fish eggs？ He had a point。 I hesitantly finished the
cracker； and before long I was having another。
Bryce was standing all by himself across the room； and every time I happened to look his
way； he was staring at me。
Finally I pletely turned my back on him and said to my father； “So who's trying to invent a
perpetual…motion machine； anyway？”
My father laughed。 “Mad scientists all over the world。”
“Really？”
“Yes。 For hundreds of years。”
“Well； what do they do？ What's one look like？”
It wasn't long before Chet was in on the discussion。 And just as I was finally starting to catch
on to magism； gyroscopic particles； and zeropoint
energy； I felt someone standing behind me。
It was Bryce。
I could feel my cheeks flush with anger。 Couldn't he see I wanted to be left alone？ I took a
step away from him； but what that did was open up the
group and allow him to move forward。 Now he was standing in our circle listening to our
discussion！
Well！ Surely he was not interested in perpetual motion。 I barely was myself！ So； I reasoned；
continuing our discussion would drive him away。 I
dove back in； and when the conversation started to peter out； I came up with my own ideas
on perpetual…motion machines。 I was like a perpetualidea
machine； spinning ridiculous suggestions right out of the air。
And still he wouldn't leave。 He didn't sa