Slime by Kenna

MOSES LAKE — It’s squishy and a little bit sticky to the touch.

It’s slime, and 9-year-old Kenna Morrison made it.

“I’ve been doing it for about a year,” she said as kneaded a big wad of pink slime that looked like bubblegum taffy. “I learned watching YouTube videos.”

The Garden Heights Elementary School student is also selling plastic containers of the slime — in a rainbow of different colors — she’s been making all summer from a booth at the Moses Lake Farmers Market.

And the proceeds?

“All the money I raise I’m donating to the police officers to help get a new police dog,” she added.

It may not sound like much, but Kenna has been selling her home-made slime all summer, and has managed to convince a who’s-who of Moses Lake businesses to match her sales dollar for dollar.

And Kenna will make one final push to sell as many of the more than 100 containers of slime on the kitchen table at the Moses Lake Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 1.

“We’re pretty excited, and we’re probably going to get a good turnout,” Jesyka said. “She usually sells out of slime every time.”

It takes roughly $80,000 to acquire and equip a police dog — $20,000 for the dog, and $60,000 for a properly modified and outfitted vehicle. Jesyka said that Kenna won’t come anywhere close to that, but with all the businesses promising to match her sales, she’s likely to come closer than you’d think a grade school girl selling slime would get.

“We’re hoping to surprise the police chief with how much money we raise,” said Kenna’s mom Jesyka.

Kenna said she spent three days going from business to business in Moses Lake, asking business owners to help. So far, she’s gotten 20 of them to match her sales up to $500, and another 17 businesses to pledge smaller donations.

“I was a little shy at first,” she said.

“A lot of businesses couldn’t match, but they did something,” Jesyka added.

As Kenna stands, kneading the big wad of slime, stretching it to make giant bubbles, she said it’s fairly easy to make — glue, lotion and borax. It also takes a little water, and some food coloring as well. If you want colorful slime.

Her little sister, 5-year-old Kenzlee, joined her, covering her left hand with bright yellow slime that looks like it’s full of bug eyes.

“We learned the kids want it slimy slimy, but the parents don’t want it slimy,” mom Jeskya said.

It’s just easier to clean up that way. Which is something a mom would worry about.

But the kids just stand, hands in slime, touching and kneading and stretching, showing why this simple goo has become something of a phenomenon with kids.

“It’s just cool. It feels cool,” Kenzlee said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.