Good morning.”

“Morning, anyway, I’m not so sure about good,” said Miri.

“Uh, oh, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing new. Same thing that’s been wrong.”

The girls fell into step beside each other. “Why don’t you just give it up?” Shoshi asked.

“Give up what? I already gave up so much.”

“I know you did, Miri,” Shoshi mumbled.

“You sound annoyed. Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. It’s just that, like, this is the topic of discussion every day.”

Miri stopped in her tracks. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Shoshi shifted her backpack on her shoulder. “Exactly what it sounds like. We always speak about Devory and your house and your stepfather.”

“You sound like it bothers you.”

“No, it doesn’t bother me. I just want to speak about something else once in a while.”

“You know, we speak about your family, too. Just saying.”

“Not half as much as we speak about yours.”

Miri began walking again, and Shoshi walked silently alongside her.

“We really do?” Miri said. “I didn’t realize it. I thought we both complain equally.”

Shoshi laughed. “No, you’re for sure the winner.”

Miri pressed her lips together for a second. “Okay. So, this is totally not complaining. My mother went to look at a house last night. We may be moving.”

“You mean, like, we won’t be able to walk to school together?”

“Oh, no. I don’t know! I mean, I don’t know where the house is. Anyway, my mother said it’s too premature to plan.”

“Your house is so beautiful. Why do you have to move?”

“I can tell you why?”

“Why not?”

“It might sound like I’m complaining.”

“Ha ha ha, Miri Lax. Very funny.”

Miri threw her head back and laughed. “Okay, so, it’s to make sure everyone is equal. If the house is new, no one will feel like they own the house or the room. Namely, Devory.”

“Isn’t that like, majorly excessive? I mean, to buy a whole new house?”

“He has a lot of money.”

“Yeah, well, duh. But still, it seems so crazy.”

“I know, right?”

“You know, Miri,” Shoshi said. “I think Devory is just plain jealous of you.”

“Jealous? Puh-leez!”

“No, I’m serious. You’re a cute kid. You have a cute mother, and a really cute friend! So Devory is just plain jealous.”

“OMG! Maybe she really is. I mean, it makes so much sense. I am cute!”

Shoshi laughed. “You know I’m right.”

“I don’t think so.”

“For sure. I can even prove it.”

“How?”

“Because she bashes everything you do.”

“How is that proof?”

“When someone bashes you 24/7, it’s because they wish they were like you. My brother Donny told me that. And trust me, it’s legit, he knows.”

Miri thought about it. Hmm. Interesting. Maybe Shoshi was right.

****

“Where’s everyone going?” Shoshi asked when they entered the school building.

“To the lunchroom for an important announcement. Mrs. Klein is speaking to all the eighth graders.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know, but it’s serious.”

They could hear Mrs. Klein’s voice over the microphone from outside the lunchroom as they rushed there.

“Ugh! We’re late,” Miri said. “I hate making a grand entrance.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll stand in the back. No one will see us.”

They entered the crowded room and stood against the back wall with a few other latecomers.

“Please,” Mrs. Klein said almost immediately, “all the girls in the back, sit down. There are a few seats here at this table.”

Miri’s cheeks burned as Mrs. Klein motioned them to the front of the room.

“Right here at this table, girls.”

Miri looked at the floor as she and Shoshi wove their way through the rows of tables.

“Please make room,” Mrs. Klein said to the girls seated on the bench. The girls moved over, and Miri and Shoshi sat down.

The slight snort in Miri’s ear was hard to miss. Miri turned her head and looked directly into Devory’s eyes.

Devory scooted as far away as she could on the cramped bench, prompting girls to cover their giggles. Miri bit the inside of her cheek.

“It has come to my attention,” Mrs. Klein said, “that a teacher is missing something important. She is positive that she did not misplace it. It pains me to say it, but it seems that it was taken from her briefcase without permission.” She stopped speaking, allowing her words to ricochet off the walls. Her gaze swept across the room before she continued.

“I’m asking that whoever has it, return it before the end of the day. Admitting wrongdoing is difficult, but it’s the first step of teshuvah. I assure whoever took it, that it will remain confidential.”

Miri saw Devory’s clasped hands tighten beneath the table until her knuckles turned white.

Oh, no!

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 812)