so　much；　Juli；”　she　said。　“We　do　this　every　year；　and　it's　always　one　of　the　best

projects　at　the　fair。”

I　said；　“But…；”　but　she　was　gone。　Off　to　put　an　end　to　some　other　student's　battle　with

indecision。

That　night　I　was　more　worried　than　ever。　I'd　read　the　chapter　on　incubation　at　least　four　times

and　was　still　confused　about　where　to　start。　I　didn't

happen　to　have　an　old　aquarium　lying　around！　We　didn't　happen　to　have　an　incubation

thermometer！　Would　a　deep…fry　model　work？

I　was　supposed　to　control　humidity；　too；　or　horrible　things　would　happen　to　the　chick。　Too　dry

and　the　chick　couldn't　peck　out；　too　wet　and　it　would

die　of　mushy　chick　disease。　Mushy　chick　disease？！

My　mother；　being　the　sensible　person　that　she　is；　told　me　to　tell　Mrs。　Brubeck　that　I　simply

wouldn't　be　hatching　a　chick。　“Have　you　considered

growing　beans？”　she　asked　me。

My　father；　however；　understood　that　you　can't　refuse　to　do　your　teacher's　assignment；　and

he　promised　to　help。　“An　incubator's　not　difficult　to

build。　We'll　make　one　after　dinner。”

How　my　father　knows　exactly　where　things　are　in　our　garage　is　one　of　the　wonders　of　the

universe。　How　he　knew　about　incubators；　however；　was

revealed　to　me　while　he　was　drilling　a　one…inch　hole　in　an　old　scrap　of　Plexiglas。　“I　raised　a

duck　from　an　egg　when　I　was　in　high　school。”　He

grinned　at　me。　“Science　fair　project。”

“A　duck？”

“Yes；　but　the　principle　is　the　same　for　all　poultry。　Keep　the　temperature　constant　and　the

humidity　right；　turn　the　egg　several　times　a　day；　and　in　a

few　weeks　you'll　have　yourself　a　little　peeper。”

He　handed　me　a　lightbulb　and　an　extension　cord　wit