"Sasami-chan, what's wrong?" Kaatje asked her friend.
"Oh, nothing...it's just this Latin test. I'm having so much trouble learning the vocabulary!"
"You'll be fine! I've never seen a noun you couldn't decline. Want to spend some time studying after dinner tonight?"
"Okay, that's be good. I need some practice on the science chapter, too, do you think we could go over that also?"
"Sure, but what's gotten into you, Sami? You're always so cheerful and confident about school."
"Really, it's nothing...I'll catch you up later, I have to get a drink."
Sasami paused at the drinking fountain, pulling her long pigtails to her right and bending over the fountain. She straightened up and continued along the hallway to her locker.
"You've been acting weird all day," Kaatje said as they sat on the bus.
"Really! I'm fine, Kitty-chan. It's just the schoolwork. It's so hard for me to concentrate!"
"Oh! I know," said the other girl, clapping a hand to her face. "It's been two months now since you came. You miss your sister, don't you?"
"Yes...you're right," Sasami said. "But not really her. It's just that it was so different, back in the Masaki's house...I like it here, of course, but..." She trailed off.
"I understand." Sasami stared at the window-glass, looking back at her reflection.
"Sasami! This meal is absolutely wonderful," said Mrs. van Leyden.
"Thank you!" said Sasami. "It's one of my favorites too."
"What's in it, anyway?" asked Kaatje's father.
"Oh, tofu, sesame, broccoli, rice and other things," she replied. "It's like stir-fry but I coat the tofu in the sauce first, then put it in the pan with the other things."
"It's really great," said Annike, Kaatje's nine-year-old sister. "You're a great cook."
"It's awesome," said Jeremy, Kaatje's older brother. "Listen, I have to go, I have a basketball practice tonight."
"Who's picking you up?" asked Mrs. van Leyden.
"David's parents. Bye! Awesome dinner, Sam!"
Kaatje and Sasami giggled. Jeremy always called her "Sam" despite her insistences that the only nicknames she had were Sami and Sasami-chan.
"If Jeremy left, then can I go play on the computer?" asked David, Kaatje's ten-year old brother.
"Okay, but don't kill that Internet window," Mrs. van Leyden said.
"Sure!" he called over his shoulder, jumping up from the table.
"So, how was school today, girls?" asked Kaatje's father.
"It was OK," Sasami answered. "Kaatje and I are going to study together after dinner."
"That's good!" said Kaatje's mother. "You two girls are so conscientious about your work. We thought maybe it would be too distracting for Kaatje to have you here too, but it's been working out so wonderfully."
"Yes," said Kaatje, smiling. 'May we be excused now? We really do need to review Latin tonight."
"Sure," said Mr. van Leyden. "Study hard."
The two girls took their dishes to the kitchen.
"Here, I have to clean up," said Sasami. "Will you go get the Latin, Kitty? Great." Kaatje went to get her backpack while Sasami began washing the dishes.
"Give me the principal parts of audeo"," Kaatje said.
"Umm... audacio, audere, ausus sum?" Sasami asked tentatively.
"Right! And it's a what?" prompted Kaatje.
"Semi-deponent verb," replied Sasami.
"Great," the other girl replied. "Okay, here: You decline locus."
"Let's see...locus, loci, loco, locum, loco, loca, locorum, locis, loca, locis."
"Good job!" said Kaatje. "Okay, let's do math now." Sasami put down her dishtowel and perched on the table next to Kaatje.
That night, Sasami stared up at the ceiling of the bedroom. Annike was on her right, Kaatje on her left.
"Annike-chan?" she whispered. "Are you still awake?"
"Yes," came the whisper back. "Isn't it a pretty night?"
It was. There was frost on the ground and the bare branches of the trees glimmered in the moonlight with the ice on them.
"Sasami?" she heard.
"Yes?" she whispered.
"Do you miss your old house very much?"
"Yes," she admitted. "But I like being here a lot, too."
"That's good."
"Mmm," Sasami affirmed. "Good night, Annike-chan."
"Goodnight, Sasami." The younger girl turned over in her bed, leaving Sasami staring out at the stars.
