Bully-Be-Gone by Brian Tacang Read Free Book Online Page B

a dashing young inventor and a cologne called Strong Like Bull. Five smells in all—the sum of her former life, fragrant as a posy.
    She looked at the sky and sat up, gathering the sheets of newspaper around her as if they were the children she’d never had. A single tear rolled down her cheek, paving a streak of fresh skin through the soil on her face. Then she clutched both hands over her heart. She remembered who she was.

Six
    M illicent studied the gathering of Wunderkinder in the secret room. From Pollock’s glower to Roderick’s sour expression, each face doubted her. Except Tonisha’s. She seemed to be waiting for a cue.
    â€œTonisha,” Millicent said, “this is where you come in.”
    She shot out of her chair. “Millicent rescued me from Nina with one of her inventions,” she announced. “I fully endorse her current endeavor.” She sat back down.
    â€œThank you,” Millicent said, winking at Tonisha. “With that proof statement…” She produced a bottle of the blue substance from her backpack. “I present to you, Bully-Be-Gone: soon to be available in cologne for men, perfume for women, and also in a handy, pocket-sized deodorant. For you outdoorsy types, I’ll have Bully-Be-Gone Cream with UV protection.”
    Millicent set her collection of bottles on the table.
    Roderick clicked his tongue. “Your inventions don’t work. Something always goes wrong,” he said. “No offense, Millicent.”
    She didn’t believe Roderick. He did mean to offend her.
    â€œThere may have been a few mishaps along the way,” Millicent said.
    â€œYeah,” said Pollock, pointing his finger at Millicent. “I’ll never forget your Nail Clipper Mittens.”
    â€œBut your nails did look spiffy,” Tonisha said, “once you looked past the bandages.”
    â€œThere have been more than a few mishaps,” Juanita said, not playing her violin this time.
    â€œBut that is why I am offering free samples of Bully-Be-Gone,” Millicent continued. She reached into her backpack, retrieving a handful of foil packets that she dealt to the Wunderkinder as one might playing cards. “Try it for a week. If you’re not completely satisfied, you’ve lost nothing. On the other hand, if you’re pleased with the results, you’ll receive a twenty percent discount on your first purchase of Bully-Be-Gone.”
    Millicent had given this part plenty of thought. Giving freebies was known as promotion. Uncle Phineas had told her freebies, like shampoo samples that came in the mailor taste tests of chili con carne at the grocery store, were among the best ways to get people to return for more of your product. And, he’d said, people love getting something for nothing—they couldn’t possibly reject free samples. He was right. The Wunderkinder took the packets, some cautiously, others eagerly, as if they’d been handed complimentary fries with the purchase of a burger.
    Millicent felt pretty pleased with herself.
    â€œWell, hey,” said Leon, examining his sample, “I’ll try anything if it’s free.”
    â€œWhy not?” asked Pollock. “At least it doesn’t have moving parts.”
    â€œI’ll give it a shot,” said Juanita.
    Roderick was the only Wunderkind not wholly convinced. “And just how does this Bully whatever supposedly work?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.
    Millicent turned the page on her flip chart and drew a nose on the left side of the page and a brain on the right side. “The olfactory organ,” she said, pointing to the nose, “is the most direct connection to the brain.” She drew a line between the two. “Research shows that scent is the most powerful trigger to memory.”
    â€œScent memory,” Roderick said. “Smells make you remember things. We know.”
    Millicent scowled. “Yes, but the nose