Story:

Peach reached Class 2A five minutes before the bell.

For once, she had not needed to run from the station. Her shoes were clean, her homework was finished, and she had remembered both her lunch and the little packet of tissues that always seemed to disappear when she needed one.

A perfectly ordinary Monday.

Then she opened the classroom door.

Violet and Butterfly were leaning toward each other across the gap between their desks, whispering. Butterfly said something behind her hand. Violet laughed.

Peach paused on the threshold.

Apparently, two hours of mechanical warfare had not improved their respect for quiet public behavior.

She walked toward her seat. “Good morning.”

Both sisters looked up. “Good morning, Peach,” Violet said, looking suspiciously pleased to see her.

Butterfly lifted her new phone. “I charged it.

“Congratulations.”

“All night.”

“Wonderful.”

“It’s still full.”

Peach put her bag on the desk. “Please don’t spend the morning checking whether it stays full.”

Butterfly lowered the phone, though not before glancing at the little battery symbol once more.

Violet’s gaze moved over Peach’s face. “You look rested.”

“I was anticipating a normal day.”

“How ambitious.”