CoAl2O4

Author's Note: I sincerely apologize for what you are about to read. I just wrote this for school because I didn't know what else to write and here we are. This is probably the dumbest thing I've ever written. Enjoy.

I sighed happily, pushing my chair back from my desk. I had learned everything I believed I needed to know, and some extra. For example, cobalt blue was first discovered in 1775, where it was intended to be red. I found that fact particularly interesting.

I had prepared the aluminum chloride earlier, knowing that once I was ready to begin I would want to start right away. And I did. I knew myself so well

My name is Cole Balt, though most people call me Malcolm, for some reason, and I will dye myself blue. Cobalt blue, to be exact. That's the beginning of the speech I'm preparing to give when I re-dye myself in public. I just know everyone will think me a genius.

I carefully poured and mixed my ingredients, my thoughts bubbling as I did so. Oh, it would be marvelous! First I'd dye other things cobalt blue, like a chair or a coat, just to see what could be accomplished. And then—

It was ready. Giddy, I pulled out my dictionary and old ratty coat.

I opened the dictionary's crinkly pages and gently took a syringe of my blue concoction to the page, then the coat. I set them both aside for further inspection later, and moved on.

Next was my wood chair that I had been sitting on. A bigger amount was needed, so I poured directly from the bowl. It sank into the material, and I beamed. One more to go, then I would be a brilliant shade of blue.

A metal spoon was the next object. It smelled like copper and was rusting a bit, which I didn't want to interfere, so I applied the dark shade of blue to the spoon part rather than the handle.

After that, I checked my previous experiments. The book and coat had been nicely stained, and though it wasn't as visible as I'd have liked it to be, the wood too was cobalt blue. It looked a little bit like I had peed on the chair.

The spoon, however, did not turn out so well. The cobalt blue merely slid off when I picked it up. That was a bit of a disappointment, but I didn't let it bother me too much.

As I lowered my head into the bowl of cobalt blue I thought about my speech. Perhaps I could mention the spoon? Something about how failure is the key to success? People would eat that up.

I pondered this as my hair soaked. When time was up, I found my hair to be dripping, wet, and just a little blue. I considered this a victory.

I could barely contain my excitement as I let my hand be absorbed into the bowl. It was a little bit cold, but nearly room temperature. I was leaving it in for an hour, and according to the clock I had 57 minutes left. After those simple 57 minutes, I would be better known than that Edison fellow!

To pass the time, I decided to read one of my favorite books, Cobalt Blue: A History. I was in the middle of a very gripping chapter about how cobalt blue could be poisonous if in contact with skin for long enough when the hour was up. At long last! I pulled my hand out, ready to see the results, thinking of the fame that was sure to follow when everybody saw, oh it would be magni