The Science Project

Brett put the finishing touches on his science project while his friend Mike watched. He placed the microscope and slides of what he’d seen in his study of pond water in a neat display. After thumb tacking his drawings in place, Brett stepped back to look at his work and said, “There, that should do it.”

“I don’t know,” Mike said, shaking his head. “Looks like you need more stuff to me.”

Brett frowned at his friend. He’d worked weeks on this project. What did Mike know about science exhibits anyway? He probably hadn’t given any time to his study on plant growth.

“How’s your plant project coming?” Brett asked.

Mike shrugged his shoulders and said, “OK, I guess. I’ll put it together after my paper route tomorrow.”

Brett nodded his head, thinking, tomorrow? It’s taken me days to put mine together. Brett was sure glad he didn’t have to throw a paper route every day like Mike. The route took a lot of Mike’s time.

“See you tomorrow,” Mike said, glancing back to look at the perfectly constructed panels framing Brett’s project. “Guess I need to make a frame to mount my drawings on,” he added.

“I’ll help you make one,” Brett offered.

“Thanks. See you tomorrow,” Mike said as he left.

“How are you doing?” Brett’s dad asked as he looked over the science project.

“OK, Dad. I think it’ll be a winner this year!” He still remembered his disappointment at his close loss to a classmate’s perfectly displayed project last year.

“I think your neat panels have improved your project this year,” his father said. “Judges notice things like that.”

“They sure do,” Brett agreed. “Thanks for helping me to design them, Dad.”

“Sure, Good luck, Son. You’ve done a super job. I’m glad you finished early. We’ll be able to go to the Scout Jamboree.”

Brett nodded his head in agreement. He’d looked forward to the Jamboree for months, and had finished his project early so he could go. He could hardly wait for all the activities that would take place at Lake Martin. In fact, Brett had his sleeping bag and camping gear ready to go.

***

“Say, how about showing me your science project this afternoon?” Brett said as he and Mike got off the school bus. “Maybe we could start on your panels.”

Mike replied eagerly, “Sure, come on over.”

“Let me tell Mom first,” Brett said as he ran toward his house from the bus stop.

Mike’s father was reading the paper in the living room when Brett arrived.

“Hello, Brett. Good to see you. All ready for the science exhibit?”

“Yes, Sir. I studied pond water this year,” Brett replied.

“I bet that was interesting,” Mr. Johnson said.

Brett nodded his head as Mike entered the room. “My project’s in the garage,” he said. “Mom didn’t want all that dirt in my room.”

Brett followed Mike to the garage. His project was on an old workbench with plants in various stages of growth and under different conditions.

Brett caught his breath as he looked at Mike’s notes and drawings. The log recorded the progress of his work in detail. And the drawings were excellent. How had Mike found the time? Brett wondered.

“These are the drawings I need to frame,” Mike said.

Brett swallowed hard and wondered, What will my offer to help Mike build a display do to my own chances of winning? Brett hadn’t realized how much work Mike had done on his project when he made his offer earlier to help with the panels.

Brett looked up as Mr. Johnson limped into the garage and a twinge of guilt overcame him. How could he refuse to help his friend?

The boys put together the wood they would use on the frame while Mr. Johnson watched.
“Wish I could help you, boys,” he said earnestly.

“That’s OK, Dad,” Mike assured. “Brett and I can do it.”

Mike and Brett worked until Mrs. Johnson told them dinner was ready. They still weren’t finished, but the frame was really taking shape.

Looking at the partially finished frame, Mike asked, “Can you come back tomorrow?”

Brett thought about the Scout Jamboree. He and his father were to leave at 9:00 the next morning, and the Science Fair would be the day they returned.

“Well, uh-“As he hesitated, Brett thought about the look on his friend’s face. How he’d been so pleased as the project took shape with the neat frames.

Brett swallowed hard and said, “I’ll call you tonight.”

On the way home Brett thoughts about his earlier promise to help Mike and of his own plans to go to the Jamboree. And what if with his help Mike won the Science Fair award? That would be a double loss when he’d counted on both things so much. He’d imagined himself on stage accepting the blue ribbon, perhaps even the Grand Award, and he had thought about the fun at the Jamboree for weeks. But then, Mike was his best friend … .

Brett’s dad was loading the car when he got home from Mike’s.

“We’re almost ready, Son.”

Brett looked silently at the camping gear for a moment, but he had made his decision.

“Dad,” he said. “I need to talk to you. You see, I promised Mike…”

After Brett explained what he planned to do, his father smiled and said, “That’s a good decision.”

There was a hush in the auditorium as the principal, Mr. Young, announced the list of science awards.

“In botany. Second Place, Marsha Kirkland. First Place, Mike Johnson.”

Brett saw the excited look in Mike’s eyes and the proud expression on the Johnsons’ faces as his friend went forward to get his blue ribbon.

Brett waited anxiously through the astronomy and geology award. As the principal reached for the final category, biology, Brett moved forward in his seat.

“In biology. Second Place, Bobby Morgan. First Place, Brett Morrison.”

Mr. and Mrs. Morrison and Mike and his parents all clapped loudly as Brett went forward for his award.

As the first place winners stood on the stage, Mr. Young announced the Grand Award winner.

“It was an extremely difficult choice,” he said. “This year the botany and biology winners were very close, but the Grand Award winner is Brett Morrison.”

Brett looked at his parents as he stepped forward to receive his award amid thunderous applause. As he held the award aloft, the broadest smile in the auditorium was that of his friend, Mike.