Chapter 5

Grace was so excited for school today because it was Friday and that meant Science Lab with her favorite teacher, Miss Wilburn. Mixing ingredients and watching green smoke come out of vials was her favorite. Today, after Miss Wilburn did her usual talk about safety, she was going to teach the children more about how to use the microscope and how to use the glass slides.

“Good morning, class! Let’s get started!” Miss Wilburn said, excitedly. She picked up a box from her desk and walked around the classroom, handing out the slides to every student.

“Now be careful, these things are very fragile.” Miss Wilburn warned. Grace was so excited that when she was handed her slide, she immediately removed the thin tissue paper that covered it and with a little too much enthusiasm, accidentally squeezed the slide too tight in between her fingers, and broke the slide in half. The broken glass sliced her finger.

“Ouch!” Grace gasped.

“Oh dear, Grace are you ok? Let me see.” Miss Wilburn said, sweetly. Grace was so excited, she didn’t put down the broken slide. She held up her cut finger and the slide for Miss Wilburn to look at. “Hmm. Looks like you need a Band-Aid. Why don’t you head over to the nurses office and have that looked at?”

Grace quickly headed out of the classroom and down the hall to the nurses office. She looked forward all week to Science Lab Friday and she didn’t want to miss a second of it. Sitting in the nurses office, Grace held up her finger and explained to Mrs. Holland what had happened. Mrs. Holland took a look at Grace’s finger and seeing the little girl’s excitement to get back to class, cleaned Grace’s finger up quick.

While Mrs. Holland was reaching for a Snoopy Band-Aid, Grace leaned back in her chair and saw Alex in the principals office. “That’s strange.” Grace thought. “Alex never gets in trouble.”