This Chaim — Chaim who had concrete plans, who was actively charting a path for the future — was someone different

“When I went to people for Shabbos, they showed me something completely different from my mom’s version”

Perri had never followed politics and she wasn’t planning to start now, but last week, things had gotten a little awkward

She swept her head back defiantly and motioned to the other grandmother. Together they left the NICU

“Ima, can’t we do something nicer?” Elisheva wailed. “This looks dysfunctional”

Benny took the crisply folded linen she’d indicated and found a spot for it inside the suitcase. Then he took a deep breath. “So we’re doing this, huh?”

Avi muttered something under his breath — Benny was pretty sure it featured “stupid Americans” with some other choice words

“This Shabbos we’re not having any bochurim. I keep thinking about what you said and everything that happened… I want to get my balance back”

Benny put down the phone and returned to his Gemara. Tziporah got back to her clicking and tapping, but she had clearly been listening to every word

Benny shrugged. “Listen, I’m in the beis medrash every day. I’ve seen a lot of guys over the years. I don’t know everything, but I could tell you weren’t happy"