“I’m sorry about my mother,” Pessie told him later that night, after the kids were in bed. “It… it wasn’t fair. And in front of everyone… I’m sorry”

Seder night was Zeidy Monosov’s opportunity to shine, but the kids didn’t seem to notice his singing. They saw the performance as an afikomen-stealing opportunity.

With Zeidy’s eyes tightly shut as he attempted a coloratura passage, Miri and Nechama crept under the table toward him, together with their cousins, Sara, Danny, and Tali. They knew their grandfather’s hiding places. The bag was either stuffed into his pillowcase or tucked into his kittel.

Their whispers were drowned by Zeidy’s trilling voice. Deena fidgeted. She’d always thought her father’s singing was okay — she still didn’t think it was bad — but… she cringed — Zev… the way Zev used to go on about the “famous Chazzan Monosov…”

The kids pounced on Deena’s father. Mr. Monosov stopped singing abruptly. His eyes widened and he grabbed his pillow protectively. A spirited tug of war followed, five kids against one pantomiming grandfather, until Elisheva’s daughter Sara triumphantly waved the afikomen bag in the air.

“I have it!” She ran off. All the kids followed.

All except Miri.

Miri ripped off her headband and flung it across the room. “It’s not fair! I had it and Sara grabbed it from me!”

Deena put her arm around Miri’s shoulders. “Miri…”

“Tell her to give it to me! She’s such a meanie!” She kicked her chair, making the table sway. Deena eyed the full kosos with alarm. Her stomach tightened. Not this, not now. Everyone’s eyes were on her. She hated disciplining in public.

“Miri,” Deena said softly. “Sara got it, leave it alone. Please.”

“No! She always gets everything, and I touched it first and then she just grabbed it!” Miri batted her kos away — straight into Nechama’s Haggadah.

“Miri!”

If one kid crying wasn’t enough… Deena grabbed a pile of napkins and spread it over the spill, trying to console Nechama. Elisheva turned to Miri.

“Let’s say you both got it, Miri, okay? And you’ll both ask Zeidy for whatever you want for your afikomen. How does that sound?”

“No!” Miri kicked her chair again. “Zeidy only gives a present to the person who stole it, and I stole it, it’s not fair!”

Deena reached for Miri’s hand. “Miri, come with me.”