Ebby Rogan tapped her foot impatiently, the rhythmic thud against the car floorboard mirroring the racing of her heart. “Dad, please, I really need these extra lessons if I’m going to ace the test,” she pleaded, her eyes darting to the clock on the dashboard. Her father, a man of routine and punctuality, nodded. “Of course, Ebby. Education first,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. The drive to Mr. Henderson’s house, her supposed math teacher, was silent except for the soft hum of the engine. Ebby’s mind, however, was anything but quiet. She wasn’t heading for equations and theorems; she was diving headfirst into her dream—a photoshoot that could launch her modeling career. As they pulled up to the address she’d given, not Mr. Henderson’s but the studio of a local photographer, Ebby felt a twinge of guilt. “I might be a while, Dad. Mr. Henderson says we have a lot to cover,” she lied, avoiding his gaze. Her father simply smiled, pulling out a book. “Take your time. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.” With a quick peck on the cheek, Ebby slipped out of the car and into her destiny. The next three hours were a blur of flashes, poses, and the photographer’s encouraging words. She was natural, they said, a star in the making. Outside, her father waited. One hour turned to two, two to three, and the pages of his book flipped by unnoticed. He trusted Ebby, believed in her dedication to her studies, and the thought of her doing anything else never crossed his mind. When Ebby finally emerged, her eyes were bright, her step light. “How did it go?” her father asked, as they drove back home. “Great, Dad. I think I really got it this time,” she said, a smile playing on her lips. But it wasn’t algebra that she’d grasped—it was the thrill of following her passion, even if it meant bending the truth just a little. And as the city lights blurred past, Ebby promised herself that one day, she’d tell her father the truth. But for now, she’d savor the secret of her first step towards the stars.