Chapter 1
WIGGLES
“Calling Junior Science Hero Polly. Calling Junior Science Hero Tad. Report to the laboritorium, and quickly!”
Polly and Tad raced to their uncle’s lab. A huge metal worm filled the room.
“Behold! Our newest ship! I call it … ‘Wiggles,’” said the Science Hero.
“We shall be … WORMING TO the CENTER OF THE EARTH! Come inside.”
The scientist pulled out a chart.
“The Earth is a ball made of layers. We will first drill through the crust. It is mostly rocks and sand. Oh, and tunnels of sizzling melted rock.”
“Tunnels of sizzling melted rock?” asked Tad.
“Yes,” said his uncle.
“Then we will squeeze through the mantle. It will get more solid as we go deeper. If all goes well, we will reach the outer core.”
“If all goes well?” asked Tad.
“Yes,” said his uncle.
“The outer core will be a soupy burning magnet. Our engines may not work.”
“We might get stuck?” asked Tad.
“Yes,” said his uncle.
“From there, we land on the inner core.
“It is solid metal and hotter than the sun. It might melt our ship, but it might not.”
“But it might?” asked Tad.
“Yes,” said his uncle.
“Why are we doing this?” asked Tad.
“Knowledge and adventure!” shouted Polly.
“Precisely!” said their uncle.
“We shall be the very first to explore the inside of this planet! Who is coming aboard?”
“Junior Science Hero Polly reporting for duty,” said his niece.
“Did our mom say it is okay?” asked Tad.
“Yes,” said his uncle.
“And school said it is okay?”
“Yes,” said his uncle.
“Okay,” said Tad.
“Junior Science Hero Tad, blah blah blah…”
“When do we go?” asked Polly.
“At this VERY moment!” said the hero of science.
He yanked some levers.
He twisted some knobs.
The ship came alive!
It rammed its nose into the floor and began to dig.
“Do you remember the rule about the A-C-H button?” asked the professor.
“Never, ever press the ‘Anything Can Happen’ button,” recited Polly and Tad.
“Correct!” said their uncle.
“Then why did you add it?” asked Polly.
“Just in case,” said her uncle.
“I am pressing it,” said Tad.
“Do NOT!” said his uncle.
Tad’s finger inched toward the button.
“It’s a button,” he said.
“I have to press it.”
“Don’t do it, Tad,” said Polly.
Tad’s finger touched the button.
“I cannot NOT press it!” shouted Tad.
“You must not NOT press it!” ordered his uncle.
“YOU JUST TOLD HIM TO PRESS IT!” cried Polly.
Tad pressed the button.
“Sorry,” he said.
“What happens now?” asked Polly, as they tunneled into the Earth’s crust.
The Science Hero sighed. “Anything.”
Copyright © 2020 by John Himmelman
