“It’s like… I want to be there for her, you know? Show her that a friend is a friend. But then again, I’m not like a super tzadeikes who knows they won’t get influenced. What if I get a bad reputation, and ruin my chances of getting into a good sem?”

Ma flinched at that but then her face had smoothed out. And she had some really good advice. It was almost like she was a high school mechaneches or something.

Haha.

I click on the text. Hey Nomes. Moving today – tommorow. Yay.

Yeah, you sound too excited. I type. Calm down.

Don’t you know you’re never supposed to tell a woman to calm down?

Woman??

Oh haha, like you’re so mature.

I’m smiling now; Shan just cracks me up.

And like this, through the phone, I don’t have to remember that she looks like a stranger now.

Okay, I remember.

I drop the phone. I’m too old for this. Or am I too young?

Either way, I’m done. I dive into bed, pull my hood over my eyes, and drift into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Fridays are mad underrated. Like no one pays any attention to them, but they are actually the best. First of all, no school because we’re high schoolers and we’re helpful. Or so I’m told.

No one needs my help with Shabbos around here. I have one errand every Friday: pick up the liver from European Delight. Ma claims they have the best liver in the world, I’m super happy she discovered them, but also yuck.

Still. I have an excuse to get all dressed and walk toward European. Except today I get honked as I try to make my own peaceful way to pick up slimy bits of chicken innards. I look around, confused, only to find Mir grinning at me like a crazy person.

“Need a ride?” she asks, pulling over to the curb.

I really don’t but it’d be fun to chill with my big sis.

I jump in and we merge back into traffic.

“So, what do we think about What’s-his-face?” I say by way of greeting.

She cracks up. “Yoni Landau seems like a really nice guy, from what I’ve heard,” she says.

“The question is,” I say in a dramatic voice, “is he good enough for Libs?”

We look at each other. “We need Slurpees,” Miri decides.

I nod. “Totally. Time for liver later.”

Nothing like a Coke Slurpee to chase away doubts.

I’m waving goodbye to Miri as she pulls out when Ma opens the door.

“Come, put it in the fridge, quick, I don’t like liver sitting out.”

I look at her, nose wrinkled. I forgot to go to European Delights.

Ma was really nice about the liver disaster, but I feel bad.

Libby has been acting weird. Kind of emotional?

Like she cried by Lecha Dodi.

Strange. I plop onto the couch next to her and gaze dramatically into her eyes.

“Tell me everything,” I intone.

She cracks up. “Everything? Okay, how’s this? You look like you have carbon monoxide poisoning.”

“Chas v’shalom,” Ma calls from the kitchen.

“Chas v’shalom,” we chorus.

I roll my eyes because Libby says that whenever I wear lipstick. Which is pretty much never. Apparently, your lips get very red from carbon monoxide poisoning.

So not something I ever wanted to know.

“Libby!”

She sighs and then grins. “Okay, what do you want to know, sister dear?”

I smooth down my skirt. “Are you getting….?”

She looks at me seriously.

And then she starts nodding really fast.

And then we’re both shrieking. Ma walks in, sizes up the situation, and throws her arms around both of us.

And we stay like that, schmoozing and screaming on and off until Ta walks in from shul.

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 982)