AN Day 5 - Everyone is surprised

Everyone is in shock from what was announced... but you are not new to this. It's a shock to learn that you will be a captain of a team... that is not your strong suit, but you have a good coach. You can handle it.

You find yourself watching the other girls and their reactions... but you are really just looking for Ana. You don't see her anywhere until lunchtime, when she is talking to some other coaches and looking very sour. You wait for your chance, then sit beside her with your food.

She looks over at you.

"Oh God," she says.

"Glad to see you too," you say.

Ana sighs. "I am sorry. I don't mean to..."

"It's fine." You don't have to make her finish that sentence. You get it. "Are you OK? You look pissed."

Ana holds her fork but doesn't eat. The other girls are all excited and talking about the news... Ana is just flat.

"My daughter is staying to participate in this foolishness," she tells you finally.

"Of course. This is the kind of publicity you can't buy," you say. "Even someone with good prospects should definitely do it. It gets your face out there."

Ana grimaces. "You are aware that my daughter is a soldier?"

"Seriously?"

"In the Egyptian Air ****?"

"What?" You are impressed. Fareeha is awesome...

"So she cannot do this undignified thing," Ana says. You kind of see where she is coming from.

"Why is she doing it?" Maybe you should ask why she's in the Air **** and playing soccer... but later.

"To impress Angela!" Ana hisses at you.

"Oh." You see what this is about...

"And now Angela will stay here. For her." Ana taps the table, shaking her head... she is really mad.

Ana's feelings make sense... but she is not being reasonable. Just like yesterday, her anger is making it hard for her to be fair.

"My daughter is your age," she tells you. "Angela is forty. No young woman wants to be with..."

"...an older woman? I do," you tell her, leaning in close.

She glares at you. "You don't understand."

Yes... she is being very defensive. You can confront her on her feelings, and try to help her understand... or you can try to distract her from the things that are bothering her. She has a lot of frustration that she needs to release.

Should you confront Ana about her relationship with her daughter? Or distract her from it?