Chapter 5
by 
Nemo of Utopia
What is she calling to talk about?
A partner for the science fair.
"Hello, Ian speaking, whom may I say is calling?" I answered, picking up the kitchen phone and someone giggled a bit on the other end.
"Sorry, that was very rude, please-don't-hang-up!" Elizabeth's somewhat strangled Contralto said on the other end. She blurted out all in a rush, "I'm-calling-to-ask-if-you-want-to-be-my-partner!"
I could practically feel her cheeks turn red through the phone line and my shirt was seeming a touch over-hot as well, but I kept my wits about me and didn't go full romantic-comedy.
"Sure, I can be your partner, Elizabeth, but what do you need a partner for?" I asked.
"The science fair: this year's theme is 'Teams Big and Small' so each entry must be submitted by at least a pair of contestants. I can carry the major weight of the project but you have to be an active participant and able to study because the judges will know if only one partner did all the real work..." Elizabeth explained.
"I'm okay at the science stuff, we can come up with an idea but not something involving ants or rats," I replied.
"Heh-heh, right, no rats..." Elizabeth chuckled nervously.
"Please tell me you don't already have a set of partially trained rats that 'work as a team' for the project..." I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.