The restaurant was packed, and we had to wait for our table. Maisie demanded her free cardboard pirate hat while we were waiting, and she put it on right away. I got out my phone since we weren’t seated yet and took a photo of the pirate ship on the hostess stand and texted it to Frida.

This is the closest I’ll get to a trip! I told her.

Unbeliever! she texted back with a dozen pirate emojis.

Fifteen minutes later, the hostess told us our table was ready. As we were sitting down, Mom’s phone pinged.

“Let me just check this,” Mom said.

“I thought you said no phones!” Maisie protested.

“I’ll put it away right after this,” Mom promised. She read the screen. “Devin, it’s Ashanta. She’s got a job for you on Wednesday.”

“Wednesday?” I asked. “But I have practice.”

“I know,” Mom said. “It’s up to you, Devin.”

The next words came out of my mouth before I even thought about saying them. “I don’t think I want to model anymore,” I said, and as soon as I did, I felt relieved.

“Are you sure, Devin?” Mom asked, but she looked relieved too.

I nodded. “I am really glad I tried modeling. I learned a lot, and it definitely got me out of my comfort zone. I was really surprised to learn that there are a lot of similarities between soccer and modeling. I wasn’t expecting that!” I laughed. “But where I feel most important, and most valuable, is on the soccer field. I can’t imagine not being part of a soccer team, and I also can’t imagine being part of a soccer team and not being able to give myself one-hundred-percent to it. Something has to come first, and for me, that something is definitely soccer.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I won’t be saving money for college. Maybe I’ll try to get soccer scholarships. Maybe I’ll try to go pro. And that will take a lot of work.”

“We’ll support you, Devin,” Dad said. “I think you’re making a good decision as long as soccer is what you really love.”

“So do I,” Mom agreed.

“Me too!” Maisie said. “Modeling is sooooo boring!”

“I’ll let Ashanta know,” Mom said. “And then I’ll put away my phone.”

“I’ve also been thinking that I’d like to volunteer at the animal shelter,” I said. “Modeling was so unpredictable, it left no time for anything else but soccer and school.”

My mom and dad exchanged nervous glances.

“That’s very kind of you, Devin,” Mom said slowly. “But we need to make it clear that you can’t bring any animals home. Your dad’s allergies would make that impossible.”