I don’t think I fooled her one bit, but I escape the office without looking back

Of course, by the time my face looks semi-normal again, and even Baylee wouldn’t be able to tell I’ve been crying, class is in full swing. I’m halfway to my locker to grab something to eat when I hear quick footsteps behind me, and a voice saying, “Rena? What are you doing out here now?”

Busted, I think, then turn to face the assistant principal, Mrs. Kirsch. Well, I guess I’m lucky — if Rabbi Fein had caught me, there’d be trouble.

Mrs. Kirsch is one of the favorite people in my school. Not like Miss Weller, who every ninth grader is obsessed with and half my grade hangs around through lunch period to talk to; Mrs. Kirsch is just someone I admire, in a more serious, dignified way. She’s warm and nonthreatening even when she catches you out of class, and she has this motherly air about her as if she’s about to offer you cookies and milk. If I had to choose one teacher to confide in about something, it would be her. Theoretically, of course — I’ve never been the type for that sort of thing.

But maybe I’m becoming the type, because as soon as I see Mrs. Kirsch, my eyes start to water again, and when she puts a hand on my shoulder and asks, “Is something wrong?” the tears start to spill. I have to summon all my willpower to force the rising emotion back down.

“I’m — fine,” I mumble.

“Are you sure, Rena? Here, come into my office.” She sits me down, walks out, and comes back a minute later with a cup of water. By now, I’ve composed myself, but as soon as I try to speak, to convince her I’m really okay, my eyes well up again.

Mrs. Kirsch busies herself with papers, avoiding watching me. Like I said, she’s nice. Finally, she looks up and says, “You know, Rena, you’re blessed with many talents. Singing, dancing, drawing… when we had a meeting about 12th-grade jobs, yours was a unanimous choice.”

I give a small smile, even though I have no idea what my 12th-grade job — art director of the yearbook, one of the four girls on the yearbook committee — has to do with anything.