Simcha and Shani

Simcha’s Take

HI,my name is Simcha and I’m in 12th grade. I go to the same school as my cousin Shani and we get along great — most of the time. I admit there’s some competitiveness between us. Our mothers are twin sisters and they’re very close, the type that speak on the phone at least once a day and do everything together. They were even expecting Shani and I at the same time and we were born a week apart. In a way, Shani and I are like twins, too, and are expected to always be up to par with each other. If Shani got an A on a report when I only got a B+, you can be sure I’d hear about it. It doesn’t usually bother me, but now Shani got into a better seminary than I did, and I haven’t heard the end of it.

“Simcha, what did you say at your interview? Are you sure you translated the Rashi correctly? I can’t understand why you got wait-listed. Maybe I can call the menaheles and explain that you and Shani are first cousins — that should help your chances.” And on and on and on.

I can’t stand it. My mother’s driving me crazy. To be honest, I don’t mind that Shani and I will end up in different seminaries. That’ll stop all the comparison, the competition to make friends, everything. But my mother is set on getting me into that seminary. She will stop at nothing.

I really want to explain to her that it doesn’t matter to me. The seminary I got into is known to be a good one. But because it’s not the one Shani’s going to, my mother won’t hear of it. She even tried convincing my Aunt Tziporah to send Shani with me to my seminary, but my aunt wouldn’t dream of it. She’s happy Shani’s accepted to the more reputable seminary and keeps telling my mother that a spot will open up and Shani and I will go together. She’s sure of it. But it’s pretty late in the year. It doesn’t seem like anyone’s backing out. I think my mother called every day for a month straight. It really does seem possible that I’ll end up in one place and Shani in another. On one hand I can’t even imagine being somewhere without Shani, but I have to admit this prospect is actually a bit exciting, if I even dare to allow myself to anticipate it.