This week’s words:
ineffectual adj. not producing the desired effect
apostate n. one who renounces a principle or belief; one who forsakes a cause
barbarous adj. savagely cruel, brutal; uncivilized (much as it sounds: barbaric)
dissimulation n. deception; disguising or concealing one’s true thoughts, motives, feelings, etc.
pullulating adj. swarming, teeming, sprouting with ~
In use (Hey! I made a short story this week!):
“Is it supposed to do that?” asked John, poking at his and Greg’s pullulating science project with a ruler.
Greg watched the Jello bubble and froth, beginning to panic. “‘Course it is,” he replied.
Thinking their strawberry lava volcano a failure, the pair had gone ahead and emptied the box of baking soda inside it. At first nothing happened; it appeared ineffectual.
Then the mass had started to swell.
“I don’t believe you,” said John, not fooled for a moment by his friend’s dissimulation.
Greg said nothing. The Jello was rising.
“Crap!” said John, and began to run in panicked circles as strawberry gelatin bubbled and spat. “Crap!” he said again. “My mom’s gonna kill me if it gets on the carpet!”
“Told you we should’ve done it in the garage,” said Greg.
“You did not!”
“Did so.”
John stopped spinning and clutched his head.
“Oh, stop,” said Greg. “It’s just Jello. Nothing a little Tide-To-Go can’t fix. Besides, you’re exaggerating. Your mom wouldn’t kill you over a carpet. A Persian rug is nicer than your average flooring, I’ll admit, but surely the gentle lady would not be so barbarous as t– “
“OH GOD,” said John, voice breaking as the Jello began to spurt out the volcano’s top.
Seeing no other option, he snatched the board it was mounted on and sprinted for the nearest door.
“Hey!” Greg yelled after him. “You’re messing up the results!”
“AHHHHH!” John replied, Jello spewing after him.
“Apostate!” Greg called.
John didn’t answer.
“Lame,” said Greg, sadly shaking his head at the globs of Jello strewn over the coffee table.
A rug! A rug! Their project for a rug!
Julie Israel 