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laughed.
    â€œWhat about the third option then?” Marigold said, quickly changing the subject. “With Berta.”
    â€œMy idea,” Lily said.
    â€œIt makes sense, Mom,” Zinnie added.
    â€œHer mother isn’t able to leave Mexico. She’s very sick,” Mom said. “Besides, you guys are going to love Aunt Sunny. She taught science to kids for twenty years. She knows everything about everything.”
    â€œHow old is she?” Zinnie asked.
    â€œWhat color is her hair?” Lily wanted to know.
    â€œDoes she know I’m allergic to strawberries?” Zinnie asked.
    But Marigold raised a hand to silence them. “Mom, I need to talk to you alone.”

9. The Great Opportunity
    M om left a trail of damp footprints on the carpet as she headed toward her closet and changed into her pajamas.
    â€œMom, how could you do this to me? Do you even know what a big deal getting an agent is? Do you care?” Marigold asked, following her.
    â€œShe’ll still be your agent in August. You’ll only be gone for three weeks,” Mom said, smoothing some lotion on her face. “And of course I care. I care about you .”
    â€œBut they’re auditioning for Night Sprites on July seventh. Remember? It’s just one day, and Jill told me she might be able to get me an audition.”
    â€œThose books are not exactly literature,” Mom said, taking a seat on her bed.
    â€œThey’re literature to me,” Marigold said, and sat next to her mother. “Mom, have you ever wanted somethingso badly that it was all you could think about?”
    â€œYes,” she said. “When I was your age, I wanted a perm.”
    â€œReally?” Marigold asked. Mom’s straight, shiny blond hair was her crowning glory. People sometimes stopped her on the street to tell her what beautiful hair she had. Marigold couldn’t imagine her wanting to change it in any way.
    â€œOh, yes, all the girls in my class were getting them, but Grammy said no way. She said the other girls looked like they’d stuck their finger in a socket, and why would I do that to myself?” Marigold laughed. Mom continued. “I begged, I pleaded, I cried, but Grammy wouldn’t budge until finally I threatened to let Joanie MacDonald, my best friend’s older sister, give me one herself. She was in beauty school and needed someone to experiment on.”
    â€œDid Grammy finally let you do it?” Marigold leaned in a little closer. This was getting good.
    â€œNope. Instead, she took me to her hairdresser, who set my hair in rollers and made me sit under one of those big dryers to show me what I would look like if I went through with it.”
    â€œHow did it look?” Marigold asked.
    â€œIt was awful,” Mom said, laughing as she remembered. “I washed it out as soon as I got home, and I was so glad my mother had saved me from months of terrible, embarrassing hair.”
    â€œI guess that this audition is like my perm,” Marigold said, trying to refocus the conversation. “Only imagine if that perm was the best thing that ever happened to you.”
    â€œLook,” Mom said, “the truth is, your dad and I don’t want you to get too swept up in this whole acting thing. We know how excited you are that you have an agent, and we want to support your dreams, but we have a job as your parents to do what we think is best for you. We think it’s more important that you have this experience with your great-aunt and your sisters. You only get to be a kid once.”
    â€œBut I want to be like Amanda Mills.”
    â€œNo, you don’t,” Mom said. “Do you have any idea how messed up her life is? Poor girl didn’t even know her mom until she was nine years old, And remember how late her mom was picking her up from Jill’s office? I think Amanda is probably very troubled.”
    Dad wandered into the room, carrying a