Double Dance: Chapter 28
| April 22, 2020Devory jumped up. “Well, thanks for ruining the ending!” She slammed the book shut
M
iri closed the door to her room and sat down next to Shoshi.
“Okay, ready? One, two, three!”
They tore open their Share and Care envelopes.
“196,” Miri said. “What’s yours?”
“22.”
There was silence as they each read their card.
“Wow,” Miri said when she was done. “There actually is another girl going through the same thing as me. She has a three-year-old sister. Her father died when she was ten, and her mother got married again to a man with, like, a zillion kids. There’s one girl around her age, and they fight like cats and dogs.” Miri glanced at her card again. “She even likes to do the same things as me.”
“Miri.” Shoshi came to a sudden realization. “I don’t even know what your hobbies are.”
“Reading, painting, and listening to music.”
“Me too. Except for painting.”
“What does your partner like to do, and what’s her story?”
Shoshi glanced at her card. “She’s the oldest in the family and has three brothers. She likes to bake and draw. Her mother works crazy hours and is hardly ever home. Her father, too. She basically does everything.” Shoshie slid the card back into the envelope. “You want to answer these now or later?”
“Later. Let’s get something to eat first.”
“Fine.”
“Let me just put my envelope in a safe place. I don’t want Devory to know I joined.” She opened a drawer and placed the envelope between a stack of sweaters. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Maybe your mother cut up some fruit again.”
“For sure. I told you we always have cut up fruit in the fridge.”
Devory was sitting at the table, reading, when they walked into the kitchen.
“Hi,” Miri said.
Devory mumbled hello without looking up from her book.
“Good book?”
Devory shrugged.
“What’s the title?”
Without glancing her way, Devory closed the book halfway, showing the cover.
“Oh, yeah! I love that book. I read it, like, a hundred times. I’m totally obsessed.”
“Me too,” Shoshi said. “When I finished it, I was so upset. I wish there were a sequel.”
“Yeah!” Miri said. “I’d love to know what happened after they finally decide to move to London.”
Devory jumped up. “Well, thanks for ruining the ending!” She slammed the book shut.
“Oh, no!” Miri’s hand covered her mouth. “I’m sooo sorry! I didn’t realize ...”
“Yeah, right.”
“No, really, I didn’t mean to tell you the ending. We were talking about a sequel and…”
Devory grabbed the book and stormed out of the kitchen.
Miri groaned. “No matter what I do, I just can’t get it right.”
“It was an innocent mistake, Miri.”
“To you, maybe, but not to Devory. And I bet she’s going to tell her father now.”
“I’m sorry.” Shoshi gave Miri puppy-dog eyes.
“Hi, girls.” Mrs. Weiss entered the kitchen with Eli. “What’s up?”
“Nothing new. Devory’s angry at me as usual.” Miri held her hands out towards Eli, and he jumped into them. “Whoa!” Miri swung Eli around then sat down and pulled him onto her lap. “Do you remember Shoshi?”
Eli nodded.
“Hi, Eli,” Shoshi said. “What do have there?”
Eli showed her the colored postcard he held.
“Eli’s invited to a special event,” Mrs. Weiss said.
Miri read the postcard announcing a carnival for special families. “Wow! I’m so happy for you, Eli. You’re going to have so much fun. There will be games and prizes and rides and everything.”
“Miwi come!”
“Me?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Weiss said. “Siblings are invited too.”
“Really?” Miri’s forehead creased. “Am I considered a sibling?”
“Of course!”
“Do you think Devory will go?”
Mrs. Weiss shrugged and held her palms upward.
Miri smirked. “She probably won’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s just so her type not to go.” Miri looked at the postcard again. “I never went to anything like this before. I bet it will be fun. Hey!” she pointed to the date of the event. “It’s this Sunday.”
“Right. How about we go out for dinner together after the carnival? That would be a nice way to end the day.”
“Sounds good to me.” Miri opened the refrigerator door and pulled out the container of sliced melon. She shook it triumphantly in front of Shoshi’s face. “See?”
Shoshi smiled longingly. “Whenever you want to do the Mimi and Simi switch, count me in.”
XXXX
“Supper was delicious, Ma,” Rikki said.
“Thanks, sweetie. Do you mind putting this back in the fridge?”
Rikki took the salad dressing from her mother and stopped when she noticed the colorful postcard hanging on the refrigerator. “A carnival? What does it mean, ‘special families’?”
“Families with special kids.”
Rikki spun around. “We’re not going, are we?”
“Tatty and I are going. So is Chaya and the boys. It’s up to you if you want to join us.”
Phew! She pulled open the refrigerator door and placed the bottle on a shelf. “Why are they making this carnival anyway? Chaya won’t even understand what’s going on.”
“First of all, that’s not true. There are plenty of things Chaya will enjoy.” Her mother counted on her fingers. “There’s the puppet show, the petting zoo, the concession stands, the carousel, face painting … And secondly,” she lowered her hand, “there are many different types of special children. Not everyone is like Chaya. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. I think it will be a nice day out for the whole family to enjoy together. I really hope you’ll come.”
Rikki didn’t say anything. There was no way she was going to the carnival.
XXXX
101 clicked the pen anxiously with her thumb as she read her Share and Care card.
Partner #87
Age:13
Hobbies: Reading, schmoozing on the phone, dancing
Siblings: 3
Reason for joining: I have an older sister with special needs. She didn’t live with us until just a couple of weeks ago. Everything has changed since she came home. My house doesn’t feel like my house anymore. I just want to go back to being the girl I was before.
Message: I hope to get a partner that understands me and won’t judge me. I’m really a nice kid. Or at least, I used to be.
She wondered where 87 lived and why her older sister hadn’t been living at home until now. Fueled by curiosity, 101 opened her notebook and began to write.
Dear 87,
First of all, I won’t judge you if you won’t judge me. Second of all, I have a lot of questions, but I don’t want you to think I’m the nosey type, because I’m not. Well, maybe just a little. Anyway, I want you to know that I understand where you’re coming from. I just want to know what it is about your sister that makes you feel the way you do. I mean, why do you feel your house isn’t yours anymore? Be honest with me, 87. What exactly is she doing that bothers you so much?
To be continued
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