“I will. If you need me for anything at all, call me.” She opened the front door and ran down the steps to her car.

Rikki couldn’t help but notice the metal ramp outside illuminated by the moonlight. She locked the door and stood with her back against it. Rikki wrapped her arms around herself and walked through the quiet house. She hoped Ruchie would be able to come over. She turned on the lights in each room she passed on her way to the kitchen.

“Oh, no!” Ruchie said the moment Rikki told her the news. “I’m so sorry, Rikki Dee. You must be petrified.”

“I am. My mother is going to ask my neighbor, Dina, to sleep here also. She’s already back from seminary. She’s the cutest.”

“Perfect, that will make my mother way happier. Hold on just a sec. I’m going to ask her.”

Rikki waited, the phone pressed to her ear.

“Rikki,” Ruchie said a minute later, “my mother said ‘of course,’ and wants to know if there’s anything else you need.”

“I’m so happy she said yes. I’ll ask my mother if she needs anything when she calls.”

“Okay. My father is going to drive me. I just have to pack a bag. I’ll be there in about 15 minutes.”

Rikki breathed with relief. “Thanks, Ruchie. I really appreciate it.

*****

Miri opened the bathroom door and peeked out into the hallway. She slipped her Share and Care letter behind her back and walked to her bedroom where she knocked twice before opening the door.

Devory was lying on her bed, the cordless phone against the side of her head.

“Okay, fine,” she said into the phone. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.”

Bad timing, to walk into the room at the exact second Devory hung up! Without Devory’s distraction from a phone call, she’d have to think of a way to get her letter into her backpack without Devory seeing it.

“Do you know where they went?” Devory’s unexpected voice sliced the air.

“I-I…” Miri couldn’t give her mother’s secret away. “No.” But, then again, maybe He told Devory. “Do you?”

Devory clucked her tongue. “If I knew where they went, I wouldn’t ask you.”

“I just thought that you were, I don’t know, testing me.”

Devory gave her a strange look, and Miri wasn’t sure what it meant.

“Can I ask you something?” Devory said.

Miri shrugged a shoulder. “Yeah.”

“Are you going to the carnival on Sunday?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’? Why not?”

“Because it’s for special families…. My family.”

Miri’s hands flew to her waist. “For your information Devory Weiss, I’m part of the family whether you like it or not.”

“If you’re a part of the family, then why don’t you want to be adopted?”

“It’s none of your business, and why do you care anyway? I can’t believe you even want me to be adopted.”

“I don’t!” Devory said. “I just don’t like that you hurt my father’s feelings, especially in front of everyone!”

Miri’s mouth opened. “You don’t like that I hurt his feelings?” she said. “I didn’t mean to, you know.” Her voice grew louder. “But he had no right to surprise me like that… especially in front of everyone.”

“He has the right to do whatever he wants,” Devory shouted. “He’s the father!”

“Well, he’s not my father!”

Devory jumped off the bed in triumph. “Ha! So you admit it then! You’re not part of the family.”

“You know something, Devory?” Miri crossed her arms tightly in front of her chest. “I didn’t ask to be part of this family, but my mother married your father, so I am.”

“I didn’t ask for it either. My father just came home one day and said he was getting married!”

Miri’s arms fell to her sides. “Really?”

Devory sank onto the edge of her bed. “He never said anything to me until they were engaged.”

Miri sat down on her bed. “That’s crazy. My mother told me she was suggested to someone and that she wanted to meet him.”

“You mean she told you before they were engaged?”

“Yes. She told me even before they met. Then she kept telling me nice things about him each time they went out, and one day, she told me she was thinking about marrying him.”

“So you knew all along.”

“Yes. She also told me about you and Malky and Benny and Eli.”

Devory’s eyes filled with wonder. “So, like, she asked you if you were okay with the whole thing?”

“We had a discussion about it, but I couldn’t tell my mother that I didn’t want her to get married. I wanted her to be happy. She’s my mother, you know? So I told her I was happy for her.”

Devory sat quietly, looking at her hands.

Thankful that they were finally having an actual conversation, Miri prattled on. “My mother said she’d refer to your father as Ta, but I didn’t have to call him anything until I was comfortable.” Miri didn’t tell Devory that it still hurt her ears to hear her mother say it.

“She really prepared you. Not like me.”

“It must have been hard for you,” Miri said softly.

Devory sniffled. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?”

“I still feel bad for you.”

In a flash, Devory was off her bed. “I don’t need your rachmanus! Don’t start pitying me! Forget about what I even told you. I made the whole thing up.”

Miri sat wide eyed. “I-I…”

“Just remember, Eli is not your brother. He’s mine! I’m his big sister, not you.” She stepped closer to Miri and bent down to eye level. “The postcard wasn’t meant for you. No matter what your mother says, you aren’t invited to the carnival.” Devory’s voice lowered a notch. “If you go, then I won’t, and I’m the one who should be there, not you! Think about it, Miri Lax. You know I’m right.”

to be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 809)