[ Nina's not an expert with children, theater, or painting, but she does enjoy being the center of attention and making other people laugh, so she's wound up with a small following of older children who she is helping rehearse their lines. There is a splatter of paint on the tip of her nose and on her right cheek.

It is human nature to turn your head when a baby starts to cry, and by the expression on Cal's face, the baby soon won't be the only one. Children, like any mark, can sense uncertainty, and she's not sure she likes the way the other kids in Cal's circle are eyeing him up.

What do you say, she says conspiratorially to Laura and Eddie, shall we rescue them?

Laura scrunches up her nose, as if not sure if she's too cool to help; Eddie, a true champion, shrugs. Nina grins at them both, nods her head to the side, and then sets down her paint brush to walk over to Cal. She is somewhat dubiously followed by Laura (12) and Eddie (11). ]

Is there anyone over here who can help us? We were having a hard time deciding if a tiger was yellow and orange, with black stripes, or purple and blue with green polka dots.

[ The ridiculous statement has a few kids snickering. Nina does not reach for the baby, instead she nods at Cal and mouths: Turn the baby around.

Sometimes baby's like it better when they can see. ]