Tammy sucked in her breath. “Shani? But…” She stood up and took a few paces around the room. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. That it couldn’t be Shani, because she’d invested so much in her already? Or, no, that it would be Shani — Tammy, more than anyone, knew how much the girl was crying out for attention. But why hadn’t Mrs. Bruckstein consulted with Tammy before issuing the punishment? Everyone knew how close Shani felt to her.

Tammy grasped the treadmill handle and looked at Tziri, who was in charge of Shani’s floor. “How’s she doing now?”

Tziri made a face. “Not good. When I came back to the dorm this afternoon, I found Shani lying in bed. She didn’t want to talk. Rusi told me later that she skipped all her classes today.”

Tammy grimaced. “I understand why Mrs. Bruckstein felt like she needed to send a message to everyone else, but Shani’s the wrong girl to do it with.”

She scowled. She probably shouldn’t have said that. But Mrs. Bruckstein should have known. Or should have asked her, at least. Did she think Tammy was completely incompetent, just because she was young and new?

The madrichot were watching her. Tammy swallowed, and forced herself to relax her scowl, as she said, “Fine, I’ll take care of Shani after we finish here. Any other updates?”

ZeeZee bounced into her room and then immediately stopped short at the sight of Rusi putting a finger to her lips. Shani was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Rusi was watching her with such a solemn expression, you’d think she was at the sickbed of a dying friend.

“Still not speaking?” ZeeZee asked.

Rusi shook her head, and ZeeZee rolled her eyes. She’d been avoiding her room all day, to give Shani the space she clearly needed, but this was getting ridiculous. It was already 11 p.m.; how long could a girl sulk for?

Ignoring Rusi’s frantic gesturing, ZeeZee strode over to Shani’s side of the room and sat down hard on the foot of her bed. Shani bounced up.

“What’re you doing?” she asked, glaring.

ZeeZee looked at her innocently. “Oh, sorry. Did I break some other smartphone you have hiding under the mattress?”

Shani turned red and Rusi gasped, but ZeeZee burst out laughing. “Oh, my goodness, chill out, guys! You’d think Shani robbed a bank, the way you’re all acting. So she was caught with a smartphone. Oooh.” She waved her hands in front of her dramatically. “As if half the girls in this seminary aren’t keeping smartphones by their married sisters in Ramat Eshkol.”

Shani tightened her lips, but Rusi looked at her with interest. “Are you?”

ZeeZee grinned. “Since all my married sisters live in the boring old US, I’ve had to be more creative.” She swung her hair over her shoulder. “I’m not dumb enough to hide it under my mattress. As if it isn’t the first place a madrichah would look… no offense, Shan.” She patted Shani’s shoulder, who flinched at her touch.

Rusi was staring at her, and, after a moment, ZeeZee winked. “Don’t worry, totally joking. My smartphone is locked up in a safe in the office, same as yours.” She waved her arm airily. “It might surprise you to know that I’m actually a good girl. Unlike our evil, sinning roommate over here.” She shifted on the bed so that she was facing Shani. “So, nu, don’t roommies get the inside scoop? What’d you suddenly need the treif phone for? Were you recruited for the Mossad?”

Rusi laughed, and even Shani was surprised into cracking a smile. “The Mossad? You’ve got a cute imagination, ZeeZee.”

ZeeZee shrugged. “You’re so secretive, I’ve always wondered….” She leaned forward. “ ’Kay, seriously. Is it someone you want to keep in touch with, but you can only do it by texting?”

Shani’s face tightened, and Rusi said, “Stop being such a yenta, Zeez. If she wants to tell us, she will.”

But Shani suddenly spoke up. “It’s my mother, okay? She’s the one who wanted me to have a smartphone, so she could keep closer tabs on me.”

Even ZeeZee was momentarily speechless. She exchanged a stunned glance with Rusi. Finally, she said slowly, “Your mother? But that’s insane! Why would she want you to break the rules?”

Shani hugged her arms around her knees. “Because… well, she’s like that. She didn’t want me coming here to begin with. She thought Shvilei was too strict, that they’d brainwash me, or something.”

“Shvilei? Strict?” ZeeZee’s eyes widened. “Does she realize Shvilei’s one of the more relaxed seminaries? Imagine if you’d gone to Bnos Hinde!”

Rusi shook her head at ZeeZee. “Not everyone sees the world from your perspective.” She turned to Shani. “She didn’t want you to go to a Bais Yaakov seminary at all, huh?”

Shani snorted. “She didn’t want me to go to seminary at all. She wanted me to stay safe at home, where she could keep an eye on me.”

ZeeZee was horror-stricken. “No! Legit? But that’s…!” She shuddered. “If my mom were like that, I’d run away to seminary and never come back.”

Shani looked down at her hands, frowning. “Yeah, well, that’s just the way she is. And where am I going to run to?”

ZeeZee stared at her, feeling deep pity. Shani looked so miserable, so defeated. Now, she was starting to understand why. She suddenly brightened, “Hey, maybe Mommy Hurwitz would let you crash by her! She loves you!”

Shani mumbled, “Probably not any more. Not after I got into this major trouble.”

“Excuse me?”

All three girls looked up in shock, to find Tammy herself standing by their open door. Shani turned scarlet.

Tammy walked into their room. Pulling out a desk chair, she sat down next to Shani’s bed.

“I couldn’t help hearing what you were saying just now,” she said, looking at Shani. “I assume you didn’t tell all this to Mrs. Bruckstein, hmm?”

Shani shook her head.

Tammy flashed her a warm smile. “I’m sure if she knew the circumstances, she would reconsider your grounding. So I’m taking it on myself to cancel it.”

to be continued…

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 730)