ZeeZee shrugged. “No idea.” She deliberated. “I mean, okay, I’m planning on going to the chasunah of the daughter of some random Moroccan lady I met on the bus, but there’s no way Mrs. Edelman could know about that.”

It was number 17 on her list — and easier than she’d expected. The woman had been practically handing out invitations to every stranger she met.

Rusi’s eyes widened. “You what?”

“Yeah, next Wednesday in Haifa. Wanna come with me?”

Before Rusi could answer, Mrs. Edelman beckoned to ZeeZee. The classroom had emptied out, and Mrs. Edelman motioned for the two other girls to wait outside.

ZeeZee looked on curiously. The teacher was smiling, so she assumed this didn’t have to do with that Moroccan wedding. Or the fact that she’d daydreamed through half the class.

Mrs. Edelman leaned forward. “I have some good news. Rabbi Freund approved your request for a different kind of chesed placement.”

ZeeZee grinned. “Awesome! Thanks so much for asking him!”

Honestly, ZeeZee had been surprised when Mrs. Edelman had offered to speak to the menahel, and she hadn’t expected much from their talk… Mrs. E. didn’t seem like the type of teacher who bent the rules easily. ZeeZee had had plenty of experience with teachers like that in her life, and she’d learned that her best bet was to stay as far away from them as possible.

But maybe, this time, her judgment had been off.

Mrs. Edelman continued, “I spoke to the head of volunteers at Shleimut and she was willing to take on a seminary girl volunteer.”

ZeeZee took a step back. “Shleimut?”

“Yes, they work with special-needs children. You’d mentioned a children’s ward in a hospital. Rabbi Freund and I agreed that a hospital setting wasn’t appropriate, but we thought Shleimut would be a nice option.”

“Special-needs children,” ZeeZee repeated slowly.

“But of course, before we finalize anything, we’d need to meet. They want to meet you, and, from our side, we need to make sure that the environment’s suitable. So I’ve arranged for us to go this Thursday afternoon. How does that sound?”

Mrs. Edelman looked expectantly at ZeeZee, as if anticipating her pleasure at this news.

ZeeZee swallowed. “Um, you mean, me and you? Together?”

Her teacher nodded. “I have a three-hour break in the afternoon on Thursdays, so I figured that should be just enough time.”

ZeeZee was silent for a moment, trying to decide how to react. It was sweet of Mrs. Edelman to go to all this work for her but why hadn’t she asked ZeeZee first? Special-needs children? Who said that was what she wanted? Besides, the whole point was the choice! That finally, for the first time in her life, ZeeZee would be able to explore options, entertain possibilities, choose for herself!

Her eyes stung as she felt her precious chance for freedom slipping away from her. But what could she do? Here was Mrs. Edelman, who’d gone out of her way to help, and was expecting her to be all excited…

ZeeZee bit her lip and mustered up a cheery voice. “Thanks so much. Thursday sounds amazing.”

Chava stood by Devoiry’s door, waiting for someone to answer her knock. She’d tried calling, but no one had picked up, and she figured a dinner drop-off would always be a welcome surprise.

Every time she’d spoken to Devoiry since Succos, the conversation had been rushed, and Devoiry always seemed to be in the middle of too much work to focus on the call. Chava decided that, whether or not her daughter wanted to keep her in the loop with what was going on in her work life, it was Chava’s job to be supportive. Bringing over dinner in the middle of the week was one way of doing that.

Chava knocked again, and at last the door swung open. Avi’s eyes widened at the sight of his mother-in-law.

“Ima! What a nice surprise!” He gestured for Chava to come in as he called into the back of the apartment, “Devoiry! Your mother’s here!”

Sari and Yitzi were sitting in the corner of the living room playing with Playmobil, and at the sight of her, they jumped up and ran over. “Savta!”

Chava hugged her grandchildren and sat down on the couch, feeling distinctly uncomfortable. Avi was offering her a drink and making small talk, while Chava was wondering whether she should ask him what he was doing home from kollel in the middle of the afternoon. Would she seem like a prying shvigger? Or was it rude not to ask? Maybe he wasn’t well?

At last, Devoiry walked into the room, looking mildly anxious.

“Mommy? Is everything okay?”

Chava stood up. “Baruch Hashem, everything’s fine. I tried calling, but no one answered, so I figured I’d just come, and, well, bring this.” She lifted the foil-wrapped pans out of the shopping bag at her feet.

Devoiry looked between her and the pans with wonder, and Chava felt the need to explain further. “Every time I’ve spoken to you recently, you’ve sounded so overwhelmed. I know how hard you’ve been working to build your new business, so I thought I’d help out with dinner.”

Devoiry’s eyes softened. “Mommy, thanks so much.” She gave Chava a kiss as she took the pans from her. “You have no idea how helpful this is. I haven’t even had a chance to think about dinner tonight.”

Chava followed her into the kitchen as Devoiry, no longer wary, kept talking. “I’ve been crazy busy. The orders have been too much for me to handle, so I’m looking into manufacturing in China. It’s a whole complicated process, Avi’s been helping me with it. He’s managing the business end for me, you know.”

“Oh, is that why he’s home?” Chava blurted out.

Devoiry’s face instantly tightened. “This is a family business, and Avi’s fully behind me. In fact, he’s the one pushing me to expand. I can’t do it all alone.”

“Of course not,” Chava said hastily, trying to inject as much empathy as possible in her words. “You’re lucky you have such a supportive husband.”

It was the right thing to say, she knew. The proper response for a mother to make to her married daughter.

But she was taking in Devoiry’s overworked harriedness, the neglected home and family, Avi’s missed learning seder, and she felt like crying: For what, Devoiry? To sell Chinese-manufactured luxury tichels?

to be continued…

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 732)