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     "Five, four, three, two, one, ready or not, here I come!”

Hydrogen Holly dashed around the park trying to find her friends

Carbon Cody, Oxygen Ollie, and Neon Ned. 

     Hydrogen Holly was the oldest, but the smallest of the friends. She was 

also the one who did most of the problem solving. Carbon Cody could exist 

in many different forms. This meant he had many allotropes.   Oxygen Ollie 

was a very important friend and element. Oxygen can combine with many 

other elements to make many different molecules. Oxygen Ollie was also 

very smart, and he thought everything through. Neon Ned was a very 

interesting element that many people enjoyed, and he knew that. But Ned 

had begun to cause some problems for his friends...

     Fairly quickly, Hydrogen Holly found all of her friends except for Neon 

Ned.

     “We give up!” they all shouted.

     A small leaf pile quivered. Beams of light began to glisten through 

the orange and brown leaves turning them a bright neon yellow. “I am 

just too good! My neon-ness is just too superior for you. You just can’t 

win. But that's alright because I like winning. Bye guys! See you 

tomorrow.” Neon Ned bragged as he walked away.

     “Bye Neon Ned, see you tomorrow,” the other three replied, clearly 

frustrated.

     As Neon Ned walked away, Hydrogen Holly vented her frustrations to 

her friends. “I am so fed up with Neon Ned thinking he is better than us. 

Just because humans think neon is so awesome is no reason for Neon Ned 

to treat us poorly. Yes, Neon is in television sets, signs in stores, 

restaurants, and businesses all across the globe. But, Carbon is found in 

the lead of our pencils, the gas in our cars, and in plastics such as water 

bottles. Oxygen is found in the air you are breathing in right now. Oxygen 

is also found in plastic, rocks, and the soil. Life wouldn't even exist without 

you, Oxygen Ollie, and plants wouldn't be around without you, Carbon 

Cody. I think we should do something about it. We should show Neon Ned 

that we can be amazing too.”

     “Sounds like a good idea to me, but how will we do it?” asked Carbon 

Cody.

     “We are boring elements and Ned Neon is awesome, bright, and fun. 

Everybody loves him,” sighed Oxygen Ollie. "And we... we.. we aren't 

bright and glow-in-the-dark awesome like him.”

     "Everybody notices the bright and amazing neon! Neon Ned's cousins 

and siblings are displayed in signs and in restaurants all over the world. 

Plus, neon is in T.Vs. Almost everybody watches television. ” Carbon Cody 

sounded depressed.

     “Cheer up. Let’s sleep on it. We will be sure to think of something,” 

Hydrogen Holly replied.

     “I guess,” agreed Oxygen Ollie.

     “Okay. If you think so,” responded Carbon Cody.

     After a long silence, Hydrogen Holly said, “See you tomorrow after 

lunch then?” 

     They all nodded their heads and walked home for the day.

     The next morning, Hydrogen Holly woke up from a restless night, 

frustrated that she couldn't think of anything to do about Neon Ned's 

bragging. Carbon Cody and Oxygen Ollie awoke just as upset. All 

morning, the three friends tried to think of a plan. After lunch, they 

met at the park. Oxygen Ollie arrived first, then Hydrogen Holly, and 

lastly Carbon Cody. They discussed some ideas that might work, but 

they just couldn't think of any good plans.

     “Don’t worry guys, we can keep thinking about it,” Carbon Cody 

stated. “We'll be sure to think of something."

     “Yeah, I guess,” Hydrogen Holly and Oxygen Ollie murmured. 

     No sooner than they were done talking, Neon Ned showed up 

happy, as ever. “Well isn't it a beautiful morning! All my siblings 

brightly lit in store signs making the streets a happier place. Fine 

morning, it is.”

     He wasn't wrong about that. It was quite a fine morning but not 

because of any neon signs! The sun had risen over the hills and 

valleys. The birds were perched in trees singing cheerful songs. Rabbits 

were scampering out of holes in the ground and the grass had fresh 

drops of sparkling crystal dew glistening in the sun.

