GRADE 8 SCIENCE

"Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to...... what is it Marvin?" "Can I go to the bathroom?" "I'm sure you 'can' but next time ask if I May I go to the washroom?" "So can I?" "Yes, but hurry back, we're almost done today's lesson." Memo to self: walk slowly down the hall, take time to wash and dry hands, stop at fountain for long gulps of water. Science does not interest me at all. I'd rather be outside playing sports or riding my back. When am I ever going to need to know anything about plants?

After lollygagging for a bit, I decided it was time to head back to class. On my way I ran into the Principal Mercer in the hallway. "Good afternoon Principal Mercer" I politely greeted him. But he didn't respond. He simply stood there with a blank look on his face. I noticed that he was standing perfectly still. His eyes were wide open and he wasn't blinking. "Are you okay sir?" Once again I was met with dead air. There was an eerie hush that had fallen over Oyster Harbour Elementary. It kinda gave me the chills. "Uh, see you tomorrow Principal Mercer."

As I made my way back to Mrs. Crane's class, I stopped and peeked inside at the other classrooms. Everyone had a blank look on their faces. This was affecting everyone, the teachers, the students, and the principal. I was just about to open the door to my Science class when the School Librarian, Ms. Byrne stopped me. "Don't go in there Marvin!" "Why not?" "They've been infected. There's something strange going on. Follow me to the library where we'll be safe." "I'm not gonna have to read am I?" "No. but as Marcel Proust once said, 'There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book.'  Such a good quote." "Does he play for the Canadiens?" "Nevermind."

"Have you been watching the news lately? Okay. Judging by that confused look on your face I'm going to take that as a no. There is a plant that hasn't been seen in Newfoundland for over 100 years. It's called Sneezewort Wormwood. I've been doing some research and apparently this plant can be deadly to humans. I searched the archives but couldn't find any additional information about the plant's origins. All I know is that it is incredibly noxious." "Like my sister?" "Not obnoxious. Noxious as in poisonous. It releases spores into the environment and can be extremely dangerous to any humans who come into contact with it." "What do we do?" "We stay here where it's safe until we hear otherwise."

As I hid in the library it appeared as though my town was on the verge of anarchy. The spores emitted from the toxic plant had brought everything to a total standstill. I was really starting to get scared so I tried calling home but nobody answered. I kept getting a busy signal. "Marvin! There's an online report about what's going on outside." "This is Douglas Church live from the NFLD-TV chopper with a special report. The city of Screech Bay is in a state of emergency as a mysterious virus is being spread by a toxic plant known as Sneezewort Wormwood. The spores are in fact worm-like creatures who burrow their way into their victims. The extent of the worms' effects are not fully known at this time."

"What do we do now Ms. Byrne?" "There's not much we can do other than wait out the emergency." Unbeknownst to Ms. Byrne, one of the worms from the toxic plant had managed to infiltrate the library. "Uh, Ms. Byrne, I don't want to alarm you but one of those creepy crawlers is behind you." The bug started to slowly crawl onto Ms. Byrne's shirt making its way towards her ear. The worm was perilously close to infecting the librarian when suddenly it let out a loud shriek before falling to the ground. It was dead. But how? "Are you okay Ms. Byrne?" "Just a little shook up. Could you try to find me a jar so we can get a better look at this thing?"

"Boy, are they ever ugly! Who called by the way?" "Wrong number. I'm wondering that ringing sound affected the worm." "What do you mean?" "Well, you noticed how eerily silent the entire city has become?" "Yeah, why?" "I think these things need to exist in an environment without any sound." Hundreds of worms began infesting the school, filling the hallways. A clew (group of worms) began banging against the library door. "Oh no! What do we do?" "I have an idea" Ms. Byrne said as she made her way to the door. "Where are you going? It's not safe there!" Ms. Byrne pulled the fire alarm which resulted in a loud ringing sound echoing through the hallways.

LIBRARY

"GROSS!"

After a few minutes, the sound from hallway grew quieter until it stopped altogether. I opened the library door a crack and took a quick look around. All of the worms had perished and were lying lifelessly on the floor. "Ms. Byrne it worked!" "I have an idea how we can get rid of these things once and for all." "Cool. What's the plan?" "It involves you, a bike, and some church bells." "Huh?""Does your bike have a bell on it?" "No but my sister's does." "I want you to take her bike to Communion of Hope Church. "Then what?" "Run upstairs and ring the bells that can still ring!" I was going to be a hero. I'd ring the bells and rid the town of the worms and wait, my sister's bike?