Running the Show 

This particular Pesach vacation was a strange and exciting one. Elisheva and Mali were off from school and were busily scrubbing each other’s houses. (They did mornings at the Weisenbergs and afternoons at the Steinbergs, alternating every other day, and eating lunch and dinner at the other family every second day. They had it all worked out.) So why was this Pesach vacation different from any other? There were two reasons.

The first reason was Elimelech, Mali’s big brother. He was home from yeshivah… and (drumroll), starting shidduchim. This, of course, Mali and Elisheva knew from listening to Mrs. Weisenberg on the phone. And from peeking at Mrs. Weisenberg’s notebook (which they privately called The Notebook, in capital letters), even though they knew they shouldn’t.

The second reason was Adina, Elisheva’s big sister. Now, Adina was always exciting for Mali and Elisheva; she was a fountain of stories (especially about seminary in Yerushalayim!) and full of bubbling excitement, tons of energy and a great, big, inviting smile. But this year she was extra exciting… because she was officially in shidduchim. This, of course, Mali and Elisheva knew from all the new clothes Adina and Mrs. Steinberg bought. And from trying to overhear private conversations, even though they knew they shouldn’t.

Four days before Pesach, on a morning-at-Weisenbergs day, the girls were hard at work cleaning the kitchen chairs with toothpicks. Elisheva looked up to see Elimelech walk into the room. He was holding a Gemara and his forehead was wrinkled in thought. He took a glass of water, bumping into the broom on the way. Elisheva jumped away from the falling broom and looked at Elimelech closely. She squinted. She peered. She felt her mind whirring like a washing machine. She thought of The Notebook. And then she thought of Adina.