Idy wept into her arms. It was as if she had lost Jacob for a second time. She lay on the cold wooden floor utterly devastated.

“I-dy” a soft voice whimpered. “I-dy boo-boo?”

Idy lifted her head and saw Lulu’s stricken face through her tears.
Idy feigned a smile.
Lulu looked doubtful. “No more boo-boo?”
Idy stood up and straightened her skirt. “No more.” In the distance she heard the heavy wooden gate slam shut and braced herself for what was to come.
Mr. Renards threw open the door to the kitchen. “Girl!” he screamed “Get down here!”
Idy closed her eyes. Help me Hashem please.
“I’ll be right back ” she said to Lulu. “Stay here okay.”
Lulu nodded.
Idy squared her shoulders and climbed down the ladder. Fay caught her eye but Idy looked away.
“Come here ” Mr. Renard said. Idy moved closer to them.
“Here!” Mr. Renard shouted. Idy edged closer.
Fay smirked at her but Idy didn’t react.
“You broke my rule!” Mr. Renard’s voice was menacing. “How many times have I warned you what would happen if you disobeyed me? That Matthews fellow saw you.”
Matthews! Idy filed the name away in the recesses of her mind.
Mr. Renard continued to rant. “Do you know what kind of trouble that could have caused me?”
Idy didn’t respond.
He stepped closer to Idy. “You’ll pay for this.”
“You tell her Pa!” Fay’s beady eyes filled with excitement.
“Get into the barn and wait there!” Mr. Renard ordered. “Now!”
Idy left the house trembling more from fear than from cold. After a few moments Mrs. Renard entered the barn. Idy’s breath quickened as the woman drew closer.
“You’ve had this coming to you for a long time ” Mrs. Renard said.
She reached for the leather strap hanging on the wall but it wasn’t there.
Idy’s mouth felt dry.
“Where is it?”
Idy said nothing.
“You’re the one who comes in here most often. Where’d you hide the strap?”
Idy clenched her teeth behind closed lips.
Mrs. Renard grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
“You think you’re smart? Well there’s more than one way to punish you!” She threw Idy to the ground then stood towering over her an evil grin on her face.
“You’ll pitch all the hay onto the wagon. Then clean out each and every stall in this barn. When you’re through with that you’ll finish digging out the rotten onions and sack them.” Her grin deepened. “And then Princess Idy you’ll drag all the sacks to the loading area and stack them one on top of the other. Do I make myself clear?”
Idy nodded not sure which was worse the harsh work or a beating.
“Oh and one more thing ” Mrs. Renard said. “You will not eat or sleep until you’ve done everything.”
Idy pushed herself onto her knees. “But it’s my Shabbos tonight.”
Mrs. Renard’s head shook back and forth. “Makes no difference to me.”