Tammy coughed awkwardly as she stepped further inside. “I’m — um — here to check out this place. For a friend”

You’re allowed to be here, Tammy reminded herself. So why did she feel like a thief sneaking into someone’s home as she made her way along the flower-lined path to the Yad b’Yad center?

Rikki hadn’t gotten back to her, so she’d spoken to the director, who’d invited her to come. Rikki was just the social worker. Tammy didn’t need her permission.

Still, as Tammy walked inside and headed toward the door that looked like the office, she couldn’t help looking both ways, hoping Rikki wouldn’t appear.

“Welcome!” Lisa Glick, the director, greeted her warmly. Tammy had told her a story about wanting to check out the place for a friend. Now, as the director invited her to sit down and hear about the center, she fervently hoped she wouldn’t ask too many questions.

Twenty minutes later, clutching a brochure in her hand, Tammy left the office and was invited to look around.

“Is it okay for me to see where the girls hang out?” she asked.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lisa said, “Sure, it’s right through this door. There are a number of girls there right now, so just stick your head in for a minute. I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable.”

“Of course.” Tammy was relieved to see Lisa heading back into her office.

She furtively opened the door to the lounge and peeked inside. Three girls were sitting side by side on the couch, each absorbed in her phone. Another was sitting on the floor strumming a guitar. Two more girls were playing ping-pong in the corner. Their clothing toed the edge of tzniyus, but none of them wore tank tops or had purple hair or anything else that screamed full-blown rebel.

The girl with the guitar noticed her first. “Who are you?” she asked, without stopping her playing.

Tammy coughed awkwardly as she stepped further inside. “I’m — um — here to check out this place. For a friend.”