Yes, no, I-dunno, okay. Deena kept quiet throughout, trying to maintain an even face. She hadn’t expected Miri to chatter, right?

Miri looked beyond precious when they showed up for the intake. She was wearing a Sonia Rykel sweater set with a sequin heart, Golden Gooses sneakers, and a Knot hairband in her hair.

She definitely did not look like a poor, orphaned kid.

Deena checked her reflection on her phone screen before they entered. She patted down her sheitel, squeezed Miri’s hand and rang the bell.

Miri stood stiffly as Deena took a seat in Sarah Beneloff’s office.

“Hi, Miri!” Sarah greeted her.

No response.

So much for looking precious.

“Do you want to sit down?”

Miri shook her head. Deena was about to coax her to sit but bit back her words. They were on the psychologist’s clock now, let her do whatever she saw fit.

Sarah didn’t mention sitting again. She made small talk, then took out some blocks and planted them on the table. Without looking at Miri, she laid out a series of blocks. Then she placed a pile of blocks on the other side of the table. “Can you copy what I did here, Miri?”

Miri hesitated, then approached the table. She copied the pattern, then sat down, staring at the wall.

“Good,” Sarah said. She moved the blocks away, leaned forward and caught Miri’s eye.

“What’s your favorite part of school?”

Miri shrugged. “Nothing.”

“You don’t like school?”

“Whatever.”

“Do you like to color?”

“Yes.”

The questioning continued with Miri answering one-word answers: Yes, no, I-dunno, okay. Deena kept quiet throughout, trying to maintain an even face. She hadn’t expected Miri to chatter, right?