“Esti, I can’t ask Mommy for more money. But everyone’s going! Can I borrow $500 from you? I’ll pay you back, I promise”

ZeeZee walked into the tzimmer’s indoor pool deck, where Rusi and Miriam were relaxing on the lounge chairs and four other girls were splashing in the heated pool. Through the windows, there was a gorgeous view of the northern mountains. She smiled to herself. Ha, Chana Malka! Beat this!

“Girls,” she called out. “We need to get going!”

Rusi raised a wary eyebrow at her. “You mean we’re not just hanging out here?”

“OMG, are you serious? Sit here doing nothing for four whole days?” ZeeZee waved the paper in her hands. “I planned our schedule. Today we’re going up to the Hermon. The ski slopes just opened for the season. It should be awesome. And then…”

“Skiing?” Tehilla shrieked. “But I don’t know how!”

“Neither do I,” ZeeZee said, unconcerned. “When my family went to Switzerland two years ago, I kept falling on my face.”

“Switzerland,” Rusi muttered. As the others chattered excitedly, ZeeZee saw her shift uncomfortably on her lounge chair. “I – uh – think I’ll take a pass on the skiing.”

“No way, Rusi!” Tehilla said. “C’mon, I’m going, and I’m the biggest scaredy-cat around!”

ZeeZee frowned as Rusi mumbled, “I’d really rather relax here with a book.”

Since their conversation the other night, ZeeZee hadn’t brought up the issue of money again; Rusi had said her share of the tzimmer rent was fine, and ZeeZee had accepted that.

But then she’d overheard Rusi whispering frantically on the phone.

“Esti, I can’t ask Mommy for more money. But everyone’s going! Can I borrow $500 from you? I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

ZeeZee had stood there by the slightly ajar door, confused. Why was it okay for Rusi to borrow money from her sister, but not to take ZeeZee up on her offer to pay for her?