. When will Israel wake up to the fact that Sunday isn’t meant to be a legal work day, especially when it comes right after a Shabbos sheva brachos?

“Old-timers’ base calling Mount Bliss. Please report conditions in the clouds.”

“Great.” Chaya’s eyes study the cracked beige kitchen counter, a relic of bygone days. Someday they’ll replace it. They’ll install a whole new kitchen. Until then, she can trace the cracks with her fingers, back and forth.

“What are the plans up there on the peak for this bright, fresh morning?” Nechami yawns into the phone. When will Israel wake up to the fact that Sunday isn’t meant to be a legal work day, especially when it comes right after a Shabbos sheva brachos?

“It really is a bright, fresh morning,” says Chaya. “Have you looked out the window?”

She has. When Moishy went out, she watched him down there on the sidewalk, her heart skipping in excited little jumps.

“What window? I hardly managed to drag the kids out of their beds, and then I went back for a second round to wake up the ones who sank right back onto their pillows.” Nechami goes to the window now. It’s a perfect day; the sky is blue and crystal-clear.

“I wanted to go over to the photographer’s office. The video editor asked us to come in and review some segments before they finalize the video.”

“You’ll go with Moishy?” Nechami is surprised.

“No, mah pitom. He went to learn.” Chaya rolls the new phrase on her tongue, relishing it. “His best friend is giving a chaburah today. I saw him off right after breakfast. How’s that for a kallah on her last day of sheva brachos?”

“I’ll send you a gold medal, special delivery to the mountain top,” Nechami says solemnly. “A shiny gold one, like in the comics.”

“Are you laughing at me?”

“Absolutely. Who’s going to laugh at your excitement, if not me? What did Hashem give you a sister for, if not to laugh at you? But you’re still a new kallah, you can’t go alone during sheva brachos. Who’ll be your shomer?”

“Umm…” Chaya feels awkward. She’s too strong to ask for help. “I thought maybe… maybe you have a free morning? Or even just to walk me there. I’ll figure out something for the way back.”

But Nechami doesn’t have a free morning. She has a long, tedious meeting with some new clients.

“My friends are in school now. And I don’t want to bother Abba and Ima.” Chaya considers her options. “The neighbor across the hall said she’d be happy to help if I need anything, but I don’t feel right asking her to do this….”

Nechami has an idea, breaking through the fog in her weary head. “How about Tovi? She slept over at Abba and Ima, because she had to go for some medical tests here in Jerusalem.”