’t have been cuter.
The announcer continued, “Emma’s fantastic work and vision are going to be put to good use this coming summer when hundreds of hospitals and senior centers around the world build Smile Farms of their own. As our young scientist, Emma Emerson has proven that laughter is the best medicine.”
Emma spoke into the microphone. “Keith, you need to play with bunnies. You won’t worry so much.” Then her friends John and Ruby, who were sitting up front, started the chant, “Play with bunnies, play with bunnies, play with bunnies.” Oddly enough, the crowd started chanting along with them. I couldn’t believe it, but I found myself chanting right along with them.
CHAPTER 30
The Helen Winifred Show No. 2
The Helen Winifred Show was sometimes taped at different locations around the city. The day we were on, it was being taped at Yankee Stadium, right before a game. I was so excited. Mr. Gonzalez told us that Helen herself had decided to tape the show at the game in our honor. She knew how much of a fan I was.
We arrived early and got to meet some of the players; I got a few autographs and even some pictures. There were a bunch of chairs set up in front of the Yankees dugout and a bunch of people with cameras and wires ran every which way. There were chairs for me, Emma, Scott, and Anthony, and a special chair at the end for Helen Winifred. I was sitting in the chair closest to Helen. I was actually pretty excited to talk with her. The last time I was on her show I was really nervous. This time I was feeling fine. After all, I was on the field at Yankee Stadium; what could be better?
“Keith, we are going to need you to switch chairs with Emma,” a woman wearing a headset announced.
I switched seats, and then it hit me, I wasn’t the star of the show anymore. Emma was. And she was about to have her moment in the spotlight. Not only was I really surprised by how okay I was with her taking over the company, but I was about to be on national TV, and I was actually relaxed!
Helen was still in the dugout talking with a bunch of players and a few reporters. When she finished up, she jogged over to where we were waiting.
“Hi, guys!” she said. “I am so happy to be meeting with you again. I love doing the shows here before the game!”
Some lady started putting makeup on my face.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I am putting makeup on you for the lights.”
Anthony was laughing like crazy. “You can tell him the truth. You’re a girl, Keith. I think you’ve always known it deep down.”
“Whatever, Anthony! You are the one wearing a dress to the Yankees game.”
“Come on, guys,” Emma insisted. “No arguing in this Emmpire! Got it?”
“Emmpire?” Anthony asked.
“I’m in charge now, and I am calling this my Emmpire. Empire with two m’s like my name. And there is no arguing allowed, Anthony.”
Anthony and I couldn’t help but laugh. That was pretty clever for a five-year-old.
“I like your moxie,” Helen told Emma.
My little sister might be exactly what we needed the whole time. Maybe now the two of us would find a way to get along better since we wouldn’t be competing for top dog.
CHAPTER 31
Fart Me Out to the Ball Game
“Okay, everyone, we’re going live in a few seconds. I hear you guys have been very busy since I saw you last,” Helen said.
Before we could answer, a camera person yelled, “ACTION.”
Helen turned to the camera. “I’m here today with the members of the youngest group of scientists I know. The last time I had them on the show it was a really wild time. Keith, who invented Sweet Farts, was trying to follow up his great experiment with something new. His goal was to discover a way to make foods that children hate to eat taste like foods children love. For example, he tried to make liver taste like candy canes. How’s that going, Keith?”
“Well, I’m still working on the project and trying to get it just right. I promised my sister I would figure it out, and I will one of these days.”
“Great! Anthony, how are you?”
“Awesome, Helen,” Anthony said.
“Why the sarong, dude?” Helen asked. “Not that it doesn’t look
great on you with your Yankee jersey and all.”
“Well, I traveled a bunch after my last time on the show, and I started wearing these on my trip. They’re very comfortable,” Anthony answered.
“Okay, so the last time you were here, you were in the audience, and you got an e-mail in the middle of the show and went totally crazy. Can you explain to everyone what happened that day?”
“Sure. I had been working on a pattern I found in the lottery numbers. I got the e-mail during your show telling me that I had won.” Anthony looked about as happy as could be. He loved talking about his project and was eating this up. He was going on and on about his winnings, his tutor, and his trip around the world. It was a little hard to take. He didn’t mention that he failed to come up with an idea for the AWSC.
“And that brings me to Emma, the new queen of the castle. I hear you are now in charge, young lady,” Helen said.
“Yep, Mr. Gonzalez says I’m some kind of genius,” she said.
“I love it! How has it been running the company?”
“I haven’t been in charge that long. But now that I am, I want everyone in the company to start being nice and telling the truth.” She turned to Anthony and me.
“Why? Who isn’t telling the truth?” Helen asked.
“I just want everyone to know that Anthony has been blaming my brother Keith for his farts, and I think it’s terrible. Haven’t you, Anthony?”
I couldn’t believe it! My little sister was calling Anthony out on national TV.
“No I haven’t,” Anthony started.
“Actually, you have,” Emma said, turning back to Helen. “You see, Helen, Anthony is a flatulist. He can fart whenever he wants. He’s been farting all over the place for as long as I can remember and blaming Keith all along.”
