When I got downstairs, Lucy was sitting in the kitchen waiting for the coffee, talking in low, serious tones with Millie, who glanced up and gave me a look of amusement.

“You look like a leprechaun. . .who’s feeling better.”

“I am. It’s Spirit Day,” I said, pointing at Lucy’s pale pink suit. “Hey, last Friday, you have to wear green!”

Lucy looked down at her outfit. “Oh, shoot,” she gasped, and bolted upstairs.

“Well.” Millie, who did not have to wear green and was instead sticking with her blue fuzzy robe and pj’s, took a long sip of her coffee. “So we’re ready for round two, choosing a new tactic I see.”

“It’s not exactly a tactic,” I said, “although I am committing myself to nonconfrontation and assimilation within the bounds of fashion choices I enjoy.”

“So they wear green, you wear green. But in a you way.” Millie took another long sip. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Or a tactic, depending on who you ask.”

Lucy bolted down the stairs in what seemed like a hastily assembled ensemble of mismatched greens and ran out the door before I had time to comment, not that I would.

“Do you think it will work?” I asked, grabbing a banana and my skates.

“I think whatever will work will work because of you and not because of them,” Millie said.

“I feel like that’s a non-answer,” I noted, pointing my banana at Millie. “A classic Millie Mom non-answer.”

Millie held up her coffee. “Have fun at school!”

On the average day, Greenville High, to me, was a somewhat stressful place full of loud kids who I found somewhat alien and intimidating.

That Friday, aka Spirit Day, it was like that with the volume turned up to eleven.

The halls were a sea of bright green with various lockers covered in green cards that said stuff like DESTROY! and CHAMPIONS.

Like put it this way: My outfit was not really all that out of line.

It was like Greenville was about to send a band of intrepid green adventurers into space or something.

“Are they a good team?” I asked Berry at lunch that day. “This team we’re spiriting today?”

Berry lowered her voice. “They’re okay. Mostly they win because the other teams in the district aren’t so hot. Then they get slammed when they go to state.”

“Bummer. So is today Spirit Day just because it’s last Friday or is there a game?”

“Um. I mean, today, yes there is a game. Not every Spirit Day is a game. And, um, it would probably be a good thing to make an appearance, then we can go for burgers or something after.”