Shifra stood at the door, uncertain. Girls strode purposefully past her, intent on getting into class on time. They all looked so sure, so secure, like they belonged.

Oh, if only she could belong as well!

Her thoughts were interrupted by a light tap on her shoulder. Shifra started.

“Hi!” a girl in a uniform greeted her, “I’m Zahava. You must be the new girl in our class!” Shifra smiled shyly and nodded. “My name is Shifra. Shifra Zussman.”

Her eyes darted anxiously toward the classroom door. Her stomach churned just thinking about what lay ahead. But Zahava gave her little time to think — she opened the door wide and motioned Shifra to follow. The general classroom hubbub instantly quieted as all eyes turned to look at her.

“Hi everyone,” Zahava said cheerfully, “meet Shifra Zussman, the new girl in our class!” Shifra blushed self-consciously, unaccustomed to being in the limelight.

“So,” continued Zahava, “there is an empty seat right next to me in the third row. Come sit there!”

As Shifra hesitantly settled into her seat, her new classmates came over to introduce themselves. Tamar, with her inquisitive green eyes and freckles that seemed to pop out with excitement, kept up a steady stream of questions. Shifra explained that although the mid-year move to Staten Island had been unexpected, she was the one most affected, since her older brother and sister were in yeshivah and seminary overseas.

The questions continued. “So, Shifra,” Chany asked, “what does your father do for a living?” A pretty innocent question, but for Shifra it was anything but innocent. Talk about tact. She was totally unprepared for this.

At that moment a cheerful-looking lady, who was obviously the teacher, swept into the classroom.

“Girls!” she exclaimed, a twinkle in her eye. “I hope you all welcomed Shifra Zussman!”

She leveled her eyes with Shifra’s. “Hello, my name is Mrs. Spielman. We’re all so glad to meet you. The class and I have been counting down the days to your arrival! We’ve heard such wonderful things about you, and can’t wait to get to know you better!”

With another warm smile, she opened her Chumash. Mrs. Spielman’s lesson was fascinating, and the entire class listened with rapt attention. Only Shifra, too worked up over Chany’s question, could not concentrate. Her mind took her back to the moment when her entire life was turned upside down and changed forever.

******

It had been a windy day. The leaves on the trees rustled as the first signs of autumn appeared. Shifra could see it clearly now, the winds of change sweeping over her family as well. Her father seemed to be aging prematurely. New worry lines constantly creased his forehead as his eyes took on a troubled look. The entire family walked around as if on eggshells, waiting for something to happen.

“Something” finally did happen when her father called them all together for a family meeting. They settled in the living room as her father walked up to an invisible podium, while her mother twisted a napkin over and over again.

“Children.” He stopped and tried again. “Ima and I have decided to call you all together. You deserve an explanation and you’re old enough to hear the truth.”

(Excerpted from Mishpacha Jr., Issue 742)