“Starting up with Avi Shine... I don’t know, Elchanan. It doesn’t feel like such a great idea to me”

"You’re not really going to tell Rebbi, are you?” Hillel Shapiro asked.

They were standing off to one side. Avi Shine and Co. were victoriously camped out on the basketball court, deep in conversation. Every so often, one of them would dart a glance back at Elchanan and his friends, then quickly turn away.

Elchanan’s breath came hard, as if he’d just run the length of the court to shoot a basket.

“Nah, I’m not.”

It wasn’t like they didn’t deserve it. Especially Avi Shine. But Tuvy Frank would be the one suspended, not Avi Shine, Teacher’s Pet, Rebbi’s Golden Boy. And it wasn’t Tuvy’s fault — or not really. Avi probably put him up to it. Avi was a huge Menachem Minko fan. He’d even been to a live concert in another city and gotten backstage after the event to shake the singer’s hand.

And, of course, made sure the entire class knew about it.

Hillel looked relieved.

“Should we play soccer or something?” someone suggested. Elchanan knew everyone was looking at him to make the decision, but for once, he was tired of being in the lead.

“Those guys better not make a habit of this,” he growled, as the group moved reluctantly to a rocky patch of grass that made a poor substitute for a soccer field. “If they do...” His fists clenched.

“If they do, we’ll show ‘em who’s boss,” Levi called cheerfully from behind. For Levi, everything was a joke and for a moment, Elchanan felt a pang of jealousy.

He forced a confident grin, throwing his shoulders back and giving his signature Elchanan Stark fist-pump, making sure all the guys saw. “Yeah. Totally. Right, guys?”

There was a chorus of agreement.

But as the teams moved to positions on the makeshift field, Meir looked worried. “Starting up with Avi Shine... I don’t know, Elchanan. It doesn’t feel like such a great idea to me.”

Me, neither, Elchanan wanted to say, but he didn’t. “Why not?”

Meir rolled his eyes. “C’mon. I know you two have had it in for each other all year, but you know Avi, he gets his way. It’s just not worth it, know what I mean?”

Elchanan kicked a stray stone. It scuttled away, spinning over and over, until it was out of sight. If only he could get rid of all his problems that easily.