"I can't believe it!" 7-year-old Clementine St. James' exclaimed.

"I know!" Clementine's friend Sophie replied, just as excitedly.

The girls were sitting at lunch. They had just one week left of first grade and then it was summer which meant Clementine's birthday was coming up.

Sophie had just told Clementine about a soccer camp that was going to be the week after Clementine's birthday. It was going to be led by former professional soccer players. Clementine had done sports camps before but never any led by professionals before.

"I hope my mom and dad will let me!" Clementine said, unwrapping her sandwich.

"They'd better!" Sophie cried. "Mine too! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we're talking about."

Clementine nodded in agreement.

Clementine was the youngest of two daughters. Her 20-year-old sister Olive, had recently finished up her sophomore year at NYU studying theatre at the Tisch School for the Arts. Olive, like her and Clementine's parents, Rachel and Jesse, was an actor. Clementine was the athlete of the family although her half sister Maya Hummel-Anderson (who Clementine just knew as a family friend - although Rachel had actually been Maya's egg donor) also liked sports, and offered Clementine advice - and sometimes even played soccer or basketball with her.

Clementine's parents had no issue taking her to soccer practice instead of rehearsal, but Clementine wasn't sure if they'd be willing to let her go to the camp.

When school let out, Clementine headed for the front of the school where she always got picked up. She recognized her dad's car and opened the door.

"Hey, Clemmy!" Jesse greeted.

"Hi Daddy," Clementine smiled. She put her backpack and lunch box down and buckled up.

"How was school?" Jesse asked.

"Um…good. I got my multiplication test back and I got all the questions right! And a scratch and sniff sticker from Mrs. Nelson!" Clementine said proudly.

"That's my smart girl!" Jesse turned around and beamed at Clementine.

"Thanks. Hey - I've got something to ask you and Mommy about tonight," Clementine said.

"That's funny - we've got something to ask you about," Jesse said. "Maybe we can discuss it over dinner? We're ordering Vito's."

"Yay!" Clementine said. "Can I have pizza tonight? I haven't had much dairy this week."

"Sure! Mommy actually thought you'd want that so she's getting herself a vegan sub and you and I can have pizza. Do you want vegetarian or cheese?" Jesse asked.

"Hmm…" Clementine pondered. Normally, she chose cheese pizza, but she was actually in the mood for veggie pizza this time.

"Veggie, please!" Clementine replied.

"Okay. I'm gonna get a cheese for myself so if you want a little of both - you can have them," Jesse said.

Clementine got home, had a snack of apple slices and caramel, and did her math and reading homework.

Rachel arrived shortly before dinner after her rehearsal with a Vito's to-go bag in hand.

"Yeah! Vito's is here!" Clementine exclaimed from the couch where she was watching TV.

"Nice to see you, too," Rachel shook her head and chuckled.

"Hi Mommy!" Clementine said, giving her mother a hug.

"Hi, Clem," Rachel said. "How was school?"

"Good! I told Daddy I have something to ask you and he said you guys have something to ask me about, too," Clementine said.

"Okay," Rachel said. "Did you leave your tag out all day?" Rachel laughed, tucking the tag back into Clementine's shirt.

"Oh…maybe," Clementine giggled.

The family dished up their food and sat down.

"So, Clementine - do you want to ask Mommy and me your question or should we go first?" Jesse asked.

"You can go first," Clementine said, pouring herself a glass of lemonade.

"So," Rachel began. "I'm in a show at the Hudson right now, as you know and I was talking to Diane Baker - you remember her don't you, honey?"

"Oli's old director?" Clementine asked.

"Yes! And she's directing me now in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Diane was telling me during a break that the week after your birthday they are going to be doing an Intro to Musical Theatre Camp for kids 7-11. Daddy and I were wondering if you would be interested in checking it out. It's okay if you don't like it, of course," Rachel said.

Clementine looked down.

"Oh," she said.

"Clemmy, what's wrong?" Jesse asked.

