Chapter One Hundred Sixteen: The Science Fair
The science fair was announced in a letter that came home in both twins' backpacks on a Monday afternoon.
Dear Parents,
The seventh grade will be hosting its annual science fair on Friday, April 8th. 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.
"Leo, what do you want to do for the science fair?" she asked.
Leo looked up from his book. "I already have an idea."
"What is it?"
"The theoretical possibility of interstellar travel using wormholes."
Lina blinked. "That's very advanced."
Leo shrugged. "It's interesting."
Lina looked at Lily, who was sitting on the floor, playing with Sky the bird.
"Lily, what do you want to do?" Lina asked.
Lily looked up. "I want to do something with psychology. Maybe something about how social media affects self-esteem."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "That's actually a good idea."
Lily beamed. "I know."
Lina held up her hands. "Then let's get to work."
The science fair brainstorming began.
---
Leo settled on a project about interstellar travel.
He built a model of a spaceship using cardboard and paint and small lights to represent the stars. He wrote a report that was nine pages long, single-spaced, with citations. He created a video presentation explaining the concepts in terms that his classmates could understand. He even built a small simulation using a computer program that showed how a wormhole might work.
Lina helped him with the glue gun.
Ethan helped him with the wiring.
Lily helped him by staying out of the way.
"It's beautiful," Lina said, looking at the finished model.
"It's theoretically possible," Leo corrected.
"That too."
Leo nodded, satisfied.
---
Lily settled on a project about social media and self-esteem.
She surveyed her classmates, asking them about their social media use and how they felt about themselves. She compiled the results, made charts, and drew conclusions. She created a presentation about the importance of taking breaks from social media and focusing on real-life connections.
"That's actually very scientific," Leo said, looking at her charts.
Lily beamed. "I know."
"The sample size is small. The controls are loose. But the idea is solid."
Lily shrugged. "I'm a psychologist."
Leo almost smiled.
Lina watched them and felt her heart swell.
---
The week of the science fair arrived cold and clear.
Lina and Ethan sat in the back of the gymnasium, surrounded by parents and grandparents and the particular chaos of a hundred children showing off their projects.
Leo's project was in the front row.
The model was impressive—a spaceship with lights inside, surrounded by stars painted on black paper. A small screen played his video presentation on a loop. Leo stood beside it, his report in his hand, his expression serious.
Lily's project was in the back.
A poster with charts and graphs and the words "SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS SELF-ESTEEM" in glitter. A small screen played her presentation on a loop.
"I told you glitter was important," Lily said to Leo.
Leo looked at her poster. "It's actually very scientific."
Lily beamed.
---
The judges came around at noon.
They asked Leo questions about interstellar travel. He answered them all, confidently and correctly, even explaining the difference between a wormhole and a black hole. The judges looked impressed.
They asked Lily questions about her experiment. She answered them with enthusiasm and flair, even demonstrating how she had conducted her survey.
Lina watched from the back of the gymnasium, her heart full.
"They're doing well," Ethan said.
"They're doing wonderfully."
Ethan took her hand. "They get it from you."
"Get what?"
"The curiosity. The creativity. The willingness to try."
Lina leaned into him.
"They get it from you too," she said.
"Maybe. Or maybe they get it from themselves."
Lina thought about that.
She thought about Leo, building a model of a spaceship. Lily, exploring the psychology of social media. Both of them curious. Both of them creative. Both of them exactly who they were supposed to be.
"I can't wait to see who they become," Lina said.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"Neither can I," he said.
---
The winners were announced at three o'clock.
Leo won first place for his project on interstellar travel.
Lily won second place for her project on social media and self-esteem.
The twins hugged each other.
"We both won," Lily said.
"We both won," Leo agreed.
They stood in the gymnasium, holding their awards, their faces flushed with pride.
Lina cried.
Happy tears.
---
That Night
The celebration was at the penthouse.
Pizza and cake and ice cream and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate. Leo told the story of his project again and again, adding new details each time. Lily talked about her survey, about the importance of mental health, about the power of glitter.
Victoria found Lina in the kitchen.
"They're amazing," Victoria said.
"They're something."
Victoria smiled. "They're yours."
Lina looked at her children—Lily, holding court in the living room; Leo, explaining wormholes to Victor.
"Yes," she said. "They are."
---
Later, after the guests had gone home and the twins 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 them. From seeing them shine."
Ethan put his arm around her. "They get 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. "They get it from you too."
"Maybe. Or maybe they get it from themselves. Maybe they're just who they're supposed to be."
Lina thought about that.
She thought about Leo, the scientist. Lily, the psychologist. Both 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.
---
The Next Morning
Lina found Leo in his room, sitting on his bed, holding his award.
"Are you okay, baby?" she asked.
Leo nodded. "I was thinking about the science fair."
"What about it?"
"About winning. About being the best."
Lina sat beside him. "And?"
Leo was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "I think I'm okay with it. Being the best. But only because I worked hard. Not because I'm better than anyone else."
Lina pulled him into her arms.
"That's very wise," she said. "For a twelve-year-old."
Leo shrugged. "I read a lot."
Lina laughed.
She held her son, her scientist, and felt grateful for every part of him.
Not the parts that won awards. Not the parts that stood out.
All of him.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Sixteen