Recap: Aida tells Rabbi H about her worries about her father. He says he will try to find out if her father was arrested and also how to help her mother, who needs medical help.
I ran to Stella’s house. She was outside hanging laundry. “I had to do two loads so I could pack for my trip.”
I’d forgotten she was leaving so soon.
“What’s wrong? You look so pale,” she said.
“I spoke to Rabbi H.”
She put her finger to her lips.
“We’ll go in and have some tea. Come.”
I followed her inside.
“What did he say?” she was whispering.
I felt a catch in my throat. “He says it’s possible Aba is in jail.”
“Oh, Aida.”
I felt the tears start but I brushed them away. “I can’t tell my mother. She’s so unwell.”
“No, and you don’t know for sure?”
“No, Rabbi H is going to try to find out. He just can’t be in jail. He can’t be.”
“Hashem should help you. You have to be strong, Aida. You are strong.
“Listen.” She motioned me close, “There is that woman in Canada. Miss Beth. You’ve heard about her trying to help us. She has helped a few people get out. She can put political pressure on Assad. If, G-d forbid, you find out––”
I didn’t want to think of that possibility.
“Has your mother gone to the doctor?”
I shook my head. “I know she needs to go.”
My head was spinning. I plunked down on the nearest couch.
Stella’s dark eyes were filled with sympathy.
“Hashem will help, and my father always said that we are never ever alone. Hashem is always, always with us.”
Stella was leaving, Aba was missing, maybe in jail, and Ima was ill.
“What’s happening with the spice store?”
“My uncle came by yesterday to talk to me about it. He’s been manning it, but he has his own business. I’m not sure what is going to happen with it.”
Stella hugged me. She whispered in my ear. “My flight is tomorrow morning. Come early to say good-bye.”
I nodded and tried to smile. “You’ll be great in the contest,” I told her.
…
Back home, my uncle Dov opened the door. “Aida, I’ve been waiting here to speak with you.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were here.”
“Your mother told me you don’t go to school anymore.”
I shrugged. “It’s not possible. I can’t go back—”
“So, that’s why I came. I don’t know when your father will return, and I can’t man two businesses. I need you to work in the store during the day.”
“But I don’t know how to do the cash register and—”
“Come by tomorrow morning. I will show you everything.”
“Thank you,” I said swallowing.
“Oh, and Aida, Tante Bea will take your mother to the doctor tomorrow.”
I walked my uncle to the door.
How would I manage the store? And would the doctor say more bad news about Ima? My stomach was knotted in a million knots.
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of an historical fiction novel, Flight of the Doves (Menucha Publishing, 2023), Please Be Polite (Menucha Publishers, 2022), A Bridge in Time (Menucha Publishing, 2021), Secrets in Disguise (Menucha Publishers, 2020), Denver Dreams (a novel, Jerusalem Publications, 2009), Memorable Characters…Magnificent Stories (Scholastic, 2002), Befriend (Menucha Publishers, 2013), The Road Less Traveled (Feldheim, 2015), fiction serials and features in Binah Magazine and Binyan Magazine, “Moon Song” in Binyan (2021-2022), and Alaskan Gold ( 2023-2024).
