Beating the Heat

Kevin poured a final teaspoon of alum into a glass vial. He held it with a pair of tongs over the flickering blue flame of a Bunsen burner, studying the green bubbles blipping upon the solution's surface.

"Perfect! I've solved global warming!"

"How so, sir?" Assistant Benny asked.

"Fifteen hundred tons of sodium aluminum perchlorate added to airplane fuel, expelled in exhaust, will counteract effects of excessive carbon by bonding and precipitating it harmlessly via rainfall."

"This will beat the heat wave?"

"Indeed, my boy! Our Nobel prize is near. You'll see."

***

"Kevin, I have bad news!" Benny came running, clutching a bulging file folder.

"Can't talk now—I'm arranging the first deployment of my formula in the nation's airplanes."

"Please, I just discovered we can't do it!"

"Nonsense, my studies proved it's 100% safe."

"But sir, my studies—"

"You're but a lad. You don't know anything."

Benny looked desperately up at the important suited man standing alongside Kevin. He waved his hand with a smile.

"Let's follow the science, boy, unencumbered by fearful fantasies."

"But sirs—!"

It was of no use.

***

Benny watched jets fuelling with the new formula as they prepared for their first takeoff. Where is Kevin?

"Noooo! Stop the flights!" Kevin dashed out onto the runway, waving his arms and jumping up and down.

"The formula is poisonous! It'll taint the water supply! Stop, please!"

He drooped visibly as the planes roared away, oblivious to his cries. Kevin turned to Benny.

"I'm sorry," he croaked. "I read your research. But it was too late."

"Don't fret." Benny patted his arm. "I substituted a harmless placebo for your formula. The Earth is safe—for now."

"You—what?!" Kevin stared up at the streaming contrails now crisscrossing the sky. Then he bent and hugged his assistant. "Benny, you're the real scientist."

Word Count: 300.