GREAT READS → CALLIGRAPHY Issue 907 · April 12, 2022

All the Fish in the Sea

“He felt that you weren’t invested enough,” she pronounces, as if she’s accusing Baily of a heinous crime. “As if you didn’t really care”

All the Fish in the Sea

Mrs. Schwartzheimer isn’t one for platitudes.

She doesn’t go with, “It’s not you, it’s him” or “It just wasn’t bashert.” No references to anyone waiting right around the corner. Baily can appreciate that.

But the venerable shadchan doesn’t mince words, either.

“He felt that you weren’t invested enough,” she pronounces, as if she’s accusing Baily of a heinous crime. “As if you didn’t really care. And that’s no good. He wants a girl who cares about getting married. About relationships. You know it’s very important nowadays, relationships, that’s all anyone talks about.”

How, exactly, did she come across as “not invested” enough, Baily wonders? Did she not laugh loudly enough at his jokes? Look too eager to end a date? Not react with appropriate ecstasy when he’d come to pick her up? How do you measure investment, anyway?

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