Stepmom Lends A Hand: Best

At the fair, Jenna’s project didn’t win first place. But when the judge asked who helped her, she didn’t say “my dad’s wife.” She said, “My stepmom. She always lends a hand.”

For the next hour, they worked side by side—Carla steadying the cardboard while Jenna shaped the crater, then both of them painting it gray with red streaks. When the volcano finally erupted (with a little extra vinegar Carla found in the back of the pantry), Jenna laughed for the first time all week. stepmom lends a hand

The morning of the school science fair, chaos took over the kitchen. Jenna, a nervous 12-year-old, stared at her half-built volcano. The papier-mâché was still damp, the baking soda was missing, and her dad had already left for work. At the fair, Jenna’s project didn’t win first place