Talia bangs her shoulder gently into mine. “You know you’re getting the main part. You always do”

Chana Baila

They’re doing the Purim story this year. I can’t believe it. Play is gonna be a deep dive into the Megillah and I’m really excited. Like really, really, excited.

“I’m excited,” I tell Shani at lunch.

She rolls her eyes. “Of course you are, Ms. I-Get-the-Main-Part-in-Every-Play. I, on the other hand, don’t really care what play it is, because scenery and props is scenery and props, no matter what the story is.”

I poke her really hard with my fork. “Persian skylines are much prettier than the New York pushcarts from When Zaidy Was Young.”

She pokes me back. “That is true, CB. That is true.”

We eat our pizza and fries in companionable silence. Camp lunches are supposed to be super gross, but Camp Gila actually has the best food.

I go back for seconds, promising to bring back a potato knish for Shani.

What do you know; Talia Lewin is on line in front of me.

“Oh, heeeey, Queen Esther,” she says, spinning around with a grin.

I wave a hand modestly. “Oh, sto-o-o-op.”

She takes her tray from Mrs. Fried, the lunch lady, I hold out mine.

“Ess gezunterheit,” Mrs. Fried says, like she does every day.

“Thank you, Mrs. Fried,” we chorus.

Talia bangs her shoulder gently into mine. “You know you’re getting the main part. You always do.”

I shrug. “Well, I’m super excited, honestly. Esther Hamalkah! I mean, that’s been the dream since we were four, right?”

Talia laughs and waves, as I head back to Shani.

“Your potato knish, madam.”

Shani smiles. “Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Lowly servant bringing the queen a snack?”

I laugh. “You can bring me a snack if you want to — no one’s stopping you.”

And we finish lunch, laughing and eating, content in our own little world, absolutely unaware that in just two hours, everything is going to change.