Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six: The Science Fair
The science fair was announced in a letter that came home in Stella's backpack on a Monday afternoon.
Dear Parents,
The second grade will be hosting its annual science fair on Friday, April 12th. Each student will be required to complete a project and present it to the class. Projects can be done individually or in groups.
Please help your child choose a topic and gather materials. The goal is to encourage curiosity and creativity, not to create stress.
Lina read the letter three times.
A science fair. Stella was going to be in a science fair.
She thought about Leo's science fairs, so many years ago. The black holes. The wormholes. The time travel. He had won first place every time.
Stella had big shoes to fill.
---
Stella was excited.
"I already know what I want to do," she said.
Lina sat beside her. "What?"
"The life cycle of stars. How they're born. How they live. How they die."
Lina smiled. "Like Uncle Leo?"
Stella nodded. "Like Uncle Leo. He's going to help me."
Lina pulled her granddaughter into her arms.
"He's going to love that," she said.
---
Leo came over every day after school.
He sat at the kitchen table with Stella, a notebook in front of them, a pencil in his hand. He explained the life cycle of stars—the nebulas, the protostars, the main sequence, the red giants, the supernovas, the black holes.
Stella listened with wide eyes.
"Why do they die?" she asked.
Leo thought about the question. "Because everything dies. Even stars. But when they die, they create new things. New stars. New planets. New life."
Stella nodded slowly. "Like Grandma?"
Leo looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"Grandma died. But she came back. She created new life."
Leo's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes," he said. "Like Grandma."
---
Stella built a model of the life cycle of stars.
She used clay and paint and small lights to represent the different stages. She wrote a report that was three pages long, with drawings and diagrams. She practiced her presentation in front of Lina and Ethan and Grace and Clara and Samuel.
"You're going to do great," Lina said.
Stella nodded. "I know."
Lina laughed. "That's my girl."
---
The night of the science fair arrived cold and clear.
Lina sat in the front row, Ethan beside her. Victoria and Victor and Katherine sat behind them. Lily and Jake sat with Grace and Clara and Samuel. Leo and Maya sat with Stella.
The gymnasium was filled with parents and grandparents and siblings and friends.
Lina's hands were shaking.
"Are you nervous?" Ethan asked.
"Terrified."
"She's going to be fine."
"What if she forgets her presentation? What if her model falls apart?"
Ethan took her hand. "Then she'll be adorable. And even if she's not adorable, she'll be ours."
Lina leaned into him.
"Ours," she said.
"Ours," he agreed.
---
Stella's project was in the front row.
The model was beautiful—a series of clay stars in different colors, connected by lights. A poster explained each stage. A small notebook contained her research.
Stella stood beside her project, her head held high, her expression serious.
The judges came around.
They asked her questions. She answered them all, confidently and correctly.
Lina watched and cried.
---
The winners were announced at three o'clock.
Stella won first place.
She stood on the stage, holding her ribbon, her face flushed with pride.
Lina clapped until her hands hurt.
Ethan whistled.
The family cheered.
---
The celebration continued at the penthouse.
Pizza and cake and ice cream and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate. Stella told the story of the science fair again and again, adding new details each time.
Leo sat beside her, his arm around her shoulders.
"I'm proud of you," he said.
Stella leaned into him. "Thank you, Uncle Leo."
"You're going to be a great scientist someday."
Stella nodded. "I know."
Leo laughed. "That's my girl."
---
Later, after the guests had gone home and the grandchildren were asleep, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Full," Lina said. "Not from the cake. From... everything. From watching her. From seeing her shine."
Ethan put his arm around her. "She gets it from you."
"Get what?"
"The shining. The confidence. The ability to stand in front of a room full of people and not be afraid."
Lina leaned into him. "She gets it from you too."
"Maybe. Or maybe she gets it from herself. Maybe she's just who she's supposed to be."
Lina thought about that.
She thought about Grace, the sun. Stella, the scientist. Clara, the dancer. Samuel, the baby. All of them perfect, just as they were.
"I can't wait to see who they become," Lina said.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"Neither can I," he said.
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End of Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six