At My Parents’ Anniversary Party, One Insult—and One Letter—Changed Everything

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“Is this for a school project?” I asked.

“No,” she said. “It’s a real competition. For kids all over the country. I want to enter.”

“The competition is for kids up to eighteen,” I said slowly. “You’ll be on the younger side.”

“I know.” She puffed air nervously from her nose. “But I’ve been reading about water filtration and I have ideas. I can continue reading …