I jumped to my feet and pulled my right calf behind me with my right foot.

“Okay, that’s interesting,” Zane said. “Just do some more stretches. Don’t worry about smiling. Pretend you’re warming up for a game.”

I tried to do that, but it wasn’t easy with five people watching me. I did some shoulder stretches and then got on one knee to do some hip flexor stretches.

“Good!” Zane said. “Keep your back nice and straight, Devin. Now tilt your right shoulder toward me so I can see the logo on your shirt. That’s it. Great!”

I glanced over at my mom, who was leaning forward in her seat and watching the whole shoot intently. She had a very serious expression on her face, and I couldn’t tell if she thought I was doing a good job or a bad job.

“Try to smile again, Devin,” Zane coached me. “Mouth closed. Great.”

He looked up from the camera. “Okay, Sabine, get in there with Devin, please. And let’s bring in the soccer ball.”

One of the assistants came up and put a soccer ball at my feet. Sabine stood next to me.

“Maybe you could pretend like you’re dribbling it, Devin,” Zane said. “And Sabine could be on the other team blocking you or something.”

“Sure,” I said, “But shouldn’t we be wearing soccer cleats?”

Zane looked over at Tenshi. “I don’t know. Should they?”

Tenshi shrugged. “I don’t know anything about soccer.”

Ashanta spoke up. “This isn’t a real game, Devin. The scene is just you and a friend kicking around a ball in a park. Does that work?”

I nodded. “Sure.”

“Um, can you show me how I should be blocking you, Devin?” Sabine asked.

I had to think for a minute. “Well, I could pretend I’m about to kick the ball, and you could come in from over there, like you’re going to intercept it,” I said, pointing to a spot a few feet away.

“I can do that,” Sabine said.

We got into position. I extended my right foot so it was almost touching the ball.

“Should I smile?” I asked.

“Let’s try one where you’re both looking determined,” Zane said. “And Sabine, why don’t you put your hands out in front of you, like you’re blocking Devin?”

Oh boy, I thought. Nobody in this room knows anything about soccer! But after bringing up the stretch, and the cleats, I wasn’t sure if I should say anything else.

I decided I had to, though. This would be a pretty silly picture if I didn’t.

“Um, Zane?” I began. “Nobody can put their hands on the ball in soccer except for the goalie.”

“Well, Sabine can be the goalie, then,” Zane said, and he was starting to sound a little bit annoyed.