The First Question

Ages 12-15

Avigail sits at the edge of the study table.

The others open their sheets halfway down.

"Same as the old exercise," one girl says.

Avigail moves her pencil to the middle of the page.

There are three lines already filled in. She reads the first, then the last. Between them is a little mark she does not recognize.

Beside her, Mirel turns to the next sheet.

Avigail starts to turn hers, too.

At the end of the table, a worn example sheet lies open. Its corners are soft from being folded.

Avigail puts down her pencil.

"Can you show me where this starts?"

The girls look toward her page.

Mirel slides the example closer.

"This part?"

Avigail points to the little mark.

Mirel opens the example all the way. At its top, the first sentence has a word crossed out and another written above it. Farther down, the same little mark points to the changed word.

Avigail follows it back with her finger.

"That one goes here?"

Mirel nods and puts the example between their sheets.

The other girls begin the current page. Avigail keeps her first sheet open beside it.

At the next line, a word is missing. She checks the example, then offers a word of her own.

Mirel writes it in the space.

Avigail picks up her pencil. On her current sheet, she puts the same word beside the little mark.