“There she is!” My dad clapped when I joined them. Hailey was sitting on the floor, and my parents were seated around the low coffee table. A board game was set out, along with game pieces, dice, and cards.

“What’s with the applause?” I asked him, smiling. “Should I bow or . . .”

“We’re just so happy the popcorn is ready!” said Hailey, jumping up, taking the bowl from me.

“Actually, we are clapping for Harper and her big win. In honor of your upcoming trip, we thought we’d play a game from my childhood,” said Mom.

“Ugggghhh. Mom made Dad dig in the attic again.” Hailey spoke and crunched at the same time.

“It’s the Wizard of Oz game, based on the novel and movie!” said Mom, giving the surprise away before I could look for myself. Mom was not one for suspense.

“Get it?” said Dad, driving the point home. “The main character, Dorothy, is on a quest to get back home. And you’ll be heading back to the northeast—your home.”

“Remember Connecticut? My room, which was peach and looked out onto that big, leafy tree with Timothy the squirrel? The gray one. I wonder if you’ll get to visit Connecticut while you’re there,” said Hailey dreamily.

“She’ll probably be so busy rehearsing and keeping to a tight schedule,” answered Mom.

“I don’t know.” I reach over to Hailey and grab a handful of popcorn. “I hear there’s a lot of wait time, because we are staying in town for longer. The competition is only three days.”

“Oh, goody,” Hailey said. “Say hi to Timothy for me, okay?”

“Any of your old friends competing?” Dad asked.

“I don’t know yet,” I said.

“Aw, you and Eliza used to be joined at the hip at your old dance studio.” Mom smiled at the memory. “I still have so many old pictures of you two in my phone. You didn’t tell her?”

“It’s just I don’t know if they made nationals,” I said. “And I don’t want to rub it in or brag or anything.”

“You could start by saying you’re coming to New York,” Mom suggested.

“That’s actually a good point,” I said, pulling out my phone.

“Not now, because it’s game time!” Dad said.

I learned that the object of the game was pretty straightforward. It was a super-cute game for kids way younger than me, but my parents were so happy. Okay, it was kind of fun when the flying monkey game pieces chased us around the board.

After Hailey won, and after I endured her “In your face!” rants, I headed up to my room. I pulled up Eliza’s name on my phone.

Guess who’s coming to NYC?

It only took three seconds before she texted back with smiley-face emojis.

WHEN?

I hesitated and then just went for it. I texted that I was coming for nationals. And then the answer that came back made me smile bigger.

Congrats on making it to nationals! We’ll be competing too!!!! Well—not our old team. I have news! I made the ELITE TEAM! I’m the youngest on it!!!