Lucia dumped the entire mountain of baking soda into the cardboard volcano’s crater. Her elbow knocked over a jar of vinegar, sending liquid spilling across the table. She froze, watching the puddle spread toward the edge of the blue construction paper.
She grabbed a stack of napkins and pressed them hard against the spill. The paper turned translucent and heavy in her hands, refusing to hold all the liquid. A small brown stain began to form on the hem of her jeans as she worked frantically.
Lucia tried again, mixing a thicker paste with extra flour to patch the leak at the volcano’s base. Her fingers were coated in sticky white dough as she smoothed it over the cracks. The mixture oozed out from under her thumbs like slow-moving clay.
Just as the judge approached, Lucia poured the vinegar into the crater, and a geyser of purple foam erupted violently. It shot past the roof and landed squarely on her hair. The crowd gasped as purple bubbles clung to her eyelashes.
The crowd gasped as purple bubbles clung to her eyelashes, turning her into a walking frothy sculpture. She blinked slowly, a single bubble popping on her nose with a soft squelch. The noise seemed louder than the eruption itself.
Lucia wiped the foam from her eyes and laughed, pulling a handful of purple strands from her bangs. The judge smiled, noting the impressive eruption height despite the messy hair. She held up her soapy hand, showing off the glittery residue that sparkled.
The glittery residue sparkled in the fluorescent lights as she waved her hand. The judge made a note on his clipboard, clearly impressed by the chaotic but successful experiment. Lucia grinned, realizing that messy mistakes could still make a big splash.
The classroom buzzed with excitement as other students gathered around to see the purple masterpiece. Lucia stood tall amidst the mess, proud of her volcanic creation. The air smelled faintly of vinegar and sweet success.