"It was a neis, girls. His car is totaled. He’s bruised and has a broken rib, but baruch Hashem, he’ll be home before you know it”

"She’s never going to fall asleep, Ruchie,” Rikki moaned.

“Let’s sing to her.”

They sat down on the floor and began to sing, their voices blending beautifully. Rikki leaned against the wall, and lost in the song, didn’t hear Chaya until Ruchie tapped her arm.

“Listen, Rikki Dee.”

Rikki lowered her voice; Chaya was humming along.

“OMG!”

Chaya stopped humming and grunted impatiently.

“She's the cutest! She wants us to continue singing,” Ruchie said.

“You think?”
“Let’s see.”
The girls resumed singing, and Chaya hummed along happily, her voice soft and sweet.
“This is crazy!” Rikki said.

“I know, right?”

“I can’t wait to tell my mother when she gets home.”

XXXX

Rikki saw the nurse in the kitchen early the next morning.

“It’s seven-thirty, Maddy. You never come so early.”

“Your mom texted me real late last night about coming real early today.” Maddy laughed at her joke. “Good thing my cat woke me at six today, and I saw her text. Your mom’s so sweet. I couldn’t say no. So,” she spread out her hands, “here I am.”

Mrs. Levy had woken Rikki when she had finally come home and had just spoken a handful of words. “Baruch Hashem, Tatty is okay.”

“Who’s your friend?” Maddy asked.

“Ruchie Friedman.”
“Oh, that’s a hard one. Same as Chaya. All these ‘ch’ names. Hurts my throat.”
Rikki and Ruchie were laughing when Mrs. Levy stepped into the kitchen. “Good morning, everyone.” She covered a yawn. “Where’s Chaya?”

“Sleeping like a baby,” Maddy said.

“Yeah, Ma. Chaya had a late night last night.”

“Late night?”

“You wouldn’t believe it. She woke up pretty much the second you left, and somehow pulled the sound machine off the dresser. It’s broken, by the way. Anyway,” Rikki went on, “she was crazy upset, and crying and everything. We tried to get her back to sleep, but she totally refused. So, we sang, like, legit, a million songs until she dozed off.”

Her mother stared at her.