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| Family First Serial |

Fallout: Chapter 17

And as she watched her children — no, her young men — she came to a decision. There was something she had to do. And it had to be done soon

 

March 1964

While the invitation to Marjorie was being issued and accepted, Abe had been throwing Frisbees around with the twins. Now, he set them on their next task: creating bases for what he was calling “the family beach baseball game.”

“Okay, here are the teams. Mutty and David versus Artie and Johnny.”

“What about me, Daddy?”

“Ruchele? You are the most important — you’ll be the umpire!”

“But Dad,” Mutty said, as the little girl proudly took her place at first base, “aren’t you going to play?”

A grin. “Can’t have three against two. Official league rules.”

Marjorie had started collecting shells near the water and making pictures with her fingers in the muddy sand. Now she stood up and faced the family.

“How about me, Dr. Levine? I’m great at softball.” She picked up the baseball bat that was lying on the beach towels and gave it an experimental swing.

“Put that down.” The words came out much more harshly than Annie had intended. “I’m sorry, I mean, Marjorie, that girls and boys... men and women... don’t play together.”

Marjorie rolled her eyes. “It’s only a game, for Heaven’s sake.”

“Relationships, Marjorie, are never games.”

Abe, Artie, and Mutty exchanged embarrassed glances. Fortunately, a tall figure appeared walking swiftly toward the family, saving them from what was brewing into an unpleasant scene.

Excerpted from Mishpacha Magazine. To view full version, SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE or LOG IN.

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