How, Shaindy wondered, had this woman from Queens already marched into conversations and made friends
“There should be a rule book for this place,” Shaindy Brucker told her husband as they lingered over lunch, a custom she insisted on now that she was “retired” and had time to enjoy life.
Chaim laughed. “Nu, Shaindy, you always wanted to write a book, maybe this is the time?”
It wasn’t a bad joke, considering, but it irked her because it missed the point of what she was saying. Her comment had been about Alameda and he was making it about her, like she needed a project, when really, it was the neighborhood that needed help.
It was Wednesday afternoon, and she was still deliberating whether or not to invite children for Shabbos. There was a playground in middle of the development, but she had no little kids to justify her being there, and so far, her only friends (if you could call them that) in the neighborhood were her two neighbors, just as new as she was. Lots of the women here went walking every morning: It seemed to be a religion, with many lone walkers, the type who sent off vibes that they didn’t want partners, or even a good morning nod thank-you-very-much.
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