Under Pressure

Alexa watched her sister tighten the lids on several jars of beans and place them

in a pressure cooker. Then she put the lid on the cooker and adjusted the heat. "How does a pressure cooker work, Hazel?" asked Alexa. She was spending the weekend at her older sister's apartment, and Hazel was showing her how to can beans they'd bought at the farmer's market.

"The heat causes pressure to build up inside the cooker, which helps cook and preserve the beans inside the jars," Hazel replied. "When they're done, we'll be able to store them for a year or more, and they won't spoil."

When the beans were finished cooking, Hazel turned the stove off. "Now we need to wait and let the pressure go down before we open the cooker."

CRACK! Alexa jumped. "What was that?"

Hazel frowned. "I think a jar inside the cooker cracked. It must have had a weak spot and couldn't handle the pressure. We'll check when it's safe to open it."

They grabbed some snacks and flopped down on the couch. "I feel like th