Mrs. Applebaum announces a class project.

Something happened at school today that will definitely speed up production on the rocket and of the Mars trip. Our teacher, Mrs. Applebaum, announced our Spring project. It's a science competition that we will exhibit at parent's night.

Parent's night is when everyone's mom and dad, and sometimes grandparents and aunts and uncles are invited in to school to see that we haven't just been fooling around all year. But mostly it's an opportunity for the teachers to prove that they are actually teaching us something—that they aren't "glorified  babysitters," as Mrs. Applebaum is always telling us that she is not.

Everyone in class has to pick a partner to work on the project with, then we have to research and construct a scientific experiment and show it off at parent's night.

Well, I already have a partner—P.J.—and we are so far ahead of the rest of the class, it's ridiculous! Me and P.J. are sure to win. Apparently, there are going to be some prizes for the best projects, "as of yet, undetermined," as Mrs. Applebaum put it.

I sure hope it's money, going to Mars has got to be expensive.

Anyway, Mom can't complain anymore that I should spend half as much time cleaning my room as I do on planning a trip to Mars - because now it's a school project!