Icouldneverforgetmyfirstcompositionlessonatmiddleschool.Itwasfullofexcitement.

　　MyChineseteacherwalkedintotheclassroomonemorning,andinsteadoftakingoutsomebooks,sheonlyheldanegginherrighthand.

　　Withabigsmileonherface,shelookedintooursurprisedeyesandwalkeduptoherdesk.Sheputdowntheegg,anditrolledonthedesk.

　　Shelookedatuswithteasingeyesandasked,“Whatarewegoingtodowiththis,class?Guess!”lookedattheegg,andscratchedmyhead.“Whatarewedoingwithafunnyegg?Eatit?Notme,Idon’tliketoeateggs.”Itoldmyself.

　　“Helen,whatdoyouthinkwearegoingtodo?”Theteacheraskedme.

　　“Er…,Isupposeyouwillgivetheeggtoaclassmatetoeat.”“No,I’mgoingtochallengeyoutostandtheegguponitstip.Now,whowantsthefirsttry?”

　　Tostandtheegguponitstip?How?

　　Abigboyhadthefirsttry.Hecarefullypickedtheeggupandstoodituponthedesk.Butassoonashetookhisfingersofftheegg,itfelldownandtumbledaround.Hetriedsomemoretimes,buteachtimetheeggcamerollingdown.Hewentbacktohisseat,lookingratherdistressed.

　　“Nevermind,whowantsanothertry?”Theteacherasked.“Iwill.”saidJoe,aboywhowasoftenfulloftricks.Ashewentuptotheteacher’sdesk,hetookoutatubeofpapergluefromhispocket,andstartedtosticktheeggtothedesk.Severalclassmatesgiggled,butwewatchedwithinterest.Unfortunately,thepapergluewasnotuseful,andtheeggrolledlikeatumblerasifitwaslaughing,anditcouldn’thelptumblingbackandforth.Weburstintolaughter.Theboymadeafaceattheegg,andhadtogiveup.

　　“Isay,whydon’tgirlshaveatry?Itseemsquiteinterest-ing.”

　　“OK,I’llhaveatry.”Oh,itwasmy-friend,Elizabeth,averyclevergirl.

　　Sheexaminedtheeggfrom“head”to“foot”,andsmelledit.Suddenly,sheseizedthetinypointingendoftheeggandPRESSEDitagainstthedesk.Withacrisplittlesound,theegghuskofthetinyendcrackedalittle,buttheegg—stoodrightup!Weallopenedourmouthswithastonishment,unbelievingoureyes.Whatasightitwas—anegg,standingupfirmlyonitstip!Webegantoclapourhandsloudly.

　　“Congratulationstoyou!Whatanicejobyouhavedone!Wouldyoutellushowyoustoodtheeggup?”Theteacherwasmightilypleased.“Yes,yes,tellusplease!”Wealldemanded.

　　“Oh,that’seasy,Ifoundtheeggwasboiled,sowhenIpresseditagainstthedesk,itdidn’tbreakandlettheeggwhiteandyolkflowout.Infact,theeggdidcrackalittle,butthatdidn’tmatter,afterall,itstood.”

　　“Thankyou!Thatwasafineexplanation!Nowattention,everyone.Wouldyouliketowritedownthisexperienceastoday’scomposition?”Sowedid,andwroteexcellentpapers.

　　Whataninterestinglessonitwas!