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Her son looks at her directly. He’d gone to speak with his father, not with her. He’d intentionally come while she was out

“You don’t need to explain it to me,” Dudi whispers back. “Obviously that would be the right thing to do. But what happened to all your sacred principles?”

I can hardly believe it. “You mean I have two ears?!”

Shua points to a piece of jewelry. “This one here… is this suitable for a very chareidi woman?” he asks

“Maybe I was wrong to bring you here with me,” Abba says to him, with a look that silently adds, “Don’t you dare say anything uncalled-for in front of my daughter”

Her hands were trembling. “I’m no-o-t, I’m no-o-t, I can’t breathe,” she sobbed. “The room looks all dark, Abba — do something! I’m gonna die!”

“But that’s crazy!” I was mad. “Who chooses their friends by the number of ears they have?”