All right, we're getting close to the end, so here's the next to last chapter of this story! Anyway, enjoy!
About a half hour or so later, as everybody's science fair projects have all been displayed and every patron had taken a look around, soon enough, the judges for the project were coming around to each area as they were looking at each project and each student explaining them. Arnold and Phoebe took a close look as the judges for this panel, Mr. Robert Simmons and Principal Wartz as they were examining each stand.
"Oh boy..." Phoebe took some deep breaths as she clutched her chest nervously.
Arnold noticed as he tried to pat Phoebe on the back, trying his best to reassure her. "Don't worry. I'm sure that everything will turn out fine. Just don't be nervous."
Phoebe looked over at her smiling boyfriend as she gave a nod, turning over to watch Simmons and Wartz going up to Harold, Stinky and Sid's stand next.
"Hello, boys! It's good to see you taking a stance in science!" Mr. Simmons gave a small grin towards the boys... before frowning. "Of course, none that involves explosives or rockets."
Harold groaned as he held his head. "Why do you have to bring up old stuff? We said we were sorry!"
"All right, let's just get this over with." Wartz said as he glared at all three of the boys as they winced a little. "Just tell me what you have here..."
"All right, all right... er, Stinky?" Harold looked over to the country boy.
Stinky gave a grin as he showed off the made up volcano. "Well, Principal Wartz and Mr. Simmons, this here's a nice looking baking soda volcano."
"A baking soda volcano, a classic, very special project!" Mr. Simmons smiled as Wartz rolled his eyes.
"Eh, why don't you demonstrate it for us?" Wartz said as he rolled his eyes.
"I'll be happy to!" Sid smiled as he put on some safety goggles and gloves as Harold read the report.
"Here's how the fundamentals of this goes down..." Harold started as Sid picked up some baking soda. "This volcano is made of paper mache, flour, water salt and oil. "And to have it erupt, we do the following... first, we take a couple tablespoons of baking soda."
Sid put the baking soda inside the volcano, nodding towards Harold. The kid smirked as he continued, "Then, some dish soap, just one squirt..."
Stinky nodded as he put on his goggles and pulled out a bottle of dish soap as he carefully put a squirt in. Harold nodded as he continued, "A couple drops of red food coloring."
Sid pulled out a small bottle of red food coloring as he proceeded to put in a couple drops.
"Two drops of yellow food coloring..." Harold instructed as Stinky put in the drops of food coloring inside the volcano. "And now, we will demonstrate the eruption. Take an ounce of vinegar..."
Sid proceeded to take the vinegar as he gave a grin, "You might want to step back a bit."
Mr. Simmons and Principal Wartz proceeded to do so as Harold gave a grin. "Put the vinegar inside the paper mache volcano, and..."
As Sid put the vinegar in, fizzing was heard as some white stuff came out of the paper mache volcano, as Harold gave a grin, "And that is that! That is our science fair project!"
"Hmmmm... not bad, Harold, not bad at all. Rather good, I think." Mr. Simmons gave a smile.
"Eh, it's not too bad..." Wartz gave a shrug as he pulled out a clipboard and wrote some things down. "Thank you for your time, fellas, we'll announce the results in time."
"No, thank you!" Harold gave a grin towards the departing teachers... before giving a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, I don't think I can fake this anymore..."
As Mr. Simmons and Principal Wartz left the station, Phoebe noted the two heading their way. "Oh boy, I think our project is next!"
Phoebe took a deep breath as Arnold patted her back, trying his best to console her. Pretty soon, the fourth grade teacher and the principal approached the stand.
"Ah, Arnold, Phoebe, what do you have for us?" Mr. Simmons gave a smile.
Phoebe took a breath nervously, before looking at Arnold, who gave her a nod. And then, being filled with determination, she turned towards the two as she started. "Mr. Simmons, Principal Wartz, what I have for you is a project that can be considered rare, but very reasonable. This is our coveted lipstick project!"
