No way. Not now. It’s so not the moment for an intense DMC. Come to think of it, when would be a good moment? Especially when she has a sneaking suspicion just what this is all about.

But she can’t exactly refuse.

Mimi slides into a chair, plasters on a smile almost as wide as Ma’s. “Okay. Sure. I mean, what’s up?”

“So, we wanted to talk to you about school, how it’s going with Kayla,” Ma says. “It’s been a few weeks, and it hasn’t been so easy for her. We want to talk about how we can help her adjust better. Since you’re her sister and her classmate, you’re the ideal person to give her a helping hand, help things go smoothly.”

Mimi’s jaw goes slack. Does Ma really believe that? And what about her, Mimi? How it’s going for her? Why didn’t anyone ask her opinion, check with her, before dumping her socially clueless sister in her own class, for goodness’ sake?

“It’s always about Kayla,” she mutters, before she can stop herself.

Ta leans forward. “No, Mimi, it’s about you. She’s your sister, and we’d like you to show some responsibility here. It’s been hard for her to switch schools, go through this upheaval.”

“She’s doing fine. She got 105% on the last math test.” And I got a 67.

Ta places both palms on the table and locks eyes with Mimi. She blinks and drops her gaze. “That’s true. But she also comes home telling us about problems she’s having with the teachers. And that she doesn’t have friends. And that her own sister doesn’t speak to her.”

The silence stretches taut. Mimi feels like screaming. This is so unfair.

Why couldn’t they talk about her for a change? How hard it is for her, having Kayla come in and — and destroy her social life? What about how embarrassing it was when Kayla made a scene about schedule changes or whatever, or said such weird things—

Ma takes over. Her voice is determinedly breezy. “Mimi, maybe you just didn’t realize… maybe you were busy. That’s why we wanted to speak to you. What can we do about it? Can you maybe include Kayla when you go study with friends? Let her hang out with you at recess?”

Agitation is a roiling ball in her stomach. No, no, no, no.

“I — can’t, Ma. You can’t force people to be friends. And Kayla — she — it’s embarrassing. She says the strangest things, she can’t even cope with, like, a regular change of schedule. It’s too weird.”

Ta and Ma exchange a look over her head. Like she’s a five-year-old again.

“That’s actually another thing, Mimi. We got a phone call from Mrs. Schwartz the other day — she was confused by Kayla’s behavior with the schedule change. We explained, of course, but you know, not all teachers will understand on their own how to handle Kayla, sometimes they just need to be told something simple like ‘Kayla really struggles with change, can she go outside for a few minutes to regulate,’ something like that.”

“I don’t want to get involved between Kayla and the teachers.” Mimi sets her lip.

“It’s not mixing in — they’ll appreciate it,” Ma says. Mimi can’t tell if she’s missed the point on purpose or not. “The teachers know she needs to be handled differently, they just need some — guidance. I don’t think we’re asking too much of you, as a sister.” She leans forward, touches Mimi’s arm. “Come on, Mimi, you’re a popular girl, the teachers like you, and it would save Kayla so much trouble. Just a few words…”

Just a few words that will remind the class of everything she wants them to forget. A few words that will cast her into the spotlight, her and Kayla and the link between them. She’s my sister. Kayla and her, branded as outcasts.

“I really can’t,” she mumbles.

The phone rings in her hand. Shoshana. Shoshana!

“I need to take this,” Mimi says, scrambling to her feet. She looks at Ta. “I mean, if that’s okay…”

His face pinches, then he nods, resigned.

Mimi hurries to her room, kicks off her shoes, slams the door.

“Shoshana! Been trying you all week.”

There’s silence on the other side of the phone.

Then a sudden, catching breath.

“Mimi,” a voice whispers. It barely sounded like her friend at all. “Mimi, I need to speak to you. But not with Tzippy and Ella. Can I come over?”

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 897)