23Though Simon thought the girls should be excused for a week of school given the circumstances, Camille prevailed, and they got a mere three days off. In this case, however, it was better for the girls to be in school, where every day was more or less the same, where all they had to do was complete their assignments—a relief, given everything happening at home.
When the school day was over, Gisele found Chloë on the playground trying to climb up the side of a wall by stepping on some small decorative protrusions in the stone. A boy was cheering her on but it was unclear whether he was being genuine or trying to encourage her to go higher so she would fall.
“Come on,” Gisele called up to her. “It’s time to go home.” She shielded her eyes from the sun and looked up at her sister, who was