"A lipstick project... a very rare and a special idea." Mr. Simmons gave a smile as Principal Wartz seemed mildly interested.
"I will admit, I haven't seen one of those before..." Principal Wartz said. "So, why don't you tell us all about it?"
Phoebe gave a smile as she grinned. "Well, as most everyone knows, lipstick is not a complex study, but it's not a simple one either. Any type of commercial lipstick can be used quite well, but there are some, of course, that don't last very long on the lips. Allow me to demonstrate. Arnold, if you would help me out?"
"Of course." Arnold said as he took the paper as Phoebe took one type of lipstick and applied it on her lips. "Now, what Phoebe is trying is a store bought type of lipstick. Watch as she blots on this sheet of paper."
Phoebe proceeded to do so as she then showed the paper afterwards, showing six lip marks applied from the lipstick. Arnold paused as Wartz and Simmons looked interested. As Phoebe took the lipstick off, Arnold nodded as he continued, "Now, as you may have noticed, the type of lipstick, while good for the first application, wears off overtime and rather quickly. That's because that this type of lipstick has been exposed to what most people call the 'sweat test'. This type of lipstick doesn't quite last long because they're not made from natural ingredients."
"Ahhh..." Wartz nodded as Phoebe picked up another tube of lipstick.
"Now, this is a lipstick that Arnold and I made together. Let me demonstrate that for you... Arnold?" Phoebe asked.
"Gladly." Arnold nodded as Phoebe applied the homemade lipstick. "Now, this lipstick we made doesn't contain things like fish scales or whale fat, but if applied properly, it can last quite as long than we think."
"Really?" Mr. Simmons raised an eyebrow as Phoebe grabbed another sheet of paper and blotted her lips on it at least six more times, before handing it to Arnold.
Arnold nodded as he showed the sheet to Simmons and Wartz. "As you can see, the homemade lipstick still has quite a good effect. It still wears off a little bit around the fifth mark, but it does the job well."
"Wow..." Wartz said, rather impressed.
Phoebe, as she was done wiping the lipstick off her face, gave a nod as she grinned. "There are a lot of ways to test the lipstick out, not just on paper. Some girls use it at times to make themselves look pretty, but if they wanted to kiss somebody, they do run the risk of leaving a nice little mark. However, it's not just the type of lipstick you use, it's how you compare the colors, looking at each hue of the lipsticks. For example, the commercial lipstick I used was a classic red, while the lipstick we made had a little blue coloring in there."
"Oh, I think I can see the difference..." Wartz smiled.
"Yes, very good, Phoebe." Simmons said, rather impressed. "Very special indeed."
Phoebe giggled as she said, "In closing, it doesn't matter the type of lipstick you use, as long as you know the right type to use. And whether commercial or homemade, they have good fundamentals behind their use."
Wartz and Simmons clapped as Wartz said, "I have to admit, I'm rather impressed with the project."
Phoebe grinned as Simmons nodded, saying, "Yes, it's quite well done. Thank you Arnold and Phoebe. We'll let you know the results as soon as we're done, but I must say, your project is in good contention."
"Indeed." Wartz said as he and Simmons began to move on to the next project.
Phoebe looked at Arnold, looking ready to squeal with delight. Arnold gave a smile as he knew Phoebe was excited. Phoebe pulled Arnold close as she gave a grin. "Did you hear that Arnold? They liked the lipstick project!"
"Heh, I knew they would." Arnold gave a smile as he ran his hand through his girlfriend's hair. "You're the smartest woman I've known."
Phoebe giggled. "Oh, Arnold, I have a good feeling about this... I have a good feeling that our project might win this for sure!"
And with that, the second to last chapter is now done! How did you guys like it? Next time, the results and the conclusion, along with Arnold and Phoebe's discussion for a date coming up! Where will they go? What will they do? You'll have to wait and see! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!