"He’s my best uncle. The bad one. The one who broke Savta’s heart to bits"

Tovi

It was raining in Ramah Gimmel when I left Chayah Leah’s house.

We’d been studying for our Navi test. A gray car honked its horn at me.

I paid no attention. I kept walking, bundled up against the rain, toward the bus stop. Night comes too early in the winter, and it’s thicker.

Pa-pam. There was that honk again. That driver didn’t give up. “Yaldah? Do you need a lift?”

I ran. The street was totally empty, wet and cold. The car moved slowly along, keeping up with me. I looked for an escape route. Just before my heart popped out of my mouth, I saw it was Dudi, my uncle.

“Oh!” I said, sounding half relieved and half stupid. “I mean, Dudi!”

“Want a ride home?” he repeated. “You shouldn’t have to stand and wait for a bus in this cold. You need to stay healthy now, before your surgery.”

“My surgery? That’ll be a long time from now.” I couldn’t help laughing. Winter is the best time. You wear a scarf and a hat, and you look the same as everyone else. In the spring we’d fly to California. By next summer, I could wear my hair in any style I wanted — even a high pony.

“Are you getting in?” Dudi watched me, waiting.

“Umm… I have to ask my mother,” I stammered.

“Want to use my cell?” There was no end to his niceness.

“Umm….” I looked at the device he held out toward me. “Maybe you could… umm… call my house?”

Dudi shot a glance at me. His niceness seemed a little miffed. A little. I hoped he wouldn’t ask me if I needed permission to get into any of my other relatives’ cars. I didn’t.

“Your Tovi is a well brought-up girl,” he informed Ima solemnly. I heard the cynicism. “Tovi knows how to stay safe. She knows not to get into a stranger’s car without getting permission first. Can she get a ride home with me now from Ramah Gimmel? I absolutely promise to bring her straight home and not to abduct her.”

“Get in,” he said, after Ima gave permission. “We’ll go in a straight line, as fast as possible.”

“At the speed of light!” I said, trying to soften any hard feelings. He’s my best uncle. The bad one. The one who broke Savta’s heart to bits.