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Mimi wonders if Shoshana will offer to help, but her friend, it seems, is too wrapped up in her own problems to think of that

Mimi jumps. She feels invaded, somehow, that she’s being watched

“It’s just, you know, people expect their friends to share stuff…” she trails off. At the other end of the line, Shoshana is cold, silent

Mimi’s salad is boring; the salad phase is over in their class. But boring is better than totally and utterly weird

“And one more thing, Mimi,” Mrs. Stern continues. “From now on, in all my classes, I’d like you to sit in the front row”

“Go ahead, Mimi, I want to watch this. Let’s see where your coaching is up to.” She crosses her arms and eyes Mimi appraisingly