And once they determined that, maybe they wouldn’t want her anymore. The last family hadn’t wanted Bridget anymore when she was getting bad grades. Nova would be moved again. She would have to say goodbye to the attic window and raw cookie dough and her first-ever friends from Jefferson Middle School, and Bridget would not know where to find her.

“Nova, give me HAT.”

Nova gave her CAT.

“No, Nova. Give me HAT. Hah-hah-hat.”

Why is she saying it weird? Not making eye contact, Nova handed over HAT.

“Nova, give me MOON.”

Nova couldn’t help smiling. Without having to think twice, she grabbed MOON and placed it in Francine’s outstretched hand. MOON was easy. MOON, she liked. Bridget had taught her MOON when she was five. She used to write it in the notebook while she was in the belly of the sheep, waiting for her sister to get home from school. Over and over. Moon, moon, moon. That was one of the words Nova could almost always read.

Francine kept rotating through the words, sometimes with the same word requested twice in a row, sometimes not. Sometimes Nova got them right, sometimes not. But more right than not. They went through all of the words except two.

“Nova, what is your name?” asked Francine. Nova was confused. Francine knew her name. She’d just said her name. Besides, how could Nova answer “What is your name?” When she had tried in kindergarten the word got stuck in her throat and all she could say was “Bidge Bidge Bidge,” which got her in big trouble.

“Give me your name.” Francine gestured toward the cards.

“Ah!” Nova squeaked, realizing she could answer that question. She picked up the card that said NOVA and handed it to Francine. She tapped her chest. “Mm!” She meant “Me.”

“Great job, Nova!” cheered Billy, his face half-hidden by the huge video camera.

“Last one, Nova. Your sister’s name?”

Nova spotted it in the line; it was the card at the end. She picked it up. She wanted to hand it to Francine…but how could she? Bridget was not for Francine. Bridget was not for anybody except herself and Nova, same as Nova only existed for herself and Bridget. She could not give Bridget to Francine. If she did, Bridget would not be happy.

Nova could hear her sister’s voice in her head.

“If it feels like a home now, it’ll just be harder when we have to leave later.”

Nova never knew when later would be. Maybe soon. Maybe even tomorrow, when Mrs. Steele came to do her wellness check.