Clever Escape

I knew it was coming. I really did. I waltzed in later than I was supposed to, and yes, I got a talking-to, though thankfully not the kind that leaves marks. It's all about the words, you see. I put on my most bewildered face, mumbled something about the sudden downpour and the epic struggle to even get a taxi. Then, like a lightbulb went off in my head – a really bright one. I’d overheard my brother earlier that day, frantically talking about needing to do an experiment, something crucial he had to photograph and video. And me? I’ve already established myself as the resident expert at documenting science projects, just like my older sister. So, I expertly steered the grown-ups' attention towards his impending scientific disaster. It worked like a charm, and I got away with it.

The real story? I was just at the caf;, people-watching, when two of my friends just happened to show up – no plan, no calls. We ended up having a spontaneous little picnic, indulging in all sorts of delicious treats.

My brother, approached me after school looking like the world was ending over his experiment. At first, I thought he was about to synthesize nitro... benzene or something equally earth-shattering. But a quick peek at his textbook revealed it was just… another one of those ridiculously simple experiments for kindergarteners. Honestly.

And you know what else? You guys really disappointed me today. We didn't just fail to conquer a new viewership peak; we didn't even match yesterday's numbers. That's a shame. Maybe the weather put a damper on things? It seems likely.

Stephie