Oliver blushed as he took his seat. He hated speaking out loud in front of his classmates, especially since he was already a suspected nerd and confirming it felt like he was flaunting more than he really wanted to. But Ms. Belfry did have a very calming way about her, as though she thought Olivers knowledge was something to be celebrated rather than ridiculed.

Oliver chose a seat near the front of the class. If he was going to be forced to speak aloud, hed prefer not to have thirty pairs of eyes gawking at him over their shoulders as he did. At least this way hed only be aware of the four other kids in the front row looking at him.

Just then, Olivers classmates started filing in and taking their seats. The noise in the room began to swell. Oliver never understood how other people had so much to talk about. Though he could talk about inventors and inventions forever, there wasnt much else he felt the need to chat about. It always baffled him how other people managed such easy conversation, and how they shared so many words on what, in his mind, sounded like next to nothing of importance.

Ms. Belfry began her class, waving her arms in an attempt to get everyone to shut up. Oliver felt terrible for her. It always seemed like a battle just to get the kids to listen. And she was so gentle and soft-spoken that she never resorted to raising her voice or shouting, so her attempts to quiet everyone took ages to work. But eventually, the chatter began to die away.

Today, children, Ms. Belfry began, I have a problem that needs solving. She held up a popsicle stick. I wonder if anyone can tell me how to make this fly.

A ripple of hubbub went around the room. Someone shouted out.

Just throw it!

Ms. Belfry did as was suggested. The popsicle stick traveled less than two feet before falling to the ground.

Hmm, I dont know about you guys, Ms. Belfry said, but to me that just looked like falling. I want it to fly. To soar through the air, not just plummet to the ground.

Paul, Olivers taunter from last class, called out the next suggestion. Why dont you just ping it on an elastic band? Like a slingshot.

Thats a good idea, Ms. Belfry said with a nod. But I havent told you something. This stick is actually ten feet long.

Then make a ten-foot-wide catapult! someone shouted.

Or put rocket launchers on it! another voice chimed in.

The class started to laugh. Oliver shifted in his seat. He knew exactly how the popsicle stick could fly. It all came down to physics.

Ms. Belfry managed to get the class to settle down again.