“Lighten up a little, Gedalya!” says Dudi, trying to calm him down. “It’s just a game! Ima doesn’t mind, she was even enjoying it

“Where are the chremslach I just took out of the pan?”

Leah stares at the empty platter. She’s answered by giggles from all sides.

“So that’s why you sent me to check what time is shkiah on the calendar!” she realizes. Someone, probably Dudi, is laughing out loud in the living room.

“You guessed it, Ima. It was a ploy, a great way to get you away from the platter.”

“Your chremslach are the best, Savta,” Gedalya’s Chaim’ke adds, from the comfort of the sofa.

“The best in town,” Nechami’s Beri agrees.

Leah looks at the empty platter and puts down a new layer of paper towel. She grabs a spatula, flips over another eight golden pancakes, and starts transferring them to the platter when Tovi appears next to her with a sweet smile.

“Savta?” she asks.

“Yes?” Leah doesn’t shift her gaze from the frying pan.

“There’s something I want to tell you.” Tovi’s voice is tuned to its most charming pitch.

“Can you tell me without my looking at you?” Leah asks. The giggles from outside the kitchen raise her suspicions further. “Because there’s a gang of bandits out there planning to steal the fruits of my labor.”

“Chas v’shalom, Savta! Would I be in cahoots with despicable bandits? I just wanted to show you my new earring. I took out the starter earring and put in a real one. Do you like it?”

Leah takes the bait. She turns to look at Tovi’s right ear. “Lovely. I hope it’s real gold, so you won’t end up with an infection, chalilah.”

“It’s not gold. Real gold is too expensive — I bought it with my own money. But it’s hypoallergenic. The saleslady said there’s even a warranty.”

“You need to take very good care of that ear, Tovi’le.” Leah leans forward, concerned, to examine Tovi’s earlobe. She hears quick, light footsteps behind her and turns around, brandishing her wooden spatula. “Mordechai!”