Lucky Caller(31)

“So do you think your dad will be able to stay for the whole show when he comes, or just part of it?”

“Uh … not sure. Why?”

“I’m making some more posts to tease the interview and I wonder if it sounds better if we say it’s an interview with the mystery guest and they’ll be co-hosting that night, if he can stay the whole time.”

The truth was, I hadn’t exactly mentioned the interview thing to my dad yet. But he was for sure coming in April for Sidney’s show. He was definitely taking time off for it. So it would be fine. It wasn’t a big deal. I just had to get around to asking.

“Yeah, I don’t know,” I said. “I’ll check with him.” Then I pivoted to Joydeep. “Hey, so what kind of stuff are you planning to ask in the interview anyway?”

“Hm?” Joydeep was doing something on his phone.

“We’re reading facts and stuff now, but what about the actual thing? What kind of topics are you thinking?”

We had told Mr. Tucker about the details of our substantial plan—he was really enthusiastic about it, especially the idea of Dad coming to talk to our class about his career in radio.

“This is great initiative,” he had said. “I’m really impressed.”

Right now Joydeep just shrugged. “I’ll probably wing it. It’s just asking questions, how hard can it be?”

“It’s not just asking questions. There has to be some back-and-forth.”

“There is back-and-forth. There’s a question and an answer.”

“Yeah, but, like, you have to be able to adapt your questions based on the answers. Look—like, Sasha, do you like sports?”

She glanced up from her computer. “Yes.”

“What’s your favorite one?”

“Volleyball.”

Silence.

I turned back to Joydeep. “See? You have to be able to, like, have a conversation with someone or else it goes nowhere. Just asking a question isn’t enough. You have to … react.”

Joydeep just blinked at me for a moment and then said, “I can do that.”

“Maybe you should practice, though, is all I’m saying.”

“I can do that too,” he replied.

When it came time for the next link, Joydeep turned to me with a gleam in his eyes and then turned back to the mic.

“This is Sounds of the Nineties. That was a song called ‘Fatalistic Wasteland’ by the band Existential Dead. Hey, if you are listening right now, you’re in luck, because we’ve got a guest in-studio today. Everyone, please welcome…”

I shook my head forcefully. “Don’t,” I mouthed.

At that last moment, Joydeep swiveled his chair, taking his mic with him. “Sasha!”

Sasha’s eyes widened, and for a moment, it was totally silent in the studio.

There was nothing for me to do but stand and swing one of the guest mics toward her.

“Uh … hi,” Sasha said, pulling her headphones on. “What a … surprising opportunity.”

Joydeep was unabashed. “Sasha, tell us, what’s your favorite sport?”

“Volleyball.”

“Awesome. Volleyball is a really dynamic sport. Would you say it’s your favorite one to play, to watch, or both?”

“Both, I guess, but I also like watching basketball,” Sasha replied.

Joydeep nodded. “The girls’ basketball team is really good this year. Did you ever play on the team here? Or want to?”

“I played in middle school, but in high school, I kind of wanted to … focus on one sport so I’d also have time for other stuff.”

“Why’d you pick volleyball for your one sport?”

“Mm…” She considered for a moment. “I like the net.”

“Okay, wasn’t expecting that. What is it about the net that’s so great?”

“I guess I like the fact that it keeps you and your team together. And there’s no physical contact with anyone you’re playing against, so you’re not getting elbowed or knocked down or whatever. And I like that you’re … like, it feels as if you’re more part of a whole in volleyball. Like, you can definitely be a star in basketball, but with volleyball, it’s more about functioning as a unit all together instead of as individuals, if that makes sense.”

“Yeah, for sure,” he said, and then looked toward me with a triumphant See? kind of expression.

“What’s your favorite sport?” Sasha said loudly into the mic. Joydeep winced and then blinked over at her.

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. Who else would I be talking to?”

His lips twitched. “It’s soccer.”

“Good. Now that we’ve established both of our favorite sports, maybe we should play a song.”

“You don’t want to hear my, like, deep philosophy about soccer and teamwork and stuff?”

“No, I’d way rather hear”—she leaned over to peer at the monitor—“‘Back for Good’ by Take That. Keep it tuned to 98.9 The Jam for more Sounds of the Nineties. We’ll be back with you soon.”

I started the music, and Sasha slid her headphones off.

“What was that?” she said to Joydeep.