Tricks with Straws

Everyone has had those moments when they are stuck for an extended period of time in a restaurant, waiting for their waiter to bring them their orders. Whether it is the slow service or a particularly boring atmosphere or mood in the restaurant, you will often find your dinner party becoming increasingly agitated during these moments. For anyone who has small children, these moments can become rather tiring and nerve racking as you look for ways to entertain the younger members of your clan. It is during moments like these that straws and their wrappers can become the perfect entertainment mechanisms. Here are two little tricks that you can do with straws while waiting in a restaurant to entertain your dining party.

1) "The Worm:" Although a simple little children's trick, it can still provide entertainment and elicit laughter from an older audience. To do this trick, simply scrunch up your straw wrapper while still attached to the straw so that it is all gathered on either one end or around the middle. Then remove the straw wrapper while it is still all scrunched up. Next, take your straw, dip it into your water, and place your finger over the top opening of the straw's opening to create a suctioning effect which should draw up a drop of water into the straw. Hold your straw, still suctioning the water over the crumpled wrapper and release a small drop of water. This should cause the wrapper to slowly unfold and lengthen, similar to a worm stretching out.

2) "The Popper:" This little trick requires more strength than "the worm," but it still can be pretty fun and entertaining. Also, once you do this trick your straw will no longer be useful, so make note of it before trying it. To do "the popper," firmly take a hold of both ends of your straw and begin twisting them both so that the middle and untwisted portion of the straw becomes smaller and smaller. This should cause this section of the straw in between your twisted ends to become extremely hard, due to the pressure buildup occurring place within it. Once you have twisted your straw so that you simply cannot twist it anymore, ask someone else at the table to flick this middle portion very firmly, while you hold both of the ends still twisted. If done properly, the flicking should be just enough power to cause a split in the pressurized segment of the straw, thus resulting in a loud and satisfying "pop" sound.