“Andy everywhere. Yikes…” Dan grumbled.

“Every kid on the other team is Andy, and every time there’s a chance to hit the buzzer, you get to prove to him he’s not any better than you. That’s what gets you competitive. So compete with him! Got it?” Marianne beamed. She knew she’d nailed it.

“Got it.” Dan smiled. “I’m in.”

“Nina,” she began.

Nina had already lifted her head and was staring at Marianne. “Yeah?” she asked. “This is kind of exciting. What are you going to say to me?”

“Vi would say…” Marianne thought for a second. “‘Snap out of it! Come on! Don’t be a baby!’”

“Okay, I wouldn’t be that mean…” Vi jumped in, her old, stronger voice back.

Marianne was in her own world, though, and didn’t respond. A buzz had crept into her, an energy that made her want to keep her head in the game. She knew what she wanted to say and now that she was saying it, it was like she had to let out every last bit.

“What she would mean is that Nina, we can tell you’re really nervous and really stressed. You keep looking at your parents. Do they make it worse?”

“They don’t try to. But…” Nina bit her lip.

“Okay, we need a game plan then. I’m going to get them out of your line of sight as much as I can, okay? And since you can’t use your fidget spinner … Okay, wait! I know!” Marianne jumped up and down. “Ballet!”

“Pardon?”

“When you talk about ballet, you breathe. When you do whatever that thing is with your arm when you do our handshake—”

“You mean this?” And Nina lifted her arm in three directions with a grace Marianne couldn’t even fake a teeny bit. “That’s just, like, basic training kicking in, I guess…” Nina demurred.

“Okay, whatever, but it works for you,” Marianne said. “Try this. When you’re freaking out during a match, just move your feet like you do in ballet class. Only a little bit—pointing or whatever it is you guys do. And see if that helps. Oh, and also! Try this with me. My mom taught me.” And Marianne talked her through “saying hello and goodbye” to the worry thoughts, like she did during math homework. It was worth a shot. “And listen to me. You are brilliant. You soak up information in this incredible way I’ve never seen. Scientists should study your brain one day. Okay? You can do this!”

Marianne knew that Nina needed to hear that. Plus, it was true.

Nina said, “I’m going to practice now,” and sat down, positioned herself like the buzzer was right in front of her, and closed her eyes to breathe. Every other second, her toes pointed.

“And to me.” Marianne took a huge inhale and let it out. “Vi would tell me it was all my fault. That I needed to answer like ten times more or you guys wouldn’t qualify, and if I don’t do that then you’ll lose, and it’ll be because of me.” And Marianne wouldn’t pass the year, she didn’t add out loud.