This article focuses specifically on the inclusion of meaningful (but potentially messy) real-world mathematics tasks in the middle school classroom. Real-world tasks provide students with learning opportunities allowing mathematics to be used to understand the world, strengthen mathematical knowledge, and offer opportunities for students to use mathematics to critically analyze the world in which they live. This article describes a task and its implementation, used to offer opportunities for students to develop an appreciation of the importance of mathematics in describing and explaining aspects of the real world. The task allows learners to use mathematics to understand why--and where needed, to be empowered to take action, in this case--to prevent babies being left in hot cars.