Free Brain That Wouldn't Obey! by Tony Abbott Page A

used it to get silence in her class.
    Principal Bell was walking from table to table with his hands on his hips. Miss Lieberman, the assistant principal, was right behind him. She was making notes about everything he said.
    â€œThere’s Jeff,” Mike said to Liz, pointing to their friend Jeff Ryan as he set up his project.
    â€œLet’s see what he’s got,” said Liz. “By the way, I talked to Holly last night. She and Sean built some kind of secret project. I can’t wait to see it.”
    The two kids stepped over to Jeff’s table just as Principal Bell strolled by.
    â€œAhem!” boomed the principal, reading the sign on Jeff’s table. “The Gizmo. Very good. Now, show us the magic of science! The wonder of invention! The terrific W. Reid spirit!”
    â€œYes, sir!” Jeff smiled big and slipped a pair of goggles over his face. He tapped a button on the base of the Gizmo and cried out, “Stand back!”
    It was a good thing.
    Zzzzz! Krrrr! Nnnn-chunka-chunka!
    A sudden flash of prongs and nozzles and flippers screamed into action!
    Nnnnnnn! The ceiling lights hissed and sparked and flashed as the Gizmo jumped and jumbled across the table, growling and grinding.
    All the lights in the school dimmed and flickered. The machine was a blur of horrible noise!
    â€œWhat does it do?” Liz yelled over the sound.
    Jeff gave her a blank look. “Do?”
    Mike nodded. “Do. What does it do? To advance science?”
    Jeff shut off his machine and the lights came back up. He gave another blank look. “Do?”
    â€œAhem!” said Mr. Bell, clearing his throat. “Very interesting. Next!” He and Miss Lieberman stepped over to another table.
    â€œI guess I don’t win anything,” Jeff sighed, pulling his goggles off and staring at the Gizmo.
    Mike patted him on the shoulder. “Only one person can win, Jeff. And I’ve got— Potadio.”
    â€œActually, son,” Mr. Bell said, walking back over. “Your little radio doesn’t seem to work at all.”
    Mike raced over to the table. He flipped the on switch over and over. Nothing. Not a sound.
    Principal Bell put his hands on his hips and frowned at the radio. “I can see you and your vegetable need a moment. We’ll be back.”
    Liz leaned over to Mike. “Why don’t you just give that potato a good scrub? It’s filthy.”
    â€œGreat idea,” said Mike. “Can’t have dirt on the invention of the century!” He unplugged Potadio and dashed down the hall and into the bathroom. He ran the potato under warm water.
    Lots of dirt washed off.
    Mike wondered whether the potato felt the warm water like he did. Did potatoes have feelings like people? It was alive, after all. Potatoes do grow.
    What are you washing me for?
    Mike chuckled to himself. Wouldn’t it be weird if the potato actually said that?
    â€œHey, kid, I asked you a question. You planning to cook me, or what? Don’t eat me, pal.”
    Mike looked all around the room. It was empty. “Wait, who said that?”
    But at that moment— Ahhhhh! —a horrible, bloodcurdling scream pierced the bathroom!
    It was coming from the science fair!
    It was coming from Liz!

2
    Sound Can Change the World
    M ike raced back to the science fair, clutching his damp potato. When he burst into the gym, he saw a huge metal machine smashing through the tables after Liz!
    On the front of the machine was a big hand attached to a long metal arm. A powerful spring was coiled under the arm.
    â€œHelp!” Liz cried, as she fell against the bleachers. She kicked at the giant hand coming down at her. It moved closer and closer.
    Mike dived. With one quick move he pushed Liz out of the way just as the metal hand lunged.
    Errrrk! The machine stopped.
    Flonk! A small slit opened on the top of the machine and two faces appeared.
    Mike looked up at the faces. “Sean?