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apologize to me for making me lose out on this opportunity?” Lily said.
    â€œNicely put,” Dad said.
    â€œAre you?”
    Mom cocked her head at Lily so that her ponytail swung to one side. “If it’s meant to be, Lil, it’ll be. Frankly, I don’t see—”
    But just then the microphone squealed, and Kathleen stood in front with a clipboard in her hand.
    â€œI won’t prolong the suspense,” she said. “Let me just read the names of those young people we are inviting to join our class. Cassie Bauer.”
    â€œNow, Lil,” Mom whispered, “just remember that some of these kids have been being groomed for this since the high chair—”
    â€œLilianna Robbins.”
    â€œThat’s me!” Lily said. “I made it!”
    Mom looked at Dad, and he took off his glasses and chewed on the earpiece. Lily didn’t like the feeling she was getting.
    â€œI can be in the class, can’t I?” Lily said. “I mean, I was picked. I’m special, even with stupid gum on my skirt—”
    â€œYou are special,” Mom said. “And I don’t think you need this class to show you that.”
    Dad gently squeezed the back of Lily’s neck. “We just need to think about it, Lilliputian,” he said. “We’re not ready to say yes.”

Five
    I t was all Lily could do not to wail, “Whyyyyyy ?” right there in the Rutledge Agency meeting room. She waited until they got out into the parking lot and said it through very tight teeth.
    â€œBecause this whole modeling thing seems too focused on appearance to me,” Dad said. “You know Mom and I are always urging you kids to do things that will make God proud of you, things that are part of the work He wants us to do.”
    â€œYeah,” Lily said. “But—”
    â€œ But ,” Mom finished for her, “how are you contributing anything to God’s kingdom by walking up and down a runway so people will buy the clothes you’re wearing?”
    Lily’s mind felt like her iPod on shuffle; it couldn’t find a place to stop. Mom and Dad both leaned against the car and watched her.
    â€œI don’t know,” she finally said. “I just like it here.”
    â€œWhy?” Dad said.
    â€œBecause . . . I don’t know. I just do. I like Kathleen.”
    â€œHoney, we aren’t going to pay just so you can hang out with Kathleen,” Mom said. “We’ll have her over for dinner or something.”
    â€œBut she teaches me stuff. She already has. And I—I don’t know. Why can’t I do it just because I want to?”
    Neither of them answered that question. They only leaned against the car and waited. Lily could feel her throat closing up, feel her teeth wanting to grit together harder and harder. If she didn’t say something soon, it was all going to be locked up, and she would never get to come back here, where she felt special and not . . .
    â€œI don’t feel ugly when I’m around Kathleen!” she said.
    â€œOh, Lil!” Mom said. “Why would you ever feel ugly?”
    But Dad put his hand on Mom’s arm. “I tell you what, Lilliputian,” he said. “We’ll let you take the class, just because it means so much to you. But we’re not going to promise that we’ll let you sign on with the agency when you’re finished. We want to see if God is in this, so the class may end up being the end of it. Can you deal with that?”
    Mom gave him a poke with her elbow, but once again Dad patted her arm. Mom closed her mouth, and that was the end of that “conversation,” which was fine with Lily. She flung herself at Dad and wrapped her arms around his neck. He laughed softly, close to her ear.
    â€œThank you!” she said. “You won’t be sorry. I promise. I’ll try to be the best one in the class.”
    â€œI have no doubt you’ll