Maybe there’s something to be said for the friends thing, after all. Even if I have around a million years more life experience

“Good morning!”

Aunt Chana is far too bright and cheery for eight a.m. And I’ve spent the night tossing and turning, worrying why I couldn’t get through to Ima.

“Your mother left you a message,” Aunt Chana says, and presses play on her phone.

A message? From Ima? Whew! Relief courses through me like an injection of life.

“Hi, precious.” Ima’s voice fills the kitchen. I’m embarrassed, suddenly aware of my cousins all listening in. Can’t I listen in private? But Ima’s still talking: “What’s up? I see you tried to call. The grids are down, it’s been hard to get service. But they seem to be working better now, so maybe give me a call before school? Love you, honey.”

Ima’s voice, absolutely fine, everything’s okay. My stomach muscles unclench. I’d been… scared. It sounds silly, I know, but when you’re far away from home, and your only connection through the phone, and then that doesn’t work… I don’t know, I just worry.

I don’t have time to call Ima before we have to leave for school, so I send her a quick message. Hopefully, the power grids will be doing their thing later, and I’ll get to fill Ima in on everything that happened since we spoke last.