The Foxfire Chronicles- Comrades and Classmates

Chapter 5-Explosions with a Beat

                  Sophie had been wrong. Absolutely wrong. Science with Madam Galvin, and yes, she made her students call her madam, turned out to be just as bad as P.E. Madam Galvin insisted that science was a beautiful form of art, and that if they had "True Character", then they would have "extensive knowledge about the subject."

               Sophie did not. Apparently she lacked true character. Unlike Mr. Fintan, Madam Galvin jumped right into class on the first day, thankfully avoiding a long class expectations lecture. Unfortunately, Madam Galvin filled that time with a quiz, right on the first day. At least she didn't give out homework.

             Madam Galvin wore an impressively elaborate shawl with detailed embroidery and gems. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and a pair of glasses were perched on the tip of her nose. Her sharp voice sounded again, and Sophie looked up.

           "Today we will not be having a graded quiz." she said, earning a sigh of relief from her students. Sophie didn't recognize anyone from her previous class. "It will be a test of common sense." Madam Galvin continued, "It will be simple. I will give you a list of directions. Follow them safely and carefully, and you should be perfectly fine." A noticeable amount of students gulped. Lady Galvin passed around instructions for students. She gave them one final piece of instruction, "Your supplies are on the back counter. Go."

            Sophie scanned her science experiment, noticing the "Caution: Follow directions carefully to avoid injury" heading right at the top. Sophie took a deep breath. She baked with Edaline all the time. It was just like making a delicious treat! Just a nice treat. A dangerous-if-you-don't-follow-directions-blow-up-in-your-face treat. Per Lady Calvin's instructions, she wore gloves, an apron and some safety goggles.

           Sophie gathered her courage and grabbed all the necessary ingredients. She slowly and cautiously measured, poured and mixed, all without blowing anything up. Madam Galvin was coming around with a clipboard to observe. She was almost on the other side of the classroom, so Sophie had some time when she noticed she had missed a step. At the bottom it said "WHAP," which Sophie figured must be a typo for whip. She took a whisk from the counter and right as Madam Galvin came over, started mixing as best as she could, hoping to impress her teacher.

         Madam Galvin's bored eyes widened. Alarmed, Sophie looked up as she whisked. Confused, she asked "Is anything wro-"

          Madam Galvin shrieked, "DUCK!" Sophie was quick to duck, along with most of her other classmates, just in time. Sophie's experiment erupted, spraying  acidic droplets into the air. Luckily the desk had a plastic cover on it, so the experiment only burned through that, and not the desk. Students stood up slowly, thankfully all unscathed.

           Madam Galvin's eyes burned into Sophie. She spoke slowly and softly, which was even scarier than her yelling at the top of her lungs. "What. Were. You. Thinking."

            Sophie's face burned and she didn't know if she'd ever been more embarrassed. "I-I thought it was a typo for whip." Sophie tentatively responded.

             Madam Galvin pinched the bridge of your nose. "Have you ever heard of an acronym, Ms. Foster?" She asked taking a deep, calming breath. When Sophie struggled to respond, Madam Galvin continued. "WHAP stands for wash hands and present. Not blow up the classroom, and disrupt class time." The class tittered and Madam Galvin turned her back to Sophie to address them. "This." she said, eerily calm, "Is a perfect example of what you should not do." Sophie was so embarrassed it was hard not to listen, but she was distracted by a more immediate problem.