“Heppa?” asked Nova. She meant “Help.” Margot did not answer, but she was still smiling, so Nova put her hands on either side of Margot’s face and gently repositioned her head until it was straight. She let go, feeling glad to have helped, but Margot’s head slumped a little to the left again. Nova narrowed her eyes and tried a second time.

Margot’s head didn’t stay up the second time either, but she laughed. She laughed with her voice and with her Crayola Cadet Blue eyes. Nova knew it was a laugh because it sounded a lot like her own laugh.

Nova was about to try once more when she thought, Maybe Margot’s head just isn’t meant to stay up. Like how Buddy wasn’t meant to stay still and Mary-Beth wasn’t meant to make the S sound and Bridget wasn’t meant to stay in foster care with parents who thought she belonged in juvenile detention. So Nova held Margot’s hand instead, even though she usually didn’t like touching people’s hands with her hands.

“Mm-ma-uh?” She wanted to say “Madonna.” She wanted to ask Margot about Madonna, since Mrs. Pierce said that was her favorite singer. Madonna had been one of Bridget’s favorites too. Maybe Nova could bring in Bridget’s tape and they could listen to Madonna together. She held up Margot’s hand and tapped their palms together in a high five. Margot’s grin grew, but her head slipped forward until her chin was on her chest.

“Nova! Be careful with your friend!” Miss Chambers walked over and gently guided Margot’s head back up, then wheeled her to her usual Morning Circle spot. Nova picked a seat between Alex and Mallory but could not stop squirming. She had to be prompted twice to stand for the Pledge and she forgot to keep quiet during the moment of silence. When it was over, they returned to their desks. She was unable to concentrate at all on her testing with Mrs. Pierce. She could not identify letters, not even those in her own name.

“I know you’re excited, Nova, but please calm down and try a little harder,” said Mrs. Pierce, rubbing her temples like her head was hurting. “Francine told me how well you did with words and letters over the weekend, but if you can’t show me what you already know, I won’t know what to teach you next.”

Nova tried her best, but she was too excited and distracted and…she thought back to that word Francine used all the time…overwhelmed, that was it. She felt overwhelmed. So when Mrs. Pierce asked for N she handed her M and when Mrs. Pierce requested Q she got O and when she wanted Z she got H, which didn’t look similar at all. Nova started to get agitated and bounced in her chair, making an angry “Mm” sound.