Priya
Hey, Ben, did your mom tell you, it’s important that I pick you up promptly just as soon as school’s out?
Priya
You need to be ready to go. Promptly. You’ll be ready?
Priya
Thanks for agreeing to stop by the lab before your tutoring!
Ben
i wanna see your experiment!
Priya
Wait, aren’t you supposed to be in class?
Priya
So, you’re free now? I’ll skip my errands and hurry over. My professor is so excited to taste your blood.
Priya
I mean test. Test your blood!
Ben
Ha ha. That sounded weird.
Priya
He’s been wanting to test your blood for a while.
Ben
you sure your prof is not a vampire or something?
Priya
Funny! He’s eager to meet you.
Ben
you keep saying that. sounds creepy!
Priya
I hold a scientific view. I don’t pay attention to superstitions.
Ben
You know I love science.
Priya
Why are you out of class so early?
Ben
old johnson dismissed us.
Ben
Yes, Miss Patel. I will call him Mr. Johnson.
Priya
Whoa, traffic is suddenly horrible.
Priya
It’s fire engines, ambulance, police.
Priya
They’re heading to your school.
Ben
I hear them. LOUD! like the end of the world!
Priya
Is that why you’re out early?
Priya
Did something happen in Mr. Johnson’s class?
Ben
Crazy here. Kids running all over.
Priya
Were you part of this accident?
Priya
Kind of? You mean you were.
Priya
What did you break?
Priya
Were you horsing around? Mr. Johnson must have been furious.
Priya
And I bet he gave everyone in the class a failing grade for the day.
Priya
You broke a petri dish—that’s all? No one was hurt?
Priya
But clumsy! If you want to study science, you gotta watch yourself. No goofing around. And no dropping stuff.
Priya
You really have to work on your clumsiness.
Ben
I KNOW. You keep telling me.
Priya
You’re always hungry.
Priya
Wow, police and EMTs are blocking the road. You sure no one was hurt?
Ben
My classmates got a little over excited.
Priya
Was there something in the petri dish?
Ben
A culture. Just a little bacteria.
Ben
The EMTs say we’re fine. And I feel super strong and great!
Priya
I need to get you to the professor.
Ben
So he can suck my blood.
Ben
ok. i was thinking that’s the best way out.
Priya
That way I can avoid the emergency vehicles.
Ben
No prob. I’ll run over.
Priya
Are you sure you’re okay?
Priya
For you it’s normal.
Priya
Wow, it’s like totally deserted here.
Priya
Just pulled into the cemetery parking lot.
Ben
Can you drive up the hill? Closer to school.
Priya
Sure. By the obelisk?
Priya
I’m at the obelisk. Hurry. I don’t want to be late.
Ben
I had to run. One sec.
Priya
I can’t keep the professor waiting.
Priya
DANG. I swear I just saw Mr. Johnson run by.
Ben
chased by a bunch of kids?
Priya
Yes! What is going on?????
Ben
Kids gone nuts. Running, screaming. Toppling over headstones.
Priya
They are really crazed!!! Hurry and get in the car so we can get out of here.
Priya
Why would I be scared?
Ben
Just cause you’re so smart and all.
Ben
I’m gonna make a dash.
Priya
Are they chasing you?
Ben
Can you drive up to the big mausoleum? I’m hiding there.
Priya
Why are they chasing you?
Priya
Because of their grades?
Priya
I’ll be there in two secs. It’s hard to see through the tree. Looks like crowd of kids is headed to the mausoleum.
Ben
I think they just ran past me.
Priya
I hate that you kids are so focused on grades. It should be about learning and the experience of discovery.
Ben
If I have any smarts, I got them from you.
Priya
Thanks. That’s sweet.
Ben
Really. My brain is nothing compared to yours.
Ben
I mean your brain! It’s like huge! Ginormous!
Ben
Full of facts and figures and tasty bits of info.
Priya
Wow, I’m going to get a swelled head! But, hey, can you stop texting and hop in the car?
Ben
You know what? Actually, I am scared. Intimidated. They’re really mad at me.
Priya
Grade grubbing makes me so mad.
Ben
I know. Could you come inside the mausoleum and get me?
Priya
It’s so dark in here. I can’t see anything.
Ben
Wait for your eyes to adjust.
Ben
I don’t hear anything.
Priya
Like moaning. A bunch of people moaning.
Priya
There’s someone else here. Come out where I can see you.
Ben
We see you, we smell your brains.
Priya
Enough with the stupid jokes, okay?
Ben
You’ve helped me develop my brain. You’re really so much smarter than me.
Priya
Why are you bringing this up again?
Ben
My friends and I are hungry. Hungry for YOUR brain.
