The Hat Trick

Maya pulled the beanie down to her eyebrows, hoping to hide the disaster that was her hair. Day three of the "natural hair experiment" her mom insisted on, and she looked like a poodle that had just stuck a fork in an electrical socket.

"You ready for padel tryouts?" Jake asked, bouncing on his heels next to her locker. He was already in his athletic gear, looking like he'd stepped out of a sports commercial.

"Not even close." Maya adjusted the hat. "I'm about to humiliate myself in front of the entire varsity team."

"Here." Jake pressed a bright orange gummy into her palm. "Vitamin D and B12. My sister says they're supposed to help with... something. Nerves? Energy? I don't know, just eat it."

Maya eyed the suspicious supplement. "Your sister the one who tried to start a business selling crystal water bottles?"

"Okay, fair point." Jake shrugged. "But placebo effect, right?"

The gymnasium doors loomed ahead like the entrance to her doom. Inside, the sounds of racquets hitting balls echoed. Padel had exploded in popularity this year — suddenly everyone was obsessed with the sport that looked like tennis but had walls you could use, which apparently made it infinitely cooler.

She adjusted her hat one more time. Coach Miller blew her whistle.

"Alright everyone, hats off! I need to see your eyes!"

Maya froze. This was it. The moment her social life ended.

But then Chloe, the junior captain who Maya had been secretly intimidated by all year, stepped forward. Her hair was frizzy and wild, like she'd just rolled out of bed.

"Coach, can I keep my headband on? It's my lucky one."

Maya's hand went to her beanie. She could keep it on. She could survive this.

"Fine, whatever. Let's play!"

An hour later, Maya's arms burned and she was sweating through her favorite oversized T-shirt, but she was still in the game. Her hat had stayed put through every sprint and swing. She'd even managed to score a point off Chloe, who had grinned and given her a fist bump.

"Not bad, rookie," Chloe said as they packed up. "Same time tomorrow?"

Maya's face hurt from smiling so much. "Absolutely."

Outside, Jake was waiting. "How'd it go?"

"Made the second round," she said, pulling off her hat and letting her poodle hair spring free. "And I didn't even die."

"The vitamin gummy!"

"Yeah, sure Jake. That definitely did it."