迪文小说

第10部分（第2页）

been　for　my　fifth…grade　science　fair。

Everyone　around　me　had　great　project　ideas；　but　I　couldnt　seem　to　e　up　with　one。　Then

our　teacher；　Mrs。　Brubeck；　took　me　aside　and　told

me　about　a　friend　of　hers　who　had　chickens；　and　how　she　could　get　me　a　fertilized　egg　for

my　project。

“But　I　dont　know　anything　about　hatching　an　egg；”　I　told　her。

She　smiled　and　put　her　arm　around　my　shoulders。　“You　dont　have　to　be　an　immediate

expert　at　everything；　Juli。　The　idea　here　is　to　learn

something　new。”

“But　what　if　it　dies？”

“Then　it　dies。　Document　your　work　scientifically　and　youll　still　get　an　A；　if　thats　what　youre

worried　about。”

An　A？　Being　responsible　for　the　death　of　a　baby　chick—thats　what　I　was　worried　about。

Suddenly　there　was　real　appeal　in　building　a　volcano　or

making　my　own　neoprene　or　demonstrating　the　various　scientific　applications　of　gear　ratios。

But　the　ball　was　in　motion；　and　Mrs。　Brubeck　would　have　no　more　discussion　about　it。　She

pulled　The　Beginners　Guide　to　Raising　Chickens

from　her　bookshelf　and　said；　“Read　the　section　on　artificial　incubation　and　set　yourself　up

tonight。　Ill　get　you　an　egg　tomorrow。”

“But　…”

“Dont　worry　so　much；　Juli；”　she　said。　“We　do　this　every　year；　and　its　always　one　of　the　best

projects　at　the　fair。”

I　said；　“But…；”　but　she　was　gone。　Off　to　put　an　end　to　some　other　students　battle　with

indecision。

That　night　I　was　more　worried　than　ever。　Id　read　the　chapter　on　incubation　at　least　four　times

and　was　still　confused　about　where　to　start。　I　didnt

happen　to　have　an　old　aquarium　lying　around！　We　didnt　happen　to　have　an　incubation

thermometer！　Would　a　deep…fry　model　work？

I　was　supposed　to　control　humidity；　too；　or　horrible　things　would　happen　to　the　chick。　Too　dry

and　the　chick　couldnt　peck　out；　too　wet　and　it　would

die　of　mushy　chick　disease。　Mushy　chick　disease？！

My　mother；　being　the　sensible　person　that　she　is；　told　me　to　tell　Mrs。　Brubeck　that　I　simply

wouldnt　be　hatching　a　chick。　“Have　you　considered

growing　beans？”　she　asked　me。

My　father；　however；　understood　that　you　cant　refuse　to　do　your　teachers　assignment；　and

he　promised　to　help。　“An　incubators　not　difficult　to