It was just before 8 o'clock and the pupils rushed to the schoolhouse. On the big school meadow, a man in shorts was about to dig a hole. What is he doing? Digging his own grave? Oh, that's Mr. Wondraschek, our janitor. He digs in the ground all the time. Maybe he's planting new rosebushes. When the two girls entered the classroom, Miss Kornfield was already there. She was wearing a red velvet skirt, a long coat and braids in her hair. So you're Miriam. Mr. Siegmann, our principal, told me you'd be visiting my class for a few days. That makes me happy. Ida swallowed. Miss Kornfield looked more than happy. Before the teacher bent over her documents again, she gave Ida a sharp look. Don't worry. She's always like that at the beginning. Here are our seats. More and more pupils rushed into the classroom. First a girl with a dark blue blazer. Then a boy stumbled over his open shoelaces and almost tripped over a boy with glasses. That's the one who constantly stumbles over my own feet, Eddie. That's the tall one, Helena. And behind her, Max, the professor's nickname. And Jo. Watch out, do you see him? A skinny boy with half-long dark hair snuck in. His T-shirt read, I'm in.