     “Morning Neon Ned,” they answered while rolling their eyes.

     “Morning friends! What a wonderful day it is going to be. Do you guys 

wanna play a game?”

     “Sure. What game?” Asked Oxygen Ollie.

     “Well, I was thinking we could play this game where whoever is the 

brightest, coolest or most well-known element would win. Of course, I 

would be the judge of the winner,” replied Neon Ned.

     “How can we make Neon Ned quit believing he is so much better than 

all of us?” Oxygen Ollie thought to himself.

     Carbon Cody decided to speak up. “C’mon Ned, we should play team 

tag. Where we play in teams.”

     Everyone agreed to that except Hydrogen Holly. She decided not to 

play that day. She sat on a rock and thought while all the others ran 

around the park chasing after each other, laughing and having a 

wonderful time.

     After they had finished playing tag and Neon Ned left, Hydrogen 

Holly talked to the other two.

     “That's it!” Hydrogen Holly exclaimed.

     “That's what?” pondered Oxygen Ollie, walking over to the rock 

that Hydrogen Holly was sitting on.

     “Here we go,” moaned Carbon Cody rolling his eyes.

     Oxygen Ollie was getting excited, “Just tell us already!!”

     “Okay” Hydrogen Holly explained, “so TEAMWORK. Teamwork you 

guys!”

     “Yeah, what about it?” asked Carbon Cody, who clearly wasn't getting 

it. 

     Carbon Cody stood next to Oxygen Ollie who was also confused.

     “Well.... don’t you see? We can, together, create something to show 

Ned that he isn't the only one that can be something amazing.”

     “Like what?” inquired Oxygen Ollie. His face was looking a little bit 

less confused.

     “I haven’t got that far yet. I will think of something tonight” Hydrogen 

Holly replied as she waved them goodbye.

     That night, Hydrogen Holly didn't sleep any better than she did the 

night before, tossing and turning all night. But she did manage to 

think of a wonderful plan. She couldn't wait to share it with Oxygen 

Ollie and Carbon Cody. 

     The next morning, she called Carbon Cody and Oxygen Ollie and 

told them to meet at the park as soon as they could.

     “Okay, so are you guys ready!?” Hydrogen Holly asked.

     “Yeah. Come on! I am so excited!” Oxygen Ollie burst out.

     “Come here you guys,” said Hydrogen Holly, gesturing for her friends to 

walk closer, so she could whisper the plan. 

     They all leaned in close as Hydrogen Holly explained the plan.

     “I understand now!” said Carbon Cody. “ So when are we going to do it?”

     “Tomorrow,” Hydrogen Holly replied. "Make sure you have what you need."

     “Alright guys,” said Oxygen Ollie. “see you tomorrow, and be sure to be 

ready. I know I will!”

     “Bye! See you tomorrow.” Carbon Cody hollered, waving to his friends as he 

walked over the hill to his house.

     Holly and Cody waved to each other, bid their goodbyes and walked their 

separate ways.

     The next morning, the weather was perfect, it was pouring rain, just 

as predicted. It was a perfect morning for Operation Neon Ned. 

Hydrogen Holly had brought her sister, Hydrogen Hanna to the park. 

Hydrogen Hanna was very crucial to the plan and would help make the 

show even more spectacular. Hydrogen Holly, Hydrogen Hanna and 

Oxygen Ollie started talking the plan over when they noticed that Carbon 

Cody wasn’t there. They started to wonder if he forgot.. or worse. They 

sat and waited... and waited.

     Hydrogen Holly, Hydrogen Hanna and Oxygen Ollie were starting to 

worry. They were trying hopelessly to think of a new plan since Carbon 

Cody decided to ditch them when they heard a CREAK, CRACK, BANG. 

Oxygen Ollie sprinted over the hill to see what was going on; Hydrogen 

Holly and Hydrogen Hanna were not far behind. Over the hill, they saw a 

big red wagon holding some sort of metal contraption. 

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