The Pale Edge

Ages 15-18

Meital holds the blue ribbon against her braid. Its narrow pale edge rests along the hair.

The rust ribbon lies on her dresser.

Beside her, Keren sharpens a colored pencil over the wastebasket. Three more pencils lie across her open pencil case.

Meital sets the blue ribbon behind her braid and brings its ends forward.

"You'll take the blue." Keren turns the pencil in the sharpener.

Meital pulls the ribbon free.

"That's your guess."

She opens the dresser drawer and puts the blue ribbon inside. She takes the rust ribbon and winds it around the end of her braid.

One loop comes out longer than the other. She pulls the shorter loop until they match.

Keren taps the shavings from the sharpener into the basket and takes another pencil.

Meital lifts the end of her braid toward the mirror.

She sets it down against her shoulder. Her fingers pull one rust end. The bow opens.

She smooths the ribbon flat between her fingers, wraps it around the braid again and ties it.

The rust bow rests against her shoulder.

Meital opens the drawer and takes out the blue ribbon.

Keren looks up, then back at the pencil in her hand.

Meital unties the rust one and lays it on the dresser.

She ties the blue ribbon around her braid. The pale edge runs across the knot.