"Rina” I called struggling to keep from shouting “where are the CDs I lent you?”

“CDs? Huh? Oh yeah um did you look on my dresser?” Rina responded flippantly.

“Rina! When you borrow something it’s your job to return it! I should not have to search through your things to get it back!” I tried to remember the promise I made to myself to keep from shouting… but couldn’t.

“Why do you think it’s your job to you yell at me Devorah?” Rina protested.

“How else will you learn to be more responsible?” I responded self-righteously. “Nothing else helps!” Rina didn’t dignify this with an answer; she simply slunk away.

I was helping Mommy fasten her necklace admiring how she looked for Cousin Zalmy’s bar mitzvah when Rina showed her face again.

“Mommy can you drive me to Malky’s house? We need to finish our project for the science fair tomorrow.” she requested nonchalantly.

“What?!” Mommy responded incredulously. Then hearing Bassi’s wails she dashed for the kids’ room throwing a “Sorry Rina ” over her shoulder.

“Rina! Does it look like Mommy’s available to drive you across town?! Remember Zalmy’s bar mitzvah? We’ve only been talking about it for the past month! And you know how anxious Tanta Hudis is to have Tatty and Mommy there on time! And the science project is for the fair tomorrow?! When will you learn to be more responsible?!” Rina barely acknowledged my tirade not even challenging me for answering (scolding) in Mommy’s place. Well she knows she deserves it I thought secretly relieved that Mommy hadn’t heard me.

“Bassi’s really congested” Mommy told me when she came back “and she has a pretty nasty cough. I set up her nebulizer just in case. You know how to use it right Devorah? I’m so relieved to be leaving her with someone as responsible as you. Thank you for being so reliable and trustworthy ” Mommy said with a soft smile and a look filled with pride.

Blushing I was relieved that Tatty pulled up just then and I only had time to wish a quick “Mazel tov!” before Mommy raced out to the car.

An hour later I was congratulating myself on getting all the little ones to sleep and was about to demand the phone (which Rina had monopolized all evening to work on her science project no doubt) when Rina handed it to me of her own volition. Mommy wanted to talk to me.

“Hi Devorah. How’s it going?”

“Great Ma. The little ones are all sleeping. I haven’t heard a peep from Bassi all night!” “I knew I could count on you. Maybe just check on Bassi anyway just to be sure...”