Miri watched her stepfather sip the juice and wince as it went down.

“It will feel better after a few more swallows,” she said. “The first few hurt me too.”

Mr. Weiss raised his cup to her. “Thanks for informing me.”

They sat quietly, sipping juice until Mr. Weiss set his empty cup on the table. “You’re right. It got easier.”

“Ma always says that she thinks cool drinks are better than hot ones for sore throats.”

“Ma’s pretty smart.”

“Yeah.” Miri took another sip.

“Can I ask you something, Miri?”

She swallowed the remaining juice in her mouth. “Yeah.”

“What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?”

“My… my favorite ice cream?”

“Yes. Unless you don’t have a favorite flavor?”

“I do. I guess I was just expecting a different kind of question.”

“What kind of question?”

“I-I… I don’t know. I thought…” Miri took a breath. “Strawberry.”

“What a coincidence. That’s mine too.”

“No way!” Miri sat up straighter. “Really?”

“Ever since I was a little boy.”

Miri tried to conjure up the image of her stepfather as a little boy, but couldn’t.

“It’s also Ma’s favorite,” she said.

“I know.”

“You do?” Miri wasn’t sure why it surprised her.

“Of course, I do,” he said. “And her favorite color is yellow, and she doesn’t like eggs. She’s scared of spiders and won’t touch raw sushi. She’s never been to Europe, and she likes her steak—”

“Medium,” Miri and her stepfather said simultaneously.

They both laughed.

“Wow,” Miri whispered.

There was silence while Mr. Weiss toyed with his empty cup. “So, Miri, how about we get some ice cream?”

“You mean, like now?”

“Why not? My head is suddenly feeling a little better. How about you?”

“Mine does too, but are you sure it’s okay to eat ice cream when we’re sick?”

“I don’t see why not. If cold juice soothed our throats, just think how good strawberry ice cream will feel going down.”

Miri licked her lips.

“So, what do you say? I’ll ask Ma to join us. She can drive, and we’ll wait in the car.”

Miri clasped her hands together under the table. “I guess so. I mean, it does sound good.” She hesitated. “Okay. Yeah. I’d like that.”

“Really? Excellent!”

A sense of delight darted between the tight barriers shielding Miri’s heart. She felt like Miri again. She wondered how long it would last, and if she had any control over it.

Mr. Weiss stood. “I’ll go tell Ma.”

Miri watched him rush out of the kitchen, nearly tripping in his excitement. She giggled. He suddenly reminded her of the little boy who liked his ice cream pink.

Maybe she could let herself like Mr. Weiss. Maybe things would finally work out as her mother said they would. Maybe the good feeling was here to stay.

Shoshie saw the girls lingering outside the school building, but didn’t stick around to find out what was so interesting. She wanted to get home as quickly as possible and tell her mother about Mrs. Klein’s threat regarding the class trip. It was sure to make for a good conversation. She hummed and increased her pace, glad she had taken on Miri’s dare. Who knew where it might lead?

Shoshie debated stopping at the grocery for flour, margarine, and chocolate chips. Fresh, home-baked cookies would improve the warm atmosphere, but her feet led her toward home.

“Ma?” she called the moment she stepped into the house.

“Not home,” Yocheved shouted back.

Shoshie followed Yocheved’s voice to her bedroom. “Ugh! Where is she?”

Yocheved’s eyelids fluttered. “Why?”

“What do mean, ‘why’? I wanted to speak to her about something.”

“Excuse me?”

Shoshie sighed. “Nothing. I’ll see you soon, Yochevs. I’m going to buy ingredients for chocolate chip cookies.”

“Oh, great! I love your cookies!”

“Do you have money?”

“In my desk.”

Shoshie searched through the drawers. “I don’t see any.”

“It’s in one of the drawers, somewhere. Or maybe it’s in my sweater on that chair over there. Or maybe under my bed.”

Shoshie bit her lip. Her older sister had inherited the laid-back gene in the family.

“Forget it. Tatty gave me money. I have it in my room. I’ll get it…. Do you need anything, by the way?”

“Nah, I’m going to a wedding tonight.”

“Really? Whose?”

Yocheved shrugged. “I don’t know them, but I’m going for the shmorg.”

Shoshie’s stomach churned. “W-what?”

“Don’t look so mortified, Shosh. I’m hungry, and there will be amazing food there. You should come too. I know how you love those little frank things.”

The room began to spin. “You… you can’t go. It’s not right. Tatty always gives us money. I’ll make you supper. Just tell me what you want.”

“I think you should come with me. It’ll be fun.”

“Schnorring is not fun.”

“Well, it’s better than cereal and milk. If there is any, I mean.”

The front door opened. “Hi, everyone,” her mother’s voice called out.

Shoshie didn’t answer. She went to her room, shut the door, and locked it.

to be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 817)