They go through this every year — Ella insisting on one last get-together before she and her parents leave for their annual exotic Pesach hotel experience

“Tuesday,” Ella announces. “We’ll get together in the evening. Who’s hosting?”

Mimi digs her hands into the pockets of her sweatshirt. Not exactly in line with uniform regulations, but it’s the last day before Pesach vacation, so no one’s gonna say anything today.

Shoshana leans against the banister and talks to the ceiling. “Who’s hosting, she asks. Because we’ll all be sitting like queens that day, getting our manicures and going for coffee…”

“No, no, no,” Tzippy cuts in. There’s a grin in her voice. “You’re forgetting, we’re packing, it’s hard work. And, um, the smell of Juanita’s cleaning products… you don’t know how annoying that is.”

“Guys! Cut it out,” Ella says, giggling. “That’s not the point. We’re leaving Wednesday morning, so if you wanna get together before, it’s got to be Tuesday.”

“I’ll put it on my schedule,” Shoshana intones solemnly.

Ella rolls her eyes.

Mimi’s lips twitch upwards. They go through this every year — Ella insisting on one last get-together before she and her parents leave for their annual exotic Pesach hotel experience. Ma will be fine with it; she’ll help out the rest of the time.

“So, where are we gonna meet?”

It’s the one night a year that Ella won’t host them; Juanita and a crew of her cousins and siblings come to Pesach-clean the entire house, Ella’s mother is packing an entire new wardrobe into suitcases, and it’s not the place for a chilled get-together.