I need to rush home, do homework, go out for Chinese with Goldie, a long-standing Monday night tradition, and — sigh — apologize to Ma about not listening to her explain what happened to Babby

“J

eté, jeté, plié. And streeeetch!” Shayna calls out.

I wipe my forehead with the back of my hand and lower my leg off the barre slowly, holding the stretch. I’m smiling for no reason, but ballet just seems to get my adrenaline pumping. I glance around the studio. Atara is holding her last pose, trying to see how long she can withstand the burn, Pori is on the floor stretching already, and Michali is holding a torn ribbon, ruefully examining her slipper. I hold back a snort; Michali’s always ripping something or falling down, but when she’s actually dancing, she’s as graceful as Shayna.

Shayna twirls once and shouts, “Cool down, girls!”

I watch the instructor spin. Okay, almost as graceful as Shayna. No one is really that graceful; it’s like, where we all have bones and joints, she just has fluidity.

I start the cool-down, my mind already on the rest of my day. I need to rush home, do homework, go out for Chinese with Goldie, a long-standing Monday night tradition, and — sigh — apologize to Ma about not listening to her explain what happened to Babby.

Atara comes to stand next to me, arms folded as she watches me cool down. Her new pendant necklace is nestled in her collarbone, and I watch it glint from my upside-down position. I’m totally obsessed, but it’s a pricy gift; she’d received it for graduation. There’s no way Ma and Daddy can afford something like that. Which is okay, I’m fine with that. I’d received super-cute luggage that I’d hoped to use in Eretz Yisrael… I just really, really like her necklace.

I flip upward and spring onto my toes. “Ready!” I say in a jack-in-the-box voice, and Atara cracks up. We spy Pori shaking her head at us, and that just makes us laugh harder.

***

The waiter deposits a plate of fried dumplings onto the table. Goldie thanks him while I inhale happily. “Now that looks amazing,” I say. Goldie looks at the table covered in two types of chicken, eggrolls, chow mein noodles, and beef with broccoli. “Um, do you think we ordered too much food?”

I follow her eyes and shrug. “Maybe a little,” I say, and we giggle.

For two girls, we can sure put it away.

I’m really lucky that out of all the prospects Ma was researching when Benny was in shidduchim, I got Goldie as a sister-in-law. Besides for being totally adorable with amazing clothing and — thank you Hashem! — the same size shoe as me, she’s the nicest person in the entire world. Literally. I have never heard her say a single mean thing about anybody. Which is why I’m not sure she’s the exact right address for my confessions, but I have nobody else.

“Goldie, how bad was it the other night?”

Goldie twirls noodles onto her fork thoughtfully. “I think it was valid that you were upset about the trip being canceled. I mean, you did work sooo hard.”

I nod, appreciating the validation.

“Buuut, you didn’t really let Ma finish speaking, which wasn’t super-respectful.”

That’s Goldie-ese for “you were a total brat.”

I drop my eyes to my plate.