Mae Respicio - How to Win a Slime War

1 eight-ounce bottle of white glue

1 tablespoon of baking soda

2 teaspoons of contact lens solution

A few drops of green food coloring

The world has plenty of twelve-year-olds whove accomplished amazing things, like:

Hoisting 308 pounds in one clean lift.

Inventing a braille printer from a Lego set.

Making millions of dollars from candy thats good for your teeth.

I wish I could add myself to this list, but I can barely lift a fifty-pound bag of rice, when I play with Legos I usually lose the pieces, and when it comes to candyespecially my favorite kind, with an edible wrapperId rather eat it than sell it.

I do have one hobby Im not bad at:

Making slime.

Im stellar at slime challenges. This morning my best friend, Raj, and I are doing one final face-off before my dad and I move from San Jose to Sacramento. Its our way of saying goodbye.

I lay out the ingredients, a couple of bowls, and some fat wooden stirring sticks. Raj sets my laptop on the kitchen counter, raises the volume, and cues up a video:

Slime Time Sorayas 30-Second Challenge!

He rubs his hands together. Ive been waiting the whole week for this!

Weve done all her challenges except this one, which weve been saving for a special occasion.

Okay, Slime Squad! Slime Time Soraya says on-screen. Today we makeclassic slime! Your goal: mix as fast as you can.

Challenge accepted! Raj says back.

Who makes good slime in thirty seconds? I say. Art takes much longer than that.

Raj smiles slyly. Youre not the only one with skills, Alex.

We get into position and Soraya counts down:

Three, two, oneGO!

We squeeze glue into our bowls. Shake in baking soda. Squirt in food coloring. Green, of course.

Stir, slimers, STIR!

I mix in quick circles. Raj looks like hes beating eggs. My bowl whirls around, I cant keep it still. The timer ticks loudly and we stir even more frantically.

Times up! Sticks down! she says. We throw down our craft sticks and let out a huge sigh.

I look at Rajhis glasses are covered in drops of green glopand we burst out laughing. At school I dont have many friends, but I can count on Raj. Im going to miss him. My dad and I are moving into Lolo and Lolas house, right next door to my cousins, while our grandparents are away on their retirement trip. Im nervous but excitedDad and I are taking over Lolo and Lolas Asian market. Ive always wanted to have my own business.

Raj scoops up his slime and lifts his stick high. Goop drips down his wrist. Gross. It didnt congeal at all.

Told you we needed more time.

Theres baking soda on my cheeks and slime hanging from my long hair, too. We take one look at our mess and crack up.

And then Dad walks in.

Hi, Mr. Manalo. Raj waves but forgets hes still holding his stick. More goo flings on the counter and floor. Whoops.

Hey there, Raj. Dad gives him a smile, but it disappears when he turns my way. Alex, were supposed to be packing, not making more work.

Well clean it up, Mr. Manalo. We promise, Raj says. He crosses his heart with the stick and accidentally smears goop on his shirt. I try to hold back my laughter. Its lucky Raj is here, otherwise Dad would have gotten mad. He doesnt think slimings productive (and he hates the cleanup).

Dad nods and goes to do more packing.

Are you nervous? Raj asks as we wipe everything down.

About what?

About being the smallest kids in sixth grade!

Raj and I both got stuck with short genes. I dont remember my momshe died when I was littlebut Dad describes her as petite. Hes average height, so out popped me: Alexander T. Manalo, short-kid, science-loving, sports-failing entrepreneurial slimer.

Before I found out about our move, Raj and I decided we would work our way up to the popular table in middle school. He didnt think we could do it. He thought we had to be taller and sportier and way cooler for it to ever happen.

Why would I be nervous? I ask as we put everything away. Im launching the new me.

How? By sliming?

Dont be so sure, Raj. Things can change.

He snickers, but it makes me think.

It seems impossible that greatness could be achieved by turning glue into goo, but its happenedSlime Time Soraya and other kids have literally made millions on tutorials and challenges.

Maybe I can, too. Maybe one day Ill make sliming work for me.

All I need is my chance.