Disclaimer: SB no own PJO or Mickey Mouse or Amelia Bedelia.

Hello everyone! After looking at my poll, the microwave was one of the top devices that you wanted Nico to be put to test against. Hope you like it!

Nico POV

My life sucks.

For payback for what happened at the movie theater, Percy and Annabeth made me become their "butler" while they watched a movie at Percy's house. How typical. Always blame Nico.

Percy rang a little bell. Annabeth was cuddled next to him. They were watching some romantic comedy. Why couldn't they just watch Mickey Mouse or something? Now that was entertainment.

"Butler!" Percy called.

I sighed and walked into the room. Percy smirked. The idiot that I must call my cousin thought it would be hilarious if I wore a black maid's dress. It was plain ridiculous. It screamed Amelia Bedelia. Once again, Nico is shamed.

"What do you want now?" I asked. This was the fifth time I was called and the movie had just started. This was going to be a long night.

"We would like some popcorn now," Percy declared. "And you better be quick about it."

I went into the kitchen and opened the cupboard. I loved popcorn. It was so yummy.

After searching the pigsty for a few minutes, I finally found a bag of popcorn. I looked at the instructions. Wait...I don't get it!

How was I supposed to make this? I recalled that popcorn was made by putting corn kernels over a fire. But I'm pretty sure that Percy's mom doesn't make it that way in an apartment building. They don't even have a fire place.

I was started to get flustered. I need to make this popcorn but I don't know how!

I hurried out of the kitchen. "Percy?" I said.

"Nico, is our popcorn ready?" Percy asked impatiently.

"Um, no," I answered uneasily. "I kinda have a little problem."

"Nico, I don't care about your preadolescence problems," Percy retorted. "Just make the dang popcorn!" He shooed me off.

Great. This was going to be impossible. And I don't have preadolescence problems!

I read over the instructions again. Place popcorn packet in microwave oven for three minutes. What's a microwave oven? I have never heard of those.

I looked around the kitchen, frantically trying to find where this "microwave oven" was.

Maybe it was the thing Mrs. Jackson used to make her blue chocolate chip cookies? No, probably not. Was it the thing you used to burn your bread? I think that was called a toaster. What a silly invention.

Then I noticed the thing beside the toaster. Bingo. There was a little label on the front of it that said "microwave" or at least I think it said that.

I looked at the instructions again. Place popcorn packet in microwave oven for three minutes. Easy enough. I pushed the button on the microwave and the door opened. I then shoved the packet of popcorn in and closed the door.

-three minutes. I pushed the three and pressed start. I gave myself a pat on the back. Mission accomplished.

Almost no time passed and the microwave stopped working magic. Shoot. I pressed it to go for three seconds, not three minutes. How aggravating.

This time I pressed the three and added two zeros behind it. There. Three minutes. Another pat on the back. Then mother Gaea called. Got to go.

I walked back into the kitchen to the smell of something burning. What could be wrong this time?

Smoke was coming out of the microwave. The popcorn was burning!

I gave a yelp and ran over to it. After fiddling with the buttons, I finally got it stopped heating the popcorn. I opened the door and grabbed the bag.

"Ouch!" I yelled, forgetting that the popcorn would be hot. I threw it in the sink and turned on the water, caressing my poor little hand in its coolness.

"Nico? Is something wrong?" Annabeth called from the room where they were watching the movie.

I knew if I made a scene they would only get more mad. "Um, no, everything's fine. I just stubbed my toe on...something."

A chuckle came from Percy. Gee, thanks for the support.

After getting the smoke out of the kitchen, I turned my attention to the soggy, burnt bag of popcorn.

What did I do wrong? I couldn't think of an answer. So I just decided to try again.

I threw another bag into the microwave and set to the appropriate settings.

But once again the bag started burning. Maybe this was just part of the popping process, I though, so I just left it.

The the microwave went on fire. Oh my goodness.

The fire alarm went off and Percy and Annabeth instantly rushed into the kitchen.

"What happened?" Percy screamed, trying to fan the flames.

"I don't know," I mumbled. "The popcorn just kept burning." I pointed to the other packet in the sink.

Annabeth grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed the foam all over the microwave.

The kitchen was a mess. There were black marks on the roof and there was foam everywhere. Not to mention that the microwave would never work again.

Annabeth huffed and walked over to the sink. She gingerly picked up the remains of the first popcorn packet and sighed.

"Nico," she said with annoyance. "You forgot to take off the plastic."

Please review! It's amazing how many people like this story! Thanks! PM me about other gadgets too! I like original stuff (I know I should do the iPod and stuff).