Wendell Whiptail Wins Science Fair with Timed Volcano; Lizzy Presents the Ribbon

JOSHUA TREE BENCH— Wendell Whiptail, forever gracious runner-up to Lizzy Lizard at the regional spelling bee, claimed top honors at the district science fair with a volcano that erupted on a timer accurate to the second. “I wanted a project that made noise politely,” he told judges, who appreciated both the hypothesis and the cleanup plan laminated on the backboard.

Lizzy, sporting her booster sash and a clipboard of encouragement, presented the blue ribbon without a trace of rivalry—then asked Wendell to spell pyroclastic for fun. He nailed it. The audience fanned itself simultaneously, a county tell that greatness had occurred twice in one afternoon.

Principal Gopher noted Wendell’s project would tour elementary classrooms before retirement. Miss Florence Newt, in the audience for moral support, called the demonstration “better than my lecture slides, and I mean that professionally.”

Wendell advances to state in March with a backup baking-soda supply and a handshake promise from Stevie Scorpion to mail encouragement postcards along Rural Route 4.