As I was opening the door I heard my name mentioned. So instead of walking in, I eavesdropped

Camp was great. It was amazing to get away from all the pain. My friends knew that I had lost my mother. They also knew that for all intents and purposes I didn’t have a father. But I was clear to them that I wanted to be treated like a regular girl. And for three-and-a-half blissful weeks, I was normal.

Well, at least I looked regular on the outside. And I did have a grand time. But inside I was very worried. How was Chaim doing? How was Bubby? Was Yehudah remembering to check up on them frequently?

And then came the self-doubt. Maybe I should have stayed home to help make everything run smoothly.

Mommy, where are you? I need you.

Visiting day arrived. Many of my friends didn’t have anyone coming for them and so we made our own plans. But the conversation that I overheard in the camp office that morning was horrible.

I stopped in to put something in the lost and found, and as I was opening the door I heard my name mentioned. So instead of walking in, I eavesdropped.