"Well…Sophie was telling me today about a soccer camp that week - being taught by real former professional players," Clementine said.

"I see," Jesse replied. "And you want to do that instead?"

"Um….maybe. Can I think about it?" Clementine said. Maybe she should go into acting - she was pretending to consider doing the workshop because she didn't want to hurt Mommy and Daddy's feelings.

"Of course!" Rachel said.

Clementine finished her food, put her dishes in the dishwasher, and went up to her room.

Mommy and Daddy had never made her do anything she didn't want to (within reason, of course). She had started taking an interest in sports after one of her friends in preschool talked about signing up for soccer. Clementine had asked Rachel and Jesse if she could try soccer, too, and they signed her up without hesitation. She'd been doing it for about three years now - and basketball for about a year and loved them both. She also took swimming lessons in the summer for safety reasons and just this school year had started taking violin - Rachel and Jesse wanted both of their girls to play an instrument but let them choose it - Olive had chosen piano.

While her parents had offered to sign her up for theatre classes in the past, Clementine had politely declined, and Rachel and Jesse left it at that. This time seemed different, though. While they weren't pushy about it, they sounded so excited and while Clementine really wasn't interested, she didn't want to say no because she thought it might upset them.

Clementine had never over thought her hobbies until now. Just recently, Jesse was introducing the family to some fellow cast mates. After introducing Rachel and Olive and explaining that they were also actors and had worked at the Hudson, too. Then, he turned to Clementine.

"And this is my youngest, Clementine - she's the athlete of the family," Jesse said proudly, putting his hands on Clementine's shoulder.

But maybe he was just acting - and he wasn't actually proud, he was disappointed.

Clementine heard a knock at her door.

"Come in!" Clementine called.

It was Rachel.

"Hey, Clemmy - it's time to take a shower," Rachel said.

"Okay," Clementine stood up absentmindedly.

"Is something wrong, honey?" Rachel asked.

"No," Clementine shook her head. "I'm just gonna get some pajamas for after my shower."

"Clementine - come here," Rachel said. She led Clementine out to the family room where Jesse was sitting.

"Sit down, Clem," Rachel took a seat and patted the spot between her and Jesse.

"I don't want to make you talk about anything if you don't want to, but I also can tell that something is bothering you," Rachel said.

"Umm…does it…does it bother you guys that I'm not into acting like everybody else in the family?" Clementine asked.

"What?" Jesse asked. "Of course not!"

"Well…it just seems like you like being able to do shows with Olive and know the same people at the Hudson as her and talk about theatre stuff," Clementine said.

"Well…yes, it is nice to be able to bond with Olive that way," Jesse said. "But we didn't push her to get into theatre - in fact, when she said she wanted to do it - Mommy and I weren't sure whether we should let her or not."

"Really?" Clementine asked.

"Yes, we knew how much work it was - even for adults. Olive was just five, and while she had been in ballet for a few years - being in a musical and having to learn dances, lines, and music would be a lot more work. But after talking to your Aunt Annie, we decided to let her go for it - and she loved it and still does 15 years later," Rachel added.

"We just want our girls to be happy," Jesse said. "For Olive, that means being onstage, and for you, that means being on the soccer field or the basketball court. We love going to see Olive's shows, but we love seeing your games, too. And while we like bonding with Olive over theatre, there are ways we bond with you, too. You and I bond over Star Wars - which I could never get Olive into, and you and your mom bond over gardening, which, again, we could never get Olive enthusiastic about digging in the dirt."

Rachel and Clementine giggled.

"Um, I think I made a decision about the theatre workshop," Clementine said.

"Alright, let's hear it," Jesse said, although he and Rachel both knew the answer.

"I want to do the soccer camp instead," Clementine said.

"Great! Where do I go to sign you up?" Jesse asked.

"Sophie gave me a flyer - one sec!" Clementine got up and ran to her backpack where she retrieved the flyer and brought it to her father.

Jesse pulled out his phone and went to the website while Clementine snuggled up to him and she and Rachel watched.