Blushing Blake 布莱克脸红了

By+Michele+L.+Rich

Blake loved science more than peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Super Science Week was going to be the best week ever because he was presenting an experiment to his third grade class. If Mrs. Watson accepted it， he would be in the science fair1）. Good thing he was practically born wearing a lab coat. Science was his thing！

"For my experiment， I'm going to suspend an egg in water，" Blake announced to his class. He poured salt into a glass of water. He added more water and dropped an egg in. But the egg didn't stay in the middle of the glass like it was supposed to. It sunk like a stone to the bottom. Blake's face felt hot.

"Look， Blake's blushing！" Kate squealed2） from the back row.

Blake covered his face with his hands. His chest thumped3） as he returned to his seat and pressed his forehead to the cool desk.

That evening he flipped4） through The Book of Fabulous Science Experiments. When he saw the dancing purple worm experiment， he thought， This is the one.

"I am going to make purple worms dance，" Blake announced to his class the next day. Their eyes widened.

Blake poured vinegar5） into a bowl along with blue and red food coloring. He added several pieces of cooked spaghetti6）. They quickly turned purple.

"Now watch the 'worms' closely，" he said. "I'm mixing an acid （vinegar） with a base （baking soda）. It will cause a reaction." He dropped a tablespoon of soda into the bowl， and WHAM！ Bubbles and fizz7） foamed to the top of the bowl and spilled over， soaking Mrs. Watson's grade book.

"Blake's blushing again！" Perry pointed and laughed.

Blake looked down. His spaghetti worms weren't dancing. They sat limply8） at the bottom of the bowl.

Mrs. Watson lifted her soggy9） grade book and wrinkled her nose. Purple water dripped onto the floor. "I think this could have been great， Blake，" she said， wiping purple off her fingers with a tissue10） while trying to smile.

Blake returned to his seat. Perry patted his back. "It's OK， Blake. Maybe science just isn't your thing."

But science was his thing！ His Uncle Ted was a science teacher. His mom worked in a medical lab. His big brother was studying to be a chemist. His family tree grew scientists！

Blake studied The Book of Fabulous Science Experiments again that night. Aha！ The clinging11） salt and pepper experiment would get him in the science fair for sure. He gathered a plastic spoon， a wool cloth， and salt and pepper. There was no way this could fail.

Blake stood in front of the class the next day. He scattered the salt on one end of Mrs. Watson's desk and rubbed the spoon with the wool cloth.

"This plastic spoon is negatively12） charged by the wool cloth，" he said. "The spoon will lift up the salt and pepper." He shook pepper onto the other end of the desk. He grabbed the spoon and ... "Achoo！" Blake sneezed over the pepper. It scattered across the desk. "Achoo！ ... Achoo！" Pepper flew in the air and into Blake's nose. "Achoo！ ... Achoo！ ... Achoo！" Salt and pepper covered Mrs. Watson's desk and the floor. Someone snickered when Blake used the cloth to wipe his nose. He looked helplessly to Mrs. Watson.

She forced a smile. "You were really close this time， Blake， but I have to make my decision tomorrow morning. Keep trying！" Blake's heart felt heavy in his chest. Science was his thing ... wasn't it？ He sat up in bed that night， unable to sleep. He just had to be in that science fair！ But the only thing he could do right was blush.

A smile grew on Blake's face. He had it！ He jumped out of bed to prepare for tomorrow.

The next morning， Blake marched to the front of the class. He was wearing his Mickey Mouse ears from last summer's trip to Disneyland. He felt ridiculous and probably looked it， too. Everyone cracked up13）， and his face burned.

"That's right. I'm blushing. This is my science experiment，" Blake announced. Everyone quieted down. "Mouse ears are your science experiment？" Perry asked. "No， blushing is！" Blake said. "Charles Darwin called blushing 'the most human of all expressions'. Other animals do not blush，" Blake added. Mrs. Watson smiled and nodded.

Blake continued： "Blushing is caused by an overactive nervous system. The blood vessels14） in the face open wide and fill the skin with blood." He walked around the classroom， giving each student a closer look at his red face. Then he propped up a poster board showing the blood vessels. The class gathered around to admire his drawings.

"When you feel stress or embarrassment，" Blake said， "your emotions cause you to blush. There's no way to control it. Believe me. I've tried. It's a normal part of being human， so the best thing you can do is accept it—unless you'd rather be a monkey，" he said with a smile. The class applauded.

Mrs. Watson clapped the loudest. "Blake， this will be perfect for the science fair on Monday."

