The first kid was holding a bright pink pencil with her name etched into the side of it. She anxiously fiddled with it, running her fingers over the sharp tip and accidentally leaving grey stripes running across her hands. The second kid laughed as he ran in circles, holding a jar with someone’s name neatly inscribed on the front. The third kid was yelling, “It’s not fair!” as he wiped tears from his eyes. The teacher was taping a sign to the door that read “Kindergarten Class Show & Tell Day.”

The fifth kid held a shiny, metal square he found in his uncle’s room. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he remembered seeing Uncle walk outside with it after dinner. He liked how it shined when you held it up to the light. The seventh kid held an antique music box. She wound it up so she could listen to its quiet melody, but the sound was completely drowned out by the third kid repeatedly screaming, “It’s not fair!” And, finally, the eighth kid held a carton of suspiciously clear liquid that he found in the basement with the camping supplies. At first, he thought it was water, but it smelled weird and had something written on the side. He recognized the first word– “lighter” — but he couldn’t make out the second. He raised his hand to ask the teacher.

At that moment, the fourth kid, who was still running around the room laughing, collided with the eighth. The cap came off of the carton as it hit the ground, and clear liquid spilled all over the floor. Startled, the fifth dropped the strange metal square in his hand. It landed in the puddle, and its top swung open. A single flame popped out. The teacher screamed.

Six minutes later, a very worried parent arrived at the school. Outside sat a rather upset looking teacher who was covered in soot. Eight wide-eyed kids sat around her. One was crying. Another was furiously hugging a bright pink pencil. Behind them stood six firemen, who were spraying the school down with high-powered hoses.

 Show & Tell day didn’t happen too often after that.