“Punishing her isn’t going to make her feel bad for what she did. It’s just going to make her feel bad that she was caught”

"Your fault?” Mrs. Weiss asked Miri. “Why on earth would it be your fault?”

“Because.” Miri told her about the girls she met at the carnival. “And,” she concluded, “she asked me to speak to Devory, but with everything that happened, I forgot.”

“I’m not sure that makes it your fault, sweetie. I’m also not sure Ta would consider it. He lost a lot of money. That was the reason he had to close Happy Vistas, even if it was an accident on Mr. Freidman’s part.”

“What’s Happy Vistas?”

“A place where children who need special care can live under a doctor’s care.”

“Really? I didn’t know he owned a place for kids.”

“It’s the only one for children. All the other facilities he owns are for adults.”

“I feel bad Mr. Freidman’s mistake was the reason it closed, but maybe Ta will change his mind if he knows how hard it would be for Mr. Freidman to come up with all the money?”

“Why don’t you speak to Ta about it?”

“Me? Hmm. You know, Ma? That’s not a bad idea.”

Miri and Shoshie entered the schoolyard. “I’m so excited about the trip on Wednesday.”

“Me, too, Shoshie. It’s going to be epic.”

“I’m going to bake my amazing chocolate chip cookies tonight to bring along. You bring cut-up fruit.”

Miri laughed. “My mother can also make us sandwiches if you want.”

“Yes! Tuna with those tiny pieces of sour pickles!”

“She just bought bagels. It’s, like, not normally good on bagels.”

Shoshie licked her lips.

They sat down under a tree to eat their snack. “So, I have like a million things to tell you,” Miri said.

“Me, too.”