20,000 Nerds Under the Sea by Jeff Miller Page B

JP’s, and he was inside, standing over a long table. It filled the space designated for two cars and was littered with random pieces of electrical wiring, several computers, and countless notepads filled with scribbled calculations. It was like a mad scientist’s laboratory.
    JP was hard at work on his science-fair magnets but looked up as Neil knocked on the frame of the open garage door.
    â€œJP!” panted Neil. “We need you.”
    The boy genius was quiet.
    â€œOh, really? You don’t say,” JP answered. He had a small tray in his hands. It carried a few large potatoes. Yellow and blue wires curled out from the spuds. “You definitely didn’t need me when you skipped out yesterday.”
    â€œThat’s totally fair that you’re angry, and I’m sorry,” Neil said. “But right now we truly need your help.”
    â€œI can’t help you. I have to win the science fair,” JP said proudly. “This week is nationals, Neil. The best presentation wins a scholarship. I have to dedicate every moment I have to this.”
    â€œJP, I’m begging you,” Neil said.
    â€œYou can’t leave a team to go to a yacht, just to come back in and flash a smile and win everyone over, Neil,” JP said sternly. “Even if someone told you to do it. That’s not being a good friend.”
    Neil let out a defeated sigh. They’d have to return to meet everyone without JP.
    â€œJP, you have to trust him,” said Corinne. “We need you. Every shark in the world could use your help.”
    JP looked puzzled.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œWe need your smarts,” said Neil. “There’s a lunatic with a metal shark roaming the oceans right now, ready to change life as we know it.”
    â€œHmm, like that game?” JP said. He continued to tweak the wires connected to tiny silver disks. “From RebootCon?”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œEven so, I can’t leave—these magnets have been my life for months,” JP said. “Today I had a breakthrough with the directional technology. I can pinpoint any magnetic metal up to five hundred yards away.”
    â€œMagnets are magic,” said Neil. “I get that.”
    â€œRight? Aren’t they exciting?”
    It was becoming clear JP wouldn’t be interested in anything nonmagnetic.
    â€œSo show me. Target . . . the helicopter rotor blades,” Neil said, pointing to the aircraft outside.
    â€œYeah!” added Corinne. “Your project’s already good enough to win, JP. I know it.”
    JP held up his potato display. “Behold.”
    After he plugged a few wires into the potatoes, the metal tray became a magnet. He leaned over his creation and pointed a metal disk at Harris and his chopper, aiming with his left eye. After flipping a small black switch, the magnet buzzed to life with a high-pitched ringing. After a second, the metal blades atop Harris’s helicopter began to spin.
    â€œWow, that’s awesome!” said Corinne.
    â€œThanks,” JP said, a happy grin on his face.
    â€œWell, good luck in the science fair, I guess,” said Neil. “Let’s go, Corinne. We’ve got to get back.”
    Neil and Corinne began walking down the smooth blacktop of JP’s driveway.
    â€œWait,” said JP.
    Neil and Corinne turned to see their friend leavinghis garage laboratory, carrying a red duffel bag full of his experiments.
    â€œI can call this experimenting in the field,” JP said. “I’m always there for you guys. We’ve got sharks to save.”
    Neil was beginning to feel like a hero once again.
    â€œWhat took so long?” said Harris when they got back to the helicopter. “I called the White House three times. Got a message they’re closed on Sundays. Looks like we’re on our own.”
    Sounds good to me. We can do this.
    NEIL WAS THE LAST TO STEP OUT OF THE HELICOPTER AND back