All that matters is that she, Mimi, will sit here and try her best, knowing this is not about winning, it’s about trying

F

or all Ella’s insistence that two weeks was a very long time, it feels to Mimi like they’re back in school mere minutes after vacation began.

“Change of schedule today? Why?” she asks, noticing the piece of paper tacked to the door, cancelling history class for sixth period.

“We’re having that math thing that Mrs. Price was telling us about. C’mon, you didn’t study at all?” Tzippy winks. She’s back to herself, apparently, and while Mimi still wonders what had been going on during Pesach vacation, for the most part she’s just relieved to have her friend back.

“Nope. I had lots of other things to do,” Mimi replies loftily.

“Oooh, hoity toity,” Tzippy says, matching her tone.

Mimi smirks.

She has been busy; it’s the truth. Between her own gymnastics and private coaching, and coming in again to help Tova with the youngest group, and then studying with Kayla for her regular subjects, helping out at home with Pesach, it’s been a busy vacation. Busy, but… good.

Shoshana has her face buried in a textbook, doing some last-minute cramming. At least one of them is taking this seriously.

“If x is the sum of all vertices, and…” Shoshana mumbles.

“Boy, am I glad this isn’t a grade that’s going on our report card,” Mimi mutters to Tzippy, and they both laugh.

Shoshana looks up. “Ugh, I don’t get this one at all. Wanna help me instead of standing there giggling?”

“Don’t look at me,” Mimi says. “You think I’ll be able to help you with math?”