ZeeZee’s head began to spin. “Hold on a second. Tickets? Next week? Mommy, what in the world are you talking about?”

“How are my bubahs?” Chava gave Sari and Yitzi a hug as they came running up to greet her.

“Thanks, Ma, I really appreciate this.” Devoiry was applying lipstick while looking in the breakfront mirror. She sounded harried — but then, she usually sounded that way these days. Chava was sometimes tempted to point out that she’d been much less stressed when she worked as an eighth-grade teacher.

But she never did, because she knew how Devoiry would react. And also, how she’d respond. Yeah, and I made a tiny fraction of the money. Being poor is stressful, too.

“The evening hours are my busiest in the store,” Devoiry said as she turned away from the mirror and approached Chava. “If I had had to stay closed tonight because the babysitter canceled, I would’ve lost a ton of sales.”

Seeing Devoiry up close, she was startled to notice how pale she was under the makeup. “You’re working so hard,” she said. “Have you thought of hiring an assistant?”

“It’s too expensive,” Devoiry muttered. “I can’t afford one right now.”

Chava was surprised; from the way Devoiry talked, it sounded like her business was booming.

“Are you sure? Even if you take home less money at the end of the month, it might be worth it.” She smiled. “I know no one can fill the shoes of the talented Devoiry Hirsch, but sometimes we have to lower our standards for the sake of our sanity.”

Devoiry pursed her lips as she turned away to slip on her coat. “Thanks for the advice,” she said in a hard voice. She opened the front door. “I’ll be back around ten.”

Chava sighed. From the time she was a little girl, Devoiry never could handle being told what to do. She turned to her grandchildren. “So, what would you like to play? You guys already had dinner?”

Sari nodded. “Yeah, but I’m still hungry.”

Hmm. Was this a ploy to wrangle a treat out of Bubby? And would Devoiry get upset if she found out?

“What was for dinner?” she asked.

“Bread and cottage cheese and cucumbers.” Sari pouted. “And I don’t like bread and cottage cheese.”

Chava could picture the scene. Devoiry in a rush to get them fed and get out. Sari, as stubborn as her mother ever was, suddenly deciding she didn’t like the food she’d always eaten. A frazzled Devoiry finally screaming that if she didn’t want to eat it, then fine, she could go to bed hungry.