“Because you need to talk about your precious album right in the middle of the basketball court, the rest of the class needs to lose out? That’s fair, sure”

"Hey. Heeeyyyyy.”

Elchanan skidded to a halt just past the big double doors leading out of the school building. Behind him, several of his classmates came to an abrupt stop, too.

“What’s going on, Elchanan?” Meir Rottman asked, elbowing his way forward. “What happened to 'basketball, basketball, everyone outside pronto, or we won’t have time for a game?'”

Someone snickered. Elchanan ignored it, shielding his eyes with one hand against the sunlight. “What on earth,” he asked, deceptively calm, “are they doing there?” He pointed ahead at the school’s basketball court, where a group of boys clustered smack in the center.

“Isn’t that Avi Shine?” someone asked. “How did they even get here so fast?”

“He’s always doing these things.” Elchanan felt something strong and tense building up in his chest. Of course it was Avi Shine. It was always Avi Shine. “Just because the kid has money—”

“And brains, don’t forget brains,” Hillel Shapiro added helpfully.

Elchanan’s neck throbbed. “Yeah, that too.” A brief memory of the marked-up Chumash test stuffed into his knapsack surfaced, and he quickly banished it from his mind. He’d ask Ma to sign it tomorrow morning, right before she left for the girls’ carpool, yeah, that was a good idea. She’d probably frown and tell him that Ta should see it, and he’d grimace and say Rebbi wanted it back this morning, he’d get into trouble if not, and she’d give in and sign. And then forget all about it.

Now something in his stomach was hurting, too.

Time for distraction. Basketball. The court.

“Avi Shine! We’re using the court, could you guys go somewhere else?” Elchanan hollered, crossing the yard with rapid strides.

Avi looked up, but didn’t deign to respond until the entire group had jogged over, Levi and Shua tossing a ball between them.

“Sorry, but we’re using the court already.”

Elchanan crossed his arms. The kid was seriously aggravating. “Oh, really? Why don’t I see a ball anywhere? Or are you playing without one today?”

Avi rolled his eyes. “We’re not playing basketball, we’re doing something else. You guys don’t own the court, you know.”

“No, but a basketball court is made for b-a-s-k-e-t-b-a-l-l, not for random other things like your secret ‘something else.’ I would’ve thought you knew that already, genius.”