[ WP ] Two dads get into a dad-off .

A hush came over the gym hall as David Mitchell and his father set their science project down in the bay along from Sarah Mifflin. Mr Morris, the science teacher who had drawn the short straw this year and been forced to organise the science fair, slowly began to realise why his colleagues had all smirked when he had told them he was allocating tables alphabetically. 
 
 With a flourish, Mr Mitchell removed the sheet that had been covering their project - an exact working replica of Eyjafjallajökull volcano and turn glared across at the Mifflins and their Mount Etna reproduction. Icy looks passed between the two fathers and the children peeked out from behinds their legs. David poking out his tongue. 
 
 Mr Mitchell fussed around, setting up the replica while Mr Mifflin suddenly found reason to recheck the placement of the 42 scale trees he had carefully created from scratch. The checking continued frantically, each father slapping away his child's attempts to help, right up until the judges arrived at their tables. 
 
 The lead judge was, as always, Dr Smith, the schools head teacher but this year he had with him a guest judge - Michelle Wallis, a local Chemist who had joined the PTA and whose own daughter was just a few years from her first competition. Mr Mortis trailed behind them. `` Well well, what a fine pair of volcanos!'' Dr Smith's voice boomed out. `` Say, it might be fun to judge them together?'' He turned to his fellow judge but then nodded before she could reply `` Excellent, let's begin!'' 
 
 Both fathers jumped forward and began to speak and Dr Smith had to wave them silent. `` One at a time I think!'' He pointed to Mr Mifflin `` you first I think.'' 
 
 With some smugness Mr Mifflin began. `` I present to you a complete scale model of Mount Etna, the *best known* of all the volcanos.'' Mr Mitchell snorted. `` Here you see we have created the surrounds and scale models of local villages. Of course this model is designed to show the incredible power of the earth and the frightening force of nature.'' 
 
 Dr Smith interrupted. `` Very good, let's see it work then.'' 
 
 Mr Mifflin looked a little put out but smiled politely. `` Watch then as I summon the incredible force..,'' 
 
 `` Should n't the girl do it?'' Dr Smith interrupted again. 
 
 Mr Mufflin looked down at his daughter as if seeing her for the first time. `` Oh, yes...'' He handed the small control box to her and she pressed the button. 
 
 For a moment nothing happened and across at the other table Mr Mitchell smugly grinned. Then slowly a rumbling filled the room and then a sudden roar. 
 
 Smoke billowed from the volcano is great clouds and around the room several small children cheered. Then, gloriously, deep red minion began to ooze out of the top and slowly make its way down the mode with a sufficiently sulferous smell. It engulfed the villages and trees and the room spontaneously broke into applause. 
 
 `` It's sugar'' Mr Mifflin explained happily `` a perfect analogue for magma and an excellent way to understand this process.'' 
 
 Dr Smith started a round of applause which range though the hall. `` Well done, very good Sarah.'' The small girl and her father both beamed. He turned to the next table where Mr Mitchell could be seen fiddling frantically with a box of powder, filling up his volcano to a much fuller state. `` Ready Mr Mitchell?'' 
 
 Mr Mitchell looked around frantically `` Er, yes, sure. This is, er, Eyjafjallajökull, which caused a lot of trouble in 2010.'' He kept glancing across at the other table where the sugar-magma was cooling with little ticks. 
 
 After a moments silence Dr Smith prompted. `` Well? Shall we see it in action?'' 
 
 Mr Mitchell tore his gaze away and looked back to his own volcano wretchedly. `` Yes, I suppose so. David?'' 
 
 The young boy leapt into action and pulled the top off a bottle of vinegar and began to pour it in. `` Give it a bit extra'' his father whispered. 
 
 The volcano sat motionless for a moment and then began to tremble. Around the hall people backed away and even the Judges stepped back. A small squeak came out and then nothing more and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. 
 
 The explosion distributed the volcano across the hall in several million parts and soaked the nearest people with fizzing vinegar, including the two judges. Mr Mitchell stood looking at his feet, utterly defeated. 
 
 Dr Smith brushed some pieces from his coat and coughed gently before helping his fellow judge to her feet. `` Well, points for excitement I suppose.'' He gently muttered. 
 
 ***** 
 
 Apologies for any mistakes - written on my phone and I'll edit when I get home!
