It seemed that out of town, you invited people to seudos to make friends, and not the other way around

“If you’re so unhappy with the place you live, why don’t you just leave?”

—Stephen Dubner, No Stupid Questions, Ep111

Shira had decided to keep it low-key but classy. She used her mother-in-law’s mid-tier Wedgwood china set, and didn’t go crazy with the food — she made a lot, but nothing too unusual or out there. Yes to Romanian deli, no to cured fish. She wasn’t even sure if Chicago carried that. It was weird to consciously dress down; she usually didn’t think much about it.

“Do you wanna save this?” Danielle asked, pointing to a bowl of nearly finished roasted garlic.

Shira shook her head. She looked around the kitchen. Danielle, Tzippy, and Bina were helping her plate and serve; the men were at the table, and the kids were in the den. She didn’t really know Bina, or Tzippy, or even Danielle that well, but it seemed that out of town, you invited people to seudos to make friends, and not the other way around.

“When will your in-laws be back?” Bina asked.

Shira wondered if she was curious to meet her mother-in-law; Bina seemed like a yenta like that.

“Dunno, the seudah was only called for one. It’s the type of kiddush that lasts even past that, so I don’t expect them home for a while.”

“Do you know the chassan?” Bina asked.

“Me? I’m not from here. My husband knows him, sort of. He’s six years younger than him, and my husband went to high school in New York, so he wasn’t around. I think he popped into one of our Purim seudos when we were in Israel, but we don’t really know him.”