By+Michele+L.+Rich

Blake loved science more than peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Super Science Week was going to be the best week ever because he was presenting an experiment to his third grade class. If Mrs. Watson accepted it， he would be in the science fair1）. Good thing he was practically born wearing a lab coat. Science was his thing！

"For my experiment， I'm going to suspend an egg in water，" Blake announced to his class. He poured salt into a glass of water. He added more water and dropped an egg in. But the egg didn't stay in the middle of the glass like it was supposed to. It sunk like a stone to the bottom. Blake's face felt hot.

"Look， Blake's blushing！" Kate squealed2） from the back row.

Blake covered his face with his hands. His chest thumped3） as he returned to his seat and pressed his forehead to the cool desk.

That evening he flipped4） through The Book of Fabulous Science Experiments. When he saw the dancing purple worm experiment， he thought， This is the one.

"I am going to make purple worms dance，" Blake announced to his class the next day. Their eyes widened.

Blake poured vinegar5） into a bowl along with blue and red food coloring. He added several pieces of cooked spaghetti6）. They quickly turned purple.

"Now watch the 'worms' closely，" he said. "I'm mixing an acid （vinegar） with a base （baking soda）. It will cause a reaction." He dropped a tablespoon of soda into the bowl， and WHAM！ Bubbles and fizz7） foamed to the top of the bowl and spilled over， soaking Mrs. Watson's grade book.

"Blake's blushing again！" Perry pointed and laughed.

Blake looked down. His spaghetti worms weren't dancing. They sat limply8） at the bottom of the bowl.

Mrs. Watson lifted her soggy9） grade book and wrinkled her nose. Purple water dripped onto the floor. "I think this could have been great， Blake，" she said， wiping purple off her fingers with a tissue10） while trying to smile.

Blake returned to his seat. Perry patted his back. "It's OK， Blake. Maybe science just isn't your thing."

But science was his thing！ His Uncle Ted was a science teacher. His mom worked in a medical lab. His big brother was studying to be a chemist. His family tree grew scientists！

Blake studied The Book of Fabulous Science Experiments again that night. Aha！ The clinging11） salt and pepper experiment would get him in the science fair for sure. He gathered a plastic spoon， a wool cloth， and salt and pepper. There was no way this could fail.

Blake stood in front of the class the next day. He scattered the salt on one end of Mrs. Watson's desk and rubbed the spoon with the wool cloth.

"This plastic spoon is negatively12） charged by the wool cloth，" he said. "The spoon will lift up the salt and pepper." He shook pepper onto the other end of the desk. He grabbed the spoon and ... "Achoo！" Blake sneezed over the pepper. It scattered across the desk. "Achoo！ ... Achoo！" Pepper flew in the air and into Blake's nose. "Achoo！ ... Achoo！ ... Achoo！" Salt and pepper covered Mrs. Watson's desk and the floor. Someone snickered when Blake used the cloth to wipe his nose. He looked helplessly to Mrs. Watson.

She forced a smile. "You were really close this time， Blake， but I have to make my decision tomorrow morning. Keep trying！" Blake's heart felt heavy in his chest. Science was his thing ... wasn't it？ He sat up in bed that night， unable to sleep. He just had to be in that science fair！ But the only thing he could do right was blush.

A smile grew on Blake's face. He had it！ He jumped out of bed to prepare for tomorrow.

The next morning， Blake marched to the front of the class. He was wearing his Mickey Mouse ears from last summer's trip to Disneyland. He felt ridiculous and probably looked it， too. Everyone cracked up13）， and his face burned.

"That's right. I'm blushing. This is my science experiment，" Blake announced. Everyone quieted down. "Mouse ears are your science experiment？" Perry asked. "No， blushing is！" Blake said. "Charles Darwin called blushing 'the most human of all expressions'. Other animals do not blush，" Blake added. Mrs. Watson smiled and nodded.

Blake continued： "Blushing is caused by an overactive nervous system. The blood vessels14） in the face open wide and fill the skin with blood." He walked around the classroom， giving each student a closer look at his red face. Then he propped up a poster board showing the blood vessels. The class gathered around to admire his drawings.

"When you feel stress or embarrassment，" Blake said， "your emotions cause you to blush. There's no way to control it. Believe me. I've tried. It's a normal part of being human， so the best thing you can do is accept it—unless you'd rather be a monkey，" he said with a smile. The class applauded.

Mrs. Watson clapped the loudest. "Blake， this will be perfect for the science fair on Monday."

Blake walked proudly back to his seat. His red face lit up the whole classroom. Science was his thing！

比起花生醬和香蕉三明治，布萊克更愛科學(xué)。超級(jí)科學(xué)周將成為有史以來最棒的一周，因?yàn)樗麑⒃谒娜昙?jí)同學(xué)面前演示一個(gè)實(shí)驗(yàn)。如果沃森老師認(rèn)可這個(gè)實(shí)驗(yàn)，他就能參加科學(xué)展覽會(huì)了。值得慶幸的是，他簡直就是穿著實(shí)驗(yàn)服出生的。科學(xué)是他最拿手的！

“在我的實(shí)驗(yàn)里，我將讓一顆雞蛋懸浮在水中?！辈既R克向全班宣布。他把鹽倒入一杯水中，又加了些水進(jìn)去，然后把一顆雞蛋放進(jìn)去。但是雞蛋并沒有像預(yù)想的那樣停留在水杯中間，而是像石頭一樣沉到了杯底。布萊克覺得臉上一陣滾燙。

