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andunplugging her laptop. The best time to ask Mom for something was at the end of the day when she was in her nightly bath. She was so relaxed that she was much more likely to say yes. Marigold led the charge as the three sisters made their way down the hallway into their parents’ room and knocked on the bathroom door.

8. The Presentation
    â€œI t’s us,” Marigold said.
    â€œAll of you?” Mom asked from inside.
    â€œYes,” Lily answered.
    â€œWell, come on in,” Mom said. “I guess it’s a party.”
    â€œWe have something to show you,” Marigold said.
    Zinnie followed her into the bathroom with the computer under her arm.
    â€œI had ideas too,” Lily added, taking a seat on the bath mat.
    â€œI can’t wait to see it,” Mom said. She was covered up to her neck in a fluffy blanket of bubbles.
    â€œWe came up with this presentation to show you in a calm and responsible way that we have realistic options for staying in L.A.”
    Zinnie placed the computer on the sink and pulled up the title slide. In a last-minute decision, she cuedup the classical music that Mr. Herrera played during independent study time. The first dramatic notes always made Zinnie feel serious and important. She turned up the volume, pressed Play, and a resounding duh duh duh duh filled the room. Mom sat up a little in surprise. Marigold jumped. Lily covered her ears. It was louder than Zinnie had intended, not having taken into account the small space and the tile floor. She lowered the volume as the music continued into a gentler-but-no-less-important-sounding melody.
    â€œYou definitely have my attention now,” Mom said with a smile.
    â€œHere are three good options for July that allow us to stay in L.A.,” Marigold said. Zinnie opened the next slide. “First, Grammy can come stay with us. It will be easy and convenient. We hardly ever see Grammy, and it’s important to spend time with her now that she’s so old.”
    Zinnie watched the corners of Mom’s mouth turn up, and she was pretty sure that was because of the sparkle effect. She opened the next slide.
    â€œA second idea is that we could stay with friends,” Marigold said. “You always say how valuable true friendship is. This time will give us a chance to really get to know our friends in a way that we can’t just by going to school with them.”
    Mom pressed her lips together and nodded. Zinnie wondered if she was trying not to laugh.
    â€œAlso”—Marigold continued—“this will save you money on plane tickets. As the old saying goes, a penny saved is a penny earned. And finally”—Zinnie opened the slide for option three—“Berta and her mother could both stay here. We all love Berta, and she loves us, and we can all take turns taking care of her sick mother. The end!” Marigold took a bow.
    Zinnie ended the slide show with the picture of the waterfall and raised the volume for a moment to finish with a bang.
    â€œBrava, girls,” Mom said. She clapped, and bubbles slid down her wrists. “The opening was my favorite part. No—maybe the rockets. Actually, I like the waterfall.”
    â€œSee,” Marigold said, “we don’t have to go. We have three good options.”
    â€œWell, Grammy is too old to be looking after three girls by herself. So that’s out. And I’m not having you stay with friends for three weeks. It’s too much to ask.”
    â€œWhy?” Marigold said.
    â€œWho would you stay with?” Mom asked.
    â€œPilar. Anyone. I bet I could stay with Clint.” Clint Lee was the very handsome star of Seasons . He always said hi to Marigold on set and sometimes even joked around with her.
    â€œClint Lee? Oh, no,” Mom said.
    â€œNot to be his girlfriend or anything,” Marigold said, feeling her cheeks color.
    â€œOh, well, that’s good,” Mom said, and