"What’s there to explain? It’s embarrassing, it’s disappointing, it’s frustrating, concerning. That’s not enough?”

Avrumi was being too quiet. I picked up a half of a slice of tomato and covered my mouth with it, then made my eyes go wide to complete the look. He looked up from his lunch and didn’t even crack a smile. Maybe I should’ve used cucumber slices for eyes.

“Is someone dying? Am I in trouble? Are you dying so therefore I’m in trouble?” I asked.

He finally cracked half a smile at my last line.

“It’s Chaim.”

I looked back at my plate. The cheese in my pita pizza had congealed. Gross.

“What’s up?”

Avrumi put down his fork.

“I was talking with Menachem Schloss about Yamim Noraim seating and what have you, and then he tells me that he drove by the yeshivah to drop something off for his son — did you know they have a boy in ninth grade in Mekor? Anyway he saw Chaim outside during night seder, he was smoking something, he thinks it was a Juul, y’know, one of those nicotine-only e-cigarettes, he wasn’t sure.”

I waited. Avrumi seemed to have finished.

“And?” I tried prompting him.

“And? What’s there to explain? It’s embarrassing, it’s disappointing, it’s frustrating, concerning. That’s not enough?”

“So he’s smoking. Not the best of choices, but he’s a teen having a bad year, not the biggest surprise. And he’s blowing off night seder, same thing. He’s just being a kid.”

Avrumi’s eyes narrowed.

“Chana, this is a pattern. It’s one thing after another this year. I don’t think it’s wise chinuch on our part to look at this as ‘just a kid.’ Also, Menachem Schloss saw it; it leaves a very bad taste in the mouth.

Aah, that’s what I was missing. I’d thought Avrumi was bigger than that, but…“Did it feel like Menachem Schloss was judging you?”

Avrumi looked blank. “I have no idea. I was judging me.”

“I hear. It’s tough.” I frowned for him. “We took this job because we thought it would be best for everyone in the long run, but it’s not the kids’ fault that you’re a rav.”

“I know, but this would bother me no matter what I was.”

“True, because Chaim’s doing something so beyond your character. But still, it wouldn’t bother you half as much if you weren’t in this position.”

“Probably,” he conceded. “We still need to do something about Chaim.” I tilted my head a bit. “Yes, really, Chana.” Avrumi read my hesitation.

“Okay, I can give you a firm maybe,” I offered.