Mendy stalks toward me, hand outstretched. I shriek until Mommy comes onto the porch to see what’s going on

I back away, tripping over the small stool we had dragged out to the succah earlier. I stop when I’ve reached the succah wall and can back away no more.

“Get that thing away from me,” I say, trying — and failing — to keep my voice from shaking.

Mendy stalks toward me, hand outstretched. I shriek until Mommy comes onto the porch to see what’s going on, bringing with her the tantalizing scents of baking challah.

“Why are people screaming?” she asks, wiping her hands on a towel.

I hop sideways and hide behind her. “Because Mendy and Chaim have brought a creature home. And it’s gross and smells bad and is probably covered in fleas and bugs.”

Mommy tries to hide the smile on her face, but I see it peeking out.

“Aw, Yaeli, do you mean the kitten? He’s sooo sweet, just pet him, honey.”

I look at Mommy to see if she’s kidding; she seems to be serious. Strange.

“Ma,” I say, trying to keep my tone respectful and probably failing miserably. “I don’t do animals. I don’t want to even see an animal. Tell them to KEEP IT AWAY FROM ME!!!" My sentence ends in a scream as my brothers wave the kitten in my face.

It hisses at me angrily, like it’s trying to prove me right for being afraid.