“Hey Motty. Want me to do that?”

Motty looked up from the wicks he was adjusting. “No thanks Rafi. My mitzvah.”

Rafi shrugged. “Whatever. I’m going out. Need anything?”

“Yeah some Coke. Benny’s stopping by tonight.”

“Cool.”

“Thanks.” Cool. Whatever. From the day he’d opened his home to these boys who had no other home he’d made it his business to understand their language. He finished the wicks and walked to the kitchen.

“Hey Abba” Eliyahu greeted him.

Motty eyed his son. Since when had “hi” become “hey”? He smiled. “Hello Eliyahu.”

“I’m going out with Rafi.”

“Shabbos is at six.”

Eliyahu’s face tightened. “I know. Trust me okay?”

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