Francine finds Nova’s notebook of letters to Bridget and asks if she has been writing. Bridget is the only person who can read Nova’s writing, but Francine is sure that she can see words in the pages. Francine makes flash cards with letters and some words, including Nova’s and Bridget’s names, and begins to test Nova. Nova gets a few wrong but gets many correct, and Francine becomes excited. When Francine asks Nova to hand her “Bridget,” Nova refuses to give her the card and gets upset. She wants Francine and Billy to go away.

“Countdown 3: Jan 25, 1986”: Nova apologizes to Bridget for hitting her when Bridget used similar flash cards with her. She explains that she hit Buddy in school because he took Mallory’s glasses. Now she wonders if she’s becoming a bad girl and if that’s what the Wests will tell Mrs. Steele. Nova wants to stay with the Wests and wants Bridget to return and stay with them too. She worries that Bridget might not find her before the Challenger launch in three days.