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guess.”
    By that time they had lost sight of the group of girls they’d seen heading into the store, but when they walked in, Alex quickly became focused on the latest fall displays. It wasn’t long before she was heading into the dressing room with an armload of clothes to try on.
    Ava drifted from one carousel display of clothes to the next, fingering a shirt here, a skirt there, but she didn’t see anything she felt like trying on. She definitely needed some new jeans. Hers were getting too small on her. And a new bathing suit, but they were so boring to try on. She wished she had her sister’s focus, her ability to zero in on a goal. Maybe that’s why teachers all seemed to like Alex but were exasperated by Ava. Ava meant to focus, to pay attention. But she was always distracted.
    She moved toward the dressing room to find Alex, just as her sister stepped out in a cute white eyelet top over skinny navy-blue shorts. She did a little pirouette in front of the mirror.
    â€œWhat do you think?” she asked Ava.
    â€œIt’s pretty,” said Ava.
    Thankfully, there was a chair at the entrance to the dressing room. Ava sat down wearily asher sister tried on outfit after outfit.
    â€œI’m ready,” said Alex at last, emerging in the mint-green ruffled shirt and yellow shorts she had been wearing with a huge pile of clothes draped over her arm. “Mom just texted to say she’s on her way. I need to prepare my defense for why I need each of these items.”
    As they approached the register, Ava heard a flurry of whispering behind her. She turned.
    It was the group of girls they’d seen before. One of them stepped forward. “I just figured out who y’all must be!” said a tall girl with straight blond hair. “Aren’t you the Sackett twins?”
    â€œYes!” said Alex eagerly.
    Ava was rattled.
    â€œHow did you know who we were?” asked Alex.
    The other girls tittered. The blond girl opened her phone and sent a quick text. Then she smiled. “The whole town is waiting to meet you. Haven’t you noticed how football-crazy everyone is? Your daddy’s the main attraction! I’m Emily Campbell, by the way. And this is Annelise and Rosa.”
    Ava and Alex introduced themselves, just as Mrs. Sackett appeared. They introduced their mother, too.
    â€œI’m sorry to do this, Mrs. Sackett,” said Emily, “but my dad just arrived to drive us home, and I told him I’d met y’all. He’s parking the car and coming inside to say hello.”
    â€œWell, isn’t that nice,” said Mrs. Sackett, glancing quickly at her watch. “This is such a friendly town!”
    â€œAs I’m sure he’ll inform you, he used to run the fifty in four point seven seconds, so he should be here very soon. Oh, here he is now.”
    A man was running through the mall toward them, weaving between shoppers. He skidded to a stop at the front of the store, pivoted quickly like a wide receiver in the open field putting a fake on his defender, and then trotted toward them, thrusting out a huge hand.
    â€œHowdy, ma’am! Bob Campbell!” said Emily’s father. He whipped off his hat and shook Mrs. Sackett’s hand, still panting slightly. “It’s an honor to meet you and your lovely daughters!”
    â€œHow nice that our girls have met one another before school starts!” said their mom.
    â€œSo tell me, Mrs. Sackett—,” said Mr. Campbell.
    â€œOh, please call me Laura!”
    â€œAll right, then, Laura,” he said, his grin widening. “So tell me, Laura. How’s the team looking?”
    She smiled. “Well, they just started practice yesterday. Michael is certainly focusing a lot of energy on it,” she said. “It seems to be all he thinks about right now!” She laughed.
    Mr. Campbell laughed heartily. Then his face turned serious. He leaned in and spoke to Mrs.