| Double Dance |

Double Dance: Chapter 29

By Bracha Rosman | April 29, 2020

She didn’t want to consider her stepmother’s feelings. She was too busy dealing with her own

"What happened to the house you want to buy?” Miri asked her mother.

“Well, you know we were called home, so Ta never did end up seeing it.”

“Are you going to show it to him?”

“Actually, yes, tonight, in about a half hour.”

Delight and horror filled Miri at the same time. “That’s great, and also not so great, but I guess it was bound to happen that I’d be stuck at home with Devory.”

“I wanted to talk to you about that.”

Miri hmphed melodramatically.

“I think she really wants to make up with you.”

“What?!”

“Yes. Did you realize that Ta didn’t speak to you about the whole name-calling episode?”

“Yes, I actually did.”

“It was because Devory asked him not to. She told him she’d work it out with you.”

Miri didn’t think Devory’s change of heart was a good sign. She was convinced it was because her stepfather found out about Devory initiating the silent treatment at school, and was trying to save her own skin.

She decided not to share that tidbit with her mother. It seemed that all she did lately was complain to her mother about Devory. Maybe it was time to let nature take its course. Nothing else seemed to be working anyway.

“Well, if she wants to make peace, okay with me.”

“It would be nice if you girls got along.” Mrs. Weiss gave Miri a hopeful smile. “Would Shoshi like me to drive her home when I leave?”

“She already left. Do you think she could sleep here for Shabbos?”

“I don’t see why not. I’ll ask Ta just to make sure he’s comfortable with the idea. You know, things are still so new.”

“It’s so funny,” Miri said without any humor in her voice. “Before, you always made the decisions about everything. Now you always have to ask him.”

“I know, but now it’s not just about us, there are a lot more people in our lives. I just want to make sure everyone is happy.”

“But he’s so strict about so many things. Doesn’t it bother you that you’re not the boss anymore?”

“Boss?” Her mother laughed. She pulled Miri into a hug, and Miri hugged her back.

“I like sharing decision-making.” Mrs. Weiss spoke into Miri’s hair. “It’s been a long time since I had someone to talk things over with.”

“Ma!”

“You know what I mean.”

“I know.”

Mrs. Weiss kissed Miri on the top of her head and let go.

“You okay, Ma?” Miri said when she noticed her mother’s misty eyes.

“Yes, just thankful to Hashem.” Mrs. Weiss touched her lashes with her fingertips and blinked several times. “He’s a good man, Miri. I wish you could see that.”

Miri nodded her head curtly.

“Anyway,” Mrs. Weiss said, her voice lighter, “Malky is working on a project for school in Ta’s office. I’m sure she’d love your help. I told her how talented you are.”

“You told her that I like painting?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

Of course it was a problem! It was Miri’s secret. She hadn’t even told Shoshi about all her paintings hidden in the garage in a crate. If the Weisses found out about them, she was sure that He would insist that she hang the paintings up in the house, and since this wasn’t her house, it was out of the question.

“No, it’s fine.” She gave her mother a feeble smile. “I’ll go see if she needs help.”

“Thanks… and Miri?”

Miri stopped and turned around.

“While I’m out, try to get along with Devory. She’s really trying.”

Miri’s smile felt tight, but she forced her lips to stretch a little more. “Sure.”

***

Devory sat on the floor in her closet, the one place where her privacy was assured. She leaned against the wall and pulled her knees to her chest. She wished she hadn’t overheard the conversation between Miri and her mother. She didn’t want to consider her stepmother’s feelings. She was too busy dealing with her own.

She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her cheek against her knee. She wished she could stay in her closet forever or at least until her father came home. Sitting there was better than pretending to make up with Miri.

Her father had been impressed when she brought up the subject of Miri’s name-calling the day before.

“Please don’t talk to her about it, Ta. I don’t want to make a major deal out of Miri’s mean remark. I’m just going to be mochel her.”

“It shows a lot of maturity on your part, Devory, to forgive and forget.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Thank you for being such a mensch.”

Devory smirked. The only reason she had told her father to let Miri’s snide remark slide was because she didn’t want him to find out that she was guilty as charged.

***

Dear 227,

Hi. nice to meet you. Btw, I just want to tell you that I’m not this problem kid that you read about in books and magazines. I’m just a typical 13-year-old. Well, maybe not so typical. I mean, if I were typical, I’d be a happy-go-lucky kid like all the other typical 13-year-olds in the world. Right? So I guess I’m just a regular atypical teenager. Just to clarify, the day my mother remarried is the day I became atypical. It’s so much easier to be angry than to put time and effort into trying to make things work. I’m just not interested. You know what I mean? I hope so. Then maybe you’ll understand where I’m coming from. Now that I introduced myself to you, it’s your turn.

Love,

196

***

It wasn’t until later that Miri finally wrote to 196. She sat on the edge of the bathtub, notebook in hand. She clicked the pen against her teeth as she thought. Then slowly, the words came. She wrote quickly and steadily and felt only a tiny bit guilty when she reread her letter a few minutes later. She had changed some details of her life to conceal her identity. Even with the Share and Care number system, she wasn’t taking any chances. So what if her partner thought she had five real siblings and only one new stepsister her age? That didn’t change her problem, and that was the main thing. Right? Satisfied with her letter, Miri licked the envelope and sealed it.

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 808)

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