Kayla looks bewildered. “No, it’s fine, you don’t need to apologize. I didn’t mind the question at all”

“I don’t understand something,” Raizy Reich announces one recess. She pins Mimi with a blue-eyed gaze, then transfers the look to Kayla, who continues meticulously underlining sections of her notes, oblivious. “Are you two twins or what? How come you’re in the same class?”

Mimi feels tiny needles creep up her arms. Her face turns a mottled red. Why? Why does Raizy need to start this now, just when things are finally settling down a little?

Kayla turns around, looking first at Raizy and then at Mimi. “Myself and Mimi, you mean?” she asks. Her voice is always pitched too high when she talks to Raizy and the others. Mimi’s fingers curl into balls. She feels like curling up and hiding herself.

“We’re 11 months apart, so we made it into the same grade,” Kayla explains, blissfully ignorant of Mimi’s urgent warning look. Don’t start explaining, just stop there—

“Eleven months? Whoa, that’s crazy,” someone says.

Kayla gives a single, emphatic shake of the head. “It’s not crazy, it’s perfectly plausible. In our case, I was actually born prematurely. I should have been two months younger, and in the grade below Mimi, but I was what they call a ‘preemie.’ ” Her eyes sweep the classroom, avoiding contact with anyone’s face, and she begins talking faster. “When I was born, I weighed a little over three pounds. I was in the hospital for several weeks, receiving oxygen and nutrition via tubes. At the time, they were worried about long-term physical impairments, however, baruch Hashem I gradually attained milestones and was released from the hospital at 12 weeks old.”

“Omg, TMI, sorry I asked.” Raizy shakes her head.

Kayla looks bewildered. “No, it’s fine, you don’t need to apologize. I didn’t mind the question at all.”

Giggles break out from various corners of the room. Ever so casually, Mimi sidles toward the door.

“Hey, everyone, what do you think is happening this afternoon? Last two periods are canceled, you think it’s a breakout?” Hadassah Brunner asks, changing the subject. Bless her.

“G.O. have been reaaallly quiet this year so far,” someone comments. Kayla looks confused.

Mimi’s friends are right behind her when she makes her escape. They find a deserted corner at the top of a staircase and settle down. Ella pulls out a generous bag of snacks and offers them around.

“I didn’t know that. About Kayla,” Shoshana says.