“It’s not my decision, Reb Sholom, it’s yours. I’m just sharing my perspective. If you want to go at it, you’re on your own”

Shuey Portman had never been an eavesdropper. There had never been any reason to listen in. At Three Star Snacks, he would have paid not to hear the conversations floating out from the back office — thinking to do Costa Rica but Aliza really wants to see St. Barts, the Yankees’ starting pitcher is garbage. His bosses’ bantering had filled his ears most of the day, except when they took brief breaks to peer over his shoulder and review his sales reports so they could berate him for giving L’sova a discount on the pretzel packs.

Here, in Modena, his office wasn’t even near the rosh yeshivah’s, and he certainly had no interest in hearing Rabbi Wasser’s conversations with bochurim, which were either talking in learning, or personal.

But now he was frozen in place, listening to strains of Avi Korman’s speech.

Rabbi Wasser’s office was a small room off what had been the hotel dining room and was now a beis medrash.The old bar was still there, and Shuey leaned on the dark wood, studying his phone so that if any of the bochurim noticed him, it would look like he was busy.

His phone was alive!

There was a text from Henny, a screenshot from her family chat. (She had one with her sisters, another that included the sisters-in-law, and then a cousins’ chat, but Shuey had never really gotten the rules of what sort of conversation went where. To her, it was very clear and important that he get the distinctions. Once, he asked her to help him find out which of the mobile phone chargers were any good and suggested she put the question on her sisters chat. She had turned to face him, as if to make sure he was okay. “Shuey,” she said emphatically, “that’s maybe for the cousins chat, but for sure not for sisters.”)

Now, the sisters chat was busy with his song, it turned out, two weeks after it had been released. He had secretly hoped Henny would send it to her people, but it hadn’t happened and he hadn’t asked.

Her sister Tzippy was enthusiastic.

Hen, it’s stunning!!! Why didn’t you share?

Henny replied with an embarrassed monkey emoji.

Then Shaindy wrote. OMG I heard this song a million times my kids love it, I didn’t realize it was Shuey’s yeshivah and song. It’s GORGEOUS.

That was the screenshot, and on some level, it meant Henny was on board with whatever he did now. If her sisters approved, then she approved.

He hadn’t answered last night’s text from Raffi Katz — any clarity, Shuey? Need to start promos. Pls lmk.

He wasn’t sure what he wanted. And listening to Avi Korman’s voice from inside the office was a reminder that this whole yeshivah might just fade away and then, music would be his only ticket forward.

Even if showing up in Florida wouldn’t make him a star again, it would be enough to get him back onto the circuit, for sure for bar mitzvahs and probably weddings too.

“It’s not my decision, Reb Sholom, it’s yours. I’m just sharing my perspective. If you want to go at it, you’re on your own.”