Recap: Someone broke into the house at night. The police came and found a red kerchief in the attic..
ISomehow, I finally went to sleep. It was late when I woke up.
Miss Gross was downstairs davening.
“Good morning.”
With sun shining in the dingy house, it didn’t seem as dingy. The scary sounds from the night had melted with daylight.
I davened and then together we made coffee and oatmeal.
“My favorite is cinnamon oatmeal,” she said.
“I like that, but the maple brown sugar one is my favorite.”
“I’ll have to show you how I make granola. It’s really yummy,” she said. “It looks like your father will be staying in the hospital over Shabbos. Are you okay having me as a guest?”
I didn’t want to be here alone, and really she wasn’t so bad. “You don’t mind staying?” I asked.
“It’s my pleasure. We’ll have to go do some shopping, though, to get everything we need.”
As we sat down to eat, I asked a question that I regretted. “