Brandon Terrell - Science Fair Sabotage

The teenager with the baggy cargo shorts and oversized coat strolled into the grocerystore with a bounce in his step. The owner of the store, a middle-aged man with shortsalt-and-pepper hair, gave him a smile. Welcome to Diaz Groceries, the man saidas he continued to stack bright red apples in the produce section of the store.

The teenager, wearing his earbuds, either didnt hear the man, or pretended not to.He walked with a purpose, like he knew exactly where he was going, and what he wanted.Thats because he did. He always did.

The place wasnt packed, and that was perfect for his plan. There was less chanceof anyone seeing him.

At the far side of the store, past the chips and crackers and juice boxes, was anaisle filled with electronics. Diaz Groceries had security cameras up front by thedoor. But there were none in the tucked-away back corner of the cramped store. Theelectronic equipment was prime for the taking.

The teen passed by a stack of tomato soup cans being built by an African-Americangirl with her dark hair pulled up in a ponytail. She knelt in front of the display,tagging and stacking the cans. She looked a little young to be working at the store,but the teen paid her no mind.

He cut down the bread and cereal aisle. At the far end were a brother and sister twins, apparently, considering their matching blonde hair and scowls. They werearguing as each waved a box of cereal in front of the other.

Choco Squares, the girl said.

No, the boy countered. Fruity-Wows.

Choco Squares!

Fruity-Wows!

The teen ignored them and moved on.

One row past the squabbling siblings was the electronics aisle. It held just smallthings, nothing major. Stuff the pawn shop over on 47th Street would pay decent moneyfor, like battery chargers and portable hard drives. The plastic packages were barelyprotected... again. It was like the lame store owner never learned from his mistakes.The teen glanced down the aisle one way, then the other. A young man in a ball capand a janitor uniform whistled as he pushed a bucket on wheels past the aisle.

When the coast was clear, the teen began to snitch the goods.

He stuffed his large cargo shorts and coat pockets with gear, then quickly turnedto leave. He moved at the same casual pace to avoid alerting Mr. Diaz up front. Ashe walked to the end of the aisle, the siblings from the cereal section wheeled theirmetal shopping cart in front of him, blocking his path.

Excuse me, he said.

When he looked up at the twins, he noticed the sister glance at him. She looked asif she recognized him. Like she knew what he was up to. He was just being ,he had to be. Still, it wasnt worth taking a chance.

The teen turned on a heel and began to walk back the way he came.

Hes made us, twelve-year old Hayden Williams whispered.

Way to blow our cover, her brother Jaden said.

There had to have been at least five hundred dollars worth of electronics in theteens pockets. He was sweating. He had to get out of the store, and do it fast.

He hurried along the back of the store, hoping to reach the far end and hang a rightat the wall of refrigerated coolers. By the time he was halfway past the condiments,hed given up on playing calm. He hurried along with long strides. His stolen gearrustled and clinked in his pockets.

He didnt see the patch of wet tile floor until it was too late.

Whoa!

The shoplifting teen flailed his arms as he slipped along the floor. He knocked overa display of potato chip boxes and bags, and they scattered across the floor. Thethief couldnt keep his balance, though. Unable to stop, he careened forward.

The girl whod been making the tomato soup display thirteen-year-old Keisha Turner stepped out from behind the last aisle. She calmly swung open one of the glassfreezer doors. Billows of cold air plumed from the door as it yawned wide.

The thief couldnt stop himself. He fell, slid, and crashed right into the open refrigeratorfilled with TV dinners and frozen burritos. Keisha smiled. Ouch, she said. Thatsgotta hurt.

She swung the freezer door closed with glee.

Jaden and Hayden joined her. Jaden had cracked open a box of Fruity-Wows and wasmunching down a handful. Clean up in aisle six! Jaden shouted.

Oh, man, the janitor said as he approached. The freezer door had begun to fog up.He wiped it clear with one forearm. Guess I forgot to put down one of those WetFloor signs. Fourteen-year-old Carlos Diaz lifted his ball cap to reveal close-croppedcurly black hair, alert eyes, and a smile as wide as his face. What can I say? Itsmy first day on the job.

From inside the freezer, the shoplifter groaned. His teeth began to chatter.

The stores owner, Mr. Diaz, walked over from the produce section.

Hey, Dad! I told you wed snag the shoplifter whos been targeting your store. Thecops are on their way, Carlos said.

Mr. Diaz slipped an arm around Carlos shoulder and flashed a grin that matched hissons. I had no doubt. To the shoplifter, he added, Young man, it looks like youvebeen stopped cold by Snoops, Incorporated.

Okay, Jaden whispered to himself, whatever you do, dont drop the volcano.

The sixth-grader walked carefully into the gymnasium at Fleischman Middle Schoolhefting a cumbersome, craggy model volcano in both hands. Bits of red lava were paintedon the side of the stone. They dripped dramatically from the volcanos crater. Atthe base of the rock was a small village. Tiny villagers fled in fear of the impendingeruption.

Jaden wobbled a bit as students and parents breezed past him. Hey, watch where yourewalking! he shouted. Mount Vesuvius coming through!

Relax, Hayden said from behind her brother. You sound like someones trying toruin your science fair project.

The two siblings made their way through the cluttered gymnasium. Jaden held his breathas he wove toward his assigned table. He only let it out after sliding his modelvolcano safely onto the tabletop. There we go, he said. He checked the small timeron the back of the volcano. It controlled when the volcano would erupt, and the amountof lava exploding out of it. Then he leaned down to adjust a bit of volcanic rock and two of the tiny plastic figures running in terror. Pompeii issafe and sound. Well, for the time being. Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

Jaden glanced up and saw the girl at the next table, Mercy Gold, giving him a funnylook.

Sorry, he said. Ill dial back the diabolical laughing.

Rows of tables identical to Jadens had been set up around the gym. Each had a tableclothdraped down to the floor. A large banner hung over the gyms doorway. In bold letters,the sign read: SIXTH-GRADE SCIENCE FAIR.

Jaden watched as the rest of the sixth-graders from Fleischman set up their own projects.It was the evening before the competition, but already, the tension in the air wasthick. Tiny electrical gizmos whizzed on several tables. One table held a big fishtank filled with Jell-O. And poster boards with bubbly lettering sat next to manystudents projects.

Hayden stopped at the table just across the row from her brother. All right, shesaid. Time to set up my project. That blue ribbon is gonna be all mine tomorrow.She placed a small device on the table, along with a cardboard tube container thatheld her projects in it. Shed been working on her device for weeks.As much as Jaden hated to admit it, her project put his silly volcano to shame.