Page 109 of Sexting the Pakhan

Another mother joins us, tall, polished, holding a reusable water bottle the size of a fire extinguisher. She says, “I’m Claire. Sophie’s mom.”

I say, “Nice to meet you.”

Claire looks at the girls and says, “Oh, they’re adorable. Which one is the shy one?”

Mila points to Nadia. “She observes.”

Nadia says, “I’m not shy. I’m selective.”

Claire blinks once. Karina coughs into her coffee.

I place a hand on Nadia’s shoulder and say, “She means thank you.”

Nadia says, “I didn’t mean that, but thank you.”

Priya laughs again. I decide immediately that I like Priya.

Miss Elena appears from the classroom with a clipboard and the calm smile of a woman who has already tied six shoelaces, comforted three crying children, and stopped someone from eating a sticker.

Miss Elena says, “Mila, Nadia, you’re right on time.”

Mila says, “I have my stage stone.”

Miss Elena looks at me.

I say, “It’s sanitary. I think.”

Nadia says, “Mama washed it with soap.”

Miss Elena says, “Excellent. We love clean stones.”

Karina says, “That should be the school motto.”

Miss Elena smiles like she has heard stranger things this week, which she probably has. “Girls, come with me. We’re lining up near the reading corner.”

Mila immediately lets go of my hand, then turns back and hugs my leg dramatically. She says, “If I forget the song, I’ll look at you.”

I crouch in front of her. “I will be right there.”

They follow Miss Elena into the classroom, Mila skipping, Nadia walking with the solemn dignity of someone attending a board meeting. The second they’re gone, I look toward the side hallway that leads to the back of the building.

Karina notices. She says quietly, “You’re thinking about the men outside.”

“I know how it sounds.”

“I didn’t say you were wrong.”

That makes my throat tighten.

Priya, still beside us, lowers her voice. “Is everything okay?”

I turn back too quickly. “Yes. Sorry. First-day nerves.”

Priya’s expression softens. “I cried in my car this morning.”

I blink. “You too?”

Claire steps closer and says, “I cried in the bathroom at work.”