Miriam didn’t say anything more, but I could tell that she was confused. It might have been cold, but we never left without Faiga

Elka

W

inter fell upon us suddenly, dousing us in frigid rain until we were chilled to the bone. The walk to school was freezing, and we huddled together while the rain poured down on us in sheets. We weren’t even a few blocks from home, and already we were soaking wet. I wished I could run all the way to school where I would be able to warm up and get dry, but I couldn’t leave Leiba behind. So I poked and prodded her as Faiga did the same to Bracha.

“I’m so cold,” Leiba whined, dragging her feet.

I looked at her, about to snap. We were all cold. My feet were numb! Why couldn’t she just walk so we could warm up already?

But before I said anything, Miriam gently took her hand. “Come, Leiba,” she said in that soft way of hers. “We’ll be there soon and then we’ll be able to warm up.”

Leiba stopped complaining then, and plodded along next to Miriam, their hands clasped. I looked at my younger sister, impressed. Somehow, she always knew how to make Leiba do what we needed. Somehow, she always understood what needed to be said. I wished I could be like that.

When we got to school, the building was one dripping mess. As much as everyone tried, there was no way we could keep all the mud outside, and the hallways were covered with dark streaks.

My mind brought me back to that day in Chevron all those years ago, when my boots got stuck in the mud. The memory of Papa’s soft caress of my cheek and his pride as he showed us around our new city filled my mind, and for a moment I felt as if he was there.