“Can I say we’re having a smaller one?”

“Yes.”

She held the book less tightly.

I wanted to walk her all the way to the classroom and remain until I could see that everyone treated her normally.

The teacher came to meet us instead, greeted her about a project she had been working on, and asked whether she wanted to carry her own things.

Emily nodded.

She looked back once before going down the corridor.

“I’ll be here at pickup,” I said.