"But if you knew in the morning already, why wasn’t a message sent out immediately to all our parents?"

It’s ten minutes after the bell, and Mrs. Klar still hasn’t arrived.

Mimi barely notices. She’s preoccupied with something else: Shoshana isn’t in school today, and she didn’t show up to study last night either. When Mimi tried calling her, there was no answer. What’s going on?

She asks Ella, who shrugs, and Tzippy, who frowns. “I tried her also. The line was busy.”

Mrs. Schwartz, the assistant principal, walks in just then, a stack of papers under her arm. “Girls, Mrs. Klar can’t make it today. We’ll be having a short Navi class instead, so please take out your—”

She’s interrupted by a sudden scuffle from the far right of the classroom as Kayla stands up suddenly, her cheeks flaming red. “One moment, Mrs. Schwartz. You can’t do this to us — I haven’t prepared for a Navi class! No one knew the schedule would be changed today. Why weren’t we notified earlier?”

Mrs. Schwartz blinks, then adopts a slow, patient tone that Mimi could imagine her using on a two-year-old. “I’m afraid we didn’t have much notice ourselves, Kayla, and therefore—”

“But if you knew in the morning already, why wasn’t a message sent out immediately to all our parents? Or at least a clear sign on the classroom door? Because now we’re here with our supplies ready for a Yahadus class, and instead—”

Mrs. Schwartz raises her voice slightly, but speaks in the same calm, measured tones. “Kayla, I’ll be giving you all two minutes right now to put away your Yahadus notes and exchange them for whatever you need for a Navi class. I’ll be waiting outside until that’s done.”

She sweeps out of the room.