Kayla already has a piece of lined paper out and is creating a neat graph with a ruler.

“Here we’ll put the time of each study session, and now let’s fill in all the material we have to cover….”

Mimi flips through the study guide that Mrs. Stern handed out.

“Dikduk… and then Chumash, we’ve done most of it, but I’m gonna need to review it, like, a million more times….”

“Well, some of the review you can do yourself. I can prepare you question papers to complete in your own time, and we can grade them during a study session. Or alternatively, I could prepare you an answer sheet as well, provided you give your word not to use it while you are completing the questions.” Kayla’s scribbling furiously as she talks. “Here, I’m leaving the last night before the actual test completely open, so that we can do a thorough review of all we have learned, and it can also act as a buffer in case we don’t have time to complete all the material beforehand.”

Mimi takes the paper. It’s strange to have her life organized Kayla-style, but it’s kind of a relief, too, seeing that it’s possible to fit everything in, having a plan of action to tackle this huge, overwhelming stress of the seminary test.

“Thanks,” she begins, but just then, the doorbell rings, and a moment later her friends are traipsing in, lugging books and bags and — in Ella’s case — a huge bowl of fruit salad.

“Courtesy of Juanita,” she announces, passing out bowls.

“Oooh, yum.”

“That’s a good, healthy snack, but I find any food is a distraction when studying.” Kayla looks slightly disapproving.

“We’ll focus, don’t worry,” Shoshana reassures her.

It’s more fun with the others there. They get to schmooze a little, Tzippy cracks a few jokes, and Mimi doesn’t feel that pressure to know the material perfectly with Shoshana there to help out as Kayla quizzes them.

On the other hand…

“I see that you, Shoshana, are answering all the questions,” Kayla says, looking up from her notes. “Since you evidently have an excellent knowledge of the material, I believe it’s more important to assess the others. Please refrain from answering now as I review with everyone else, to ensure that they also understand what we have learned.”

“Oh, Kayla, it feels like class now,” Tzippy says, laughing.

Kayla looks at her blankly. “I simply do not see the point of studying without accurately assessing everyone’s knowledge equally.”

“Oh, never mind,” Tzippy says, reaching for the empty fruit salad bowl. “Hey — this is all gone? No fair!”

Kayla raps on the desk. “We need to focus.”

Mimi bites her lip.

When the session is over, she walks her friends to the door. “I’m… sorry about all that,” she says. “You know what Kayla’s like. I guess for her, this is super serious…”

“Hey, it’s not you, don’t worry,” Ella says.

“Besides, the truth is I studied really well,” Tzippy adds, with a giggle. “She knows what she’s talking about.”

“Anyway, it was just this once, it’s fine,” Shoshana says, and Mimi feels suddenly sad. So, the experiment has failed. She’s not going to be able to have it all: Kayla’s help plus her friends’ company, at the same time.

The thought is disappointing, but the fact that the session was a failure isn’t as devastating as she would’ve thought. Like Ella said, this isn’t about her — her friends are standing by her….

Suddenly, Mimi feels a surge of pity for Kayla.

It must be so hard to constantly be ruining her own social chances but not even understanding why or how.

The neat study schedule sits on her desk, methodical, reassuring. This is where Kayla shines, and she gives of her skills so generously. What if she, Mimi, can help Kayla somehow as well?

What does she have that Kayla doesn’t? It’s not just a talent for gymnastics. It’s friendship skills as well, the skills she’s always taken for granted. The fact that she makes friends and keeps friends, that she knows how to interact and have fun and build relationships…

Kayla may be brilliant and gifted but her brain works differently. She doesn’t have what’s natural to Mimi. Maybe it’s time to repay all the favors that Kayla’s done for her. Kayla Weiss, notes from conversation with Mimi

to be continued….

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 939)