“看，布萊克臉紅了！”最后一排的凱特尖聲叫道。

布萊克用雙手捂住了臉。他回到座位，腦門緊貼在冰涼的課桌上，胸口怦怦直跳。

那晚，他翻了一遍《了不起的科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)之書》。當(dāng)他看到跳舞的紫色蟲子這個(gè)實(shí)驗(yàn)時(shí)，他想，就是這個(gè)了！

“我要讓紫色的蟲子跳舞。”第二天布萊克向全班同學(xué)宣布。所有人都睜大了眼睛。

布萊克將醋連同藍(lán)色和紅色的食用色素一起倒進(jìn)一個(gè)碗里，又加進(jìn)去幾截煮熟了的意大利面。這些意大利面迅速變成了紫色。

“現(xiàn)在仔細(xì)觀察這些‘蟲子，”布萊克說，“我現(xiàn)在要將酸（醋）和堿（小蘇打）混合。這會(huì)引起一種反應(yīng)。”他將一湯匙蘇打放入碗中，然后只聽砰的一聲！產(chǎn)生的泡沫和氣泡涌到碗口，溢了出來，把沃森老師的成績冊都浸濕了。

“布萊克又臉紅了！”佩里指著他大笑起來。

布萊克低下了頭。他的意大利面“蟲子”并沒有跳舞，它們軟綿綿地待在碗底。

沃森老師拿起被浸濕的成績冊，皺了皺鼻子。紫色的水滴落在地板上?！拔矣X得這個(gè)實(shí)驗(yàn)本來可以很棒的，布萊克?！彼f道，一邊用紙巾擦掉手指上紫色的水，一邊竭力擠出一個(gè)笑容。

布萊克回到自己的座位上。佩里拍拍他的后背。“沒關(guān)系，布萊克。也許科學(xué)根本不是你拿手的。”

但是科學(xué)就是他拿手的??！他的叔叔特德是位教科學(xué)的老師。他的媽媽在一個(gè)醫(yī)學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)室工作。他的大哥正在求學(xué)，想要成為化學(xué)家。他的家族樹上長科學(xué)家！

那晚布萊克又研究了一遍《了不起的科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)之書》。啊哈！讓鹽和胡椒粉變得有黏性的實(shí)驗(yàn)肯定能讓他參加科學(xué)展覽會(huì)。他搜集來一個(gè)塑料勺、一塊毛織布料，以及鹽和胡椒粉。這一次絕對(duì)不可能失敗。

第二天，布萊克站到全班同學(xué)面前。他把鹽撒在沃森老師的桌子一端，然后用毛織布料摩擦勺子。

“這個(gè)塑料勺經(jīng)過毛織布料的摩擦后就帶上了負(fù)電，”他說，“這個(gè)勺子將把鹽和胡椒粉吸起來?！彼麑⒑贩廴鲈谧雷拥牧硪欢?。他抓起勺子，然后……“阿嚏！”布萊克對(duì)著胡椒粉打了個(gè)噴嚏。胡椒粉在桌上四散開來?！鞍⑻纾　⑻?！”胡椒粉飛到空氣中，飛進(jìn)了布萊克的鼻子里。“阿嚏！……阿嚏！……阿嚏！”沃森老師的桌子上以及地上滿是鹽和胡椒粉。布萊克用那塊毛織布料擦鼻子時(shí)有人偷偷笑了。布萊克無助地看著沃森老師。

她勉強(qiáng)擠出一絲笑容?！澳氵@次真的非常接近成功了，布萊克，但是我明天早上必須做出決定了。繼續(xù)努力！”布萊克覺得心情十分沉重?？茖W(xué)是他拿手的……不是嗎？那晚他坐在床上，無法入睡。他就是一定要參加科學(xué)展！但是，他唯一能做對(duì)的事情就是臉紅。

一抹微笑浮上了布萊克的臉龐。他想到了！他從床上一躍而起，去為明天做準(zhǔn)備。

第二天早上，布萊克堅(jiān)定地快步走到全班前面。他戴著去年夏天去迪士尼樂園旅行時(shí)買的米老鼠耳朵。他覺得很可笑，很可能看起來也很可笑。每個(gè)人都放聲大笑起來，布萊克的臉火燒火燎的。

“沒錯(cuò)。我臉紅了。這就是我的科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)?！辈既R克宣布。所有人都安靜了下來?！袄鲜蠖渚褪悄愕目茖W(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)？”佩里問道?！安?。臉紅才是！”布萊克說。“查爾斯·達(dá)爾文將臉紅稱為‘所有表情里最具人類屬性的表情。其他動(dòng)物是不會(huì)臉紅的?！辈既R克補(bǔ)充道。沃森老師笑著點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭。

布萊克繼續(xù)說：“臉紅是由于神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)的過度活躍引起的。臉部的血管擴(kuò)張，使臉部皮膚充血。”他在教室里四處走動(dòng)，讓每個(gè)學(xué)生都能近距離看看他的紅臉。然后，他撐起一塊畫有臉部血管的紙板。全班同學(xué)都圍上去欣賞他畫的圖。

“當(dāng)你覺得緊張或是尷尬的時(shí)候，”布萊克說，“你的情緒會(huì)讓你臉紅。沒有什么辦法能控制它。相信我，我已經(jīng)試過了。作為人類這很正常，所以你能做的最明智的事情就是接受它——除非你寧愿當(dāng)一只猴子?！彼χf道。全班都鼓起掌來。

沃森老師的掌聲最響亮?！安既R克，這很適合下周一的科學(xué)展覽?！?/p>

布萊克自豪地走回自己的座位，他紅紅的臉龐照亮了整個(gè)教室。科學(xué)就是他最拿手的！