cafeteria As we headed for the door Doc tapped me on the shoulder Can I speak with you for a moment Alana he asked Go ahead I said to the girls Save me a seat There was a burnt hole in the elbow of Doc’s white lab coat I wondered how it got there I’ll get right to the point said Doc fidgeting with his pocket protector I am nominating you for the eighth-grade STEAM Expo I nearly lost my balance and toppled over Me I asked The STEAM Expo was a competition open only to eighth graders It was the highlight of the STEAM Convention Every school nominated one student to compete When Doc told our class this I hoped he would pick me When I never heard anything I figured he must have chosen someone else Yes you said Doc I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you until now but that’s part of the rules It was 8
the only way to keep the playing field level So you’ll do it I would be honored I answered Eureka said Doc I think you have a real shot of winning You are a gifted scientist Alana O’Brien I beamed at the compliment Your challenge is simple he continued Take a tool and change its purpose Pretty open ended right That’s what makes it so hard The possibilities are endless My mind buzzed Take a tool and change its purpose I repeated Like turning an egg carton into a seed garden Or using a potato to light a light bulb Exactly Doc answered Can you help me with the project I asked Doc hesitated Well he said technically I am allowed to offer guidance But I cannot give any hints or 9
specific suggestions The judges are very strict Just remember what you’ve learned about the engineering process and you’ll be just fine Doc pointed to a poster on the wall Large black arrows circled clockwise around the words ASK IMAGINE PLAN CREATE IMPROVE and finally back to ASK Now off you go to lunch he said A little birdie told me it’s mac and cheese day I floated down the halls to the cafeteria 10
You look happy said Louie as I plopped down into the empty seat next to her Here said Rana we got you an appetizer She handed me an overflowing plate of ooey gooey mac and cheese My stomach rumbled in thanks You know me too well I said digging into my first bite
