Ta hadn’t said a word as Rebbi had sternly, quietly, directed them to go back inside. He’d just watched, caught Avi’s eye, and given him a look that said, I’ll speak to you later

It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t fair.

Avi usually walked home surrounded by friends, but today, he wasn’t in the mood. He’d managed somehow to slip out of the school building undetected, avoiding even Nachy Gluck, who lived next door and was actually a genuinely good friend.

Today, he didn’t feel like walking with anyone, not even Nachy.

They wouldn’t understand. How could they? Yes, sure, they’d all heard what Rebbi had to say, the importance of shalom, graduation is coming, let’s make sure to end this year on a wonderful note. Rebbi had taken a full half hour of class time to expound on the topic, but Avi knew it wasn’t really about the class. It was about him and Elchanan.

Avi wasn’t used to getting in trouble in school, but that wasn’t what was really bothering him.

No, it was…

It was his father.

Why did Ta have to choose that exact moment to walk through the schoolyard on his way to his car? Why did he have to walk past during recess of all times, scanning the grounds for his son? And why, why did it have to be today of all days?

Ta hadn’t said a word as Rebbi had sternly, quietly, directed them to go back inside. He’d just watched, caught Avi’s eye, and given him a look that said, I’ll speak to you later.

Avi hitched his knapsack over one shoulder and stopped in the middle of the road, breathing deeply. He’d read in an article once upon a time that deep breathing had a ton of benefits, was supposed to regulate the system or something. Well, the article was wrong.

He was not calm. He wasn’t calm at all.