Rikki’s shoulders dropped. She had been enjoying being part of the group again

"Hey!” Matti said as soon as Rikki and Ruchie entered the classroom. “You are not going to believe it!”

“What?” Ruchie said.

“We’re getting our Chumash tests back today, and everyone got over a 90!”

“Really? Amazing!”

“Mrs. Berman is going to surprise us with a pizza lunch on Monday!”

“How do you know all this?” Rikki said.

“How do you think?”

“Mrs. Pearl. LOL!”

The girls laughed, and Rikki joined them. It felt good to be “normal” again, even if only temporarily.

“Any other newsflash from Mrs. Pearl?”

“Nope.”

Rikki sat down at her desk and took out her siddur. Davening earlier than her classmates was a foolproof way to avoid unwelcome conversation. Her fingers lingered on the soft leather, as she breathed in deeply. The familiar tightness in her chest wasn’t there.

Surprisingly freed from her constant frustration, she joined the heated conversation on her left.

“It is sooo not worth it!” Ahuva shouted. “You look at it a few times, and then it sits on your shelf collecting dust.”

“You are so wrong!” Someone else said. “For sure, it’s worth it!”

“What are you talking about?” Rikki asked.

The conversation stopped abruptly, and everyone turned her way.

Rikki felt as though she had a piece of broccoli stuck between her two front teeth. She hunched her shoulders. “Um, what’s not worth it?”

“Same thing we’ve been talking about for days, Rikki Dee,” Ahuva said.

“Oh.” Rikki caught Ruchie’s eye before looking down.

“Hello!” Ruchie said. “FYI, I also don’t know what everyone is talking about.”

“OMG!” Ahuva said. “What is with?! The yearbook!”

Ruchie touched the top of her head. “Oh, yeah, that!”

Ahuva rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I think it’s a total waste of money, and it’s tons of work. We should totally use the money from the bake sale for a two-day graduation trip instead!”

Rikki had no idea her class had been discussing a yearbook or a class trip.