Day 231: The Accident

Simon came downstairs to his lab a minute later, the object he desired in hand.  “I thought I’d never find it.  Next time I’m writing down where I put it, so I’m not searching through all my boxes.”  Simon was always disorganized.  It comes with the whole “mad scientist” title.  He reached for another cookie and was puzzled to see one missing.  “Hmm, that’s peculiar.  I thought I had two left.”  Shrugging, he picked up the last one and munched on its sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness while he used the tool he needed.  Once that was done, he began comparing how much chemicals he had in his vials to how much his notebooks said he should have.  He only glanced at them a minute before sighing, “I’m tired of double-checking these experiments again.  My calculations should be fine.  Besides, I’m a genius.” He casually picked up a beaker and poured it into his experiment.   

There was a loud boom, and lots of thick, black smoke seeped underneath the basement door, causing the smoke detectors to go off.  Dave dropped the tax forms he had been holding and jumped to his feet.  “Oh no, what did Alvin did now?”

“Alvin?!” Dave ran out of his bedroom.  “Alvin?!”

Theodore had jumped with surprise when the alarms went off and immediately checked the oven.  “No, it’s not coming from me.  Who set the alarms off then.”

Alvin was walking through the front door when the smoke detectors beeped.  “Uh-oh!  What’s going on in here?”  He found Dave calling him from the living room.

“What did you do, Alvin?!”

“Nothing, I swear!”

“Then who is causing-“

“It’s coming from Simon’s lab!” yelled Theodore, who had followed the trailing plume of smoke.

“Simon?” Dave questioned, and both he and Alvin joined Theodore at the basement door.  Without hestitation, Dave covered his face with his arm, opened the door, and ducked under the smoke.  He coughed violently as he walked down the steps and called Simon’s name.

Alvin was on his tiptoes, peering down.

“Can you see anything?” Theodore asked frantically.

“No.  The smoke is starting to clear though.”

“I hope he’s alright!”

Dave waved away some of the smoke and gasped when he saw Simon, lying on the floor several feet away from his worktable.  His broken glasses were near his face.

“Alvin, call 911!”