Anyway, Dad nudged me and said, "Pay attention, honey." I faced forward and tried to concentrate.

The vice-principal was handing out the awards. First she presented one for excellence in English, then one for excellence in math, three for excellence in foreign languages, and one for outstanding leadership qualities.

Finally she said, "And now I am proud - no, I am honored - to present the final award. It's a very special award, and has been granted only once before. That was ten years ago, to a senior. This time it will be presented to a junior, as the most accomplished science student at the community college, where this student has been taking classes for two years, in addition to her classes here at the high school. Janine Kishi, will you please come forward and accept your award?" My sister, looking nervous, stood up from her place in the first row and made her way to the stage. She didn't trip going up the steps or anything, and she accepted her plaque and a check for $250 very graciously. Before she left the stage she turned, smiled at Mom and Dad and Peaches and Russ and me, and then went back to her seat.

The ceremony was over.

But the nightmare had begun.

Can you believe it? All these people - kids, teachers, my family - ran up to Janine and started congratulating her. She was absolutely surrounded, all pressed in, but she looked as if she were loving every second of it.

Guess what. A photographer and a reporter from the Stoneybrook News were there. The photographer took some pictures of Janine holding up her plaque and the check. Then the reporter turned to my family and began asking us questions.

"Your sister is awfully smart," he said to me. (Duh.) "Are you a genius, too?" Me? A genius? "Uh, well, I'm - " Before I could tell him about my art, he turned to my mother and asked if she were proud of Janine.