As soon as Ruchi walked into her fourth-grade classroom and swept a glance over the students her heart sank. Shayna Lifschitz was absent again. The sixth time in three weeks. What was going on in that home? After the fourth absence Ruchi had called the parents to find out if everything was okay.

“Fine fine we’re all doing fine” her father had insisted. “She had strep and then after going back to school she still didn’t feel 100 percent so she stayed home the following week as well.”

A reasonable explanation to be sure but Ruchi still had a funny feeling about the situation. And now two absences this week.

A half hour later Shayna slunk in red-faced.

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