Kayla looks bewildered. “No, it’s fine, you don’t need to apologize. I didn’t mind the question at all”
“I don’t understand something,” Raizy Reich announces one recess. She pins Mimi with a blue-eyed gaze, then transfers the look to Kayla, who continues meticulously underlining sections of her notes, oblivious. “Are you two twins or what? How come you’re in the same class?”
Mimi feels tiny needles creep up her arms. Her face turns a mottled red. Why? Why does Raizy need to start this now, just when things are finally settling down a little?
Kayla turns around, looking first at Raizy and then at Mimi. “Myself and Mimi, you mean?” she asks. Her voice is always pitched too high when she talks to Raizy and the others. Mimi’s fingers curl into balls. She feels like curling up and hiding herself.
“We’re 11 months apart, so we made it into the same grade,” Kayla explains, blissfully ignorant of Mimi’s urgent warning look. Don’t start explaining, just stop there—
This one’s in print. Some of our best stories live in the magazine — subscribe to get Mishpacha every week.
