@page { margin-bottom: 5.000000pt; margin-top: 5.000000pt; } 13 No one was hurt in the explosion. Some strange gases escaped, and it smelled pretty weird in the gym for a while. A lot of worms went flying across the room. And there was a lot of broken glass to be cleaned up. But it was a minor explosion, Todd told his parents later. “Really. No big deal,” he said. “I’m sure everyone will forget all about it in five or ten years.” A few days later, carrying a small, white carton in both hands, Todd made his way down the basement stairs. He could hear the steady plonk plonk of Ping-Pong balls against paddles. Regina and Beth glanced up from their game as he entered the room. “Chinese food?” Beth asked, spotting the little box. “No. Worms,” Todd replied, crossing the room to his worm tank. “Are you still into worms?” Beth demanded, twirling her Ping-Pong paddle. “Even after what happened at the Science Expo?” “It all got cleaned up,” Todd snapped.