Blake walked proudly back to his seat. His red face lit up the whole classroom. Science was his thing！

比起花生酱和香蕉三明治，布莱克更爱科学。超级科学周将成为有史以来最棒的一周，因为他将在他的三年级同学面前演示一个实验。如果沃森老师认可这个实验，他就能参加科学展览会了。值得庆幸的是，他简直就是穿着实验服出生的。科学是他最拿手的！

“在我的实验里，我将让一颗鸡蛋悬浮在水中。”布莱克向全班宣布。他把盐倒入一杯水中，又加了些水进去，然后把一颗鸡蛋放进去。但是鸡蛋并没有像预想的那样停留在水杯中间，而是像石头一样沉到了杯底。布莱克觉得脸上一阵滚烫。

“看，布莱克脸红了！”最后一排的凯特尖声叫道。

布莱克用双手捂住了脸。他回到座位，脑门紧贴在冰凉的课桌上，胸口怦怦直跳。

那晚，他翻了一遍《了不起的科学实验之书》。当他看到跳舞的紫色虫子这个实验时，他想，就是这个了！

“我要让紫色的虫子跳舞。”第二天布莱克向全班同学宣布。所有人都睁大了眼睛。

布莱克将醋连同蓝色和红色的食用色素一起倒进一个碗里，又加进去几截煮熟了的意大利面。这些意大利面迅速变成了紫色。

“现在仔细观察这些‘虫子，”布莱克说，“我现在要将酸（醋）和碱（小苏打）混合。这会引起一种反应。”他将一汤匙苏打放入碗中，然后只听砰的一声！产生的泡沫和气泡涌到碗口，溢了出来，把沃森老师的成绩册都浸湿了。

“布莱克又脸红了！”佩里指着他大笑起来。

布莱克低下了头。他的意大利面“虫子”并没有跳舞，它们软绵绵地待在碗底。

沃森老师拿起被浸湿的成绩册，皱了皱鼻子。紫色的水滴落在地板上。“我觉得这个实验本来可以很棒的，布莱克。”她说道，一边用纸巾擦掉手指上紫色的水，一边竭力挤出一个笑容。

布莱克回到自己的座位上。佩里拍拍他的后背。“没关系，布莱克。也许科学根本不是你拿手的。”

但是科学就是他拿手的啊！他的叔叔特德是位教科学的老师。他的妈妈在一个医学实验室工作。他的大哥正在求学，想要成为化学家。他的家族树上长科学家！

那晚布莱克又研究了一遍《了不起的科学实验之书》。啊哈！让盐和胡椒粉变得有黏性的实验肯定能让他参加科学展览会。他搜集来一个塑料勺、一块毛织布料，以及盐和胡椒粉。这一次绝对不可能失败。

第二天，布莱克站到全班同学面前。他把盐撒在沃森老师的桌子一端，然后用毛织布料摩擦勺子。

“这个塑料勺经过毛织布料的摩擦后就带上了负电，”他说，“这个勺子将把盐和胡椒粉吸起来。”他将胡椒粉撒在桌子的另一端。他抓起勺子，然后……“阿嚏！”布莱克对着胡椒粉打了个喷嚏。胡椒粉在桌上四散开来。“阿嚏！……阿嚏！”胡椒粉飞到空气中，飞进了布莱克的鼻子里。“阿嚏！……阿嚏！……阿嚏！”沃森老师的桌子上以及地上满是盐和胡椒粉。布莱克用那块毛织布料擦鼻子时有人偷偷笑了。布莱克无助地看着沃森老师。

她勉强挤出一丝笑容。“你这次真的非常接近成功了，布莱克，但是我明天早上必须做出决定了。继续努力！”布莱克觉得心情十分沉重。科学是他拿手的……不是吗？那晚他坐在床上，无法入睡。他就是一定要参加科学展！但是，他唯一能做对的事情就是脸红。

一抹微笑浮上了布莱克的脸庞。他想到了！他从床上一跃而起，去为明天做准备。

第二天早上，布莱克坚定地快步走到全班前面。他戴着去年夏天去迪士尼乐园旅行时买的米老鼠耳朵。他觉得很可笑，很可能看起来也很可笑。每个人都放声大笑起来，布莱克的脸火烧火燎的。

“没错。我脸红了。这就是我的科学实验。”布莱克宣布。所有人都安静了下来。“老鼠耳朵就是你的科学实验？”佩里问道。“不。脸红才是！”布莱克说。“查尔斯·达尔文将脸红称为‘所有表情里最具人类属性的表情。其他动物是不会脸红的。”布莱克补充道。沃森老师笑着点点头。

布莱克继续说：“脸红是由于神经系统的过度活跃引起的。脸部的血管扩张，使脸部皮肤充血。”他在教室里四处走动，让每个学生都能近距离看看他的红脸。然后，他撑起一块画有脸部血管的纸板。全班同学都围上去欣赏他画的图。

“当你觉得紧张或是尴尬的时候，”布莱克说，“你的情绪会让你脸红。没有什么办法能控制它。相信我，我已经试过了。作为人类这很正常，所以你能做的最明智的事情就是接受它——除非你宁愿当一只猴子。”他笑着说道。全班都鼓起掌来。

沃森老师的掌声最响亮。“布莱克，这很适合下周一的科学展览。”

布莱克自豪地走回自己的座位，他红红的脸庞照亮了整个教室。科学就是他最拿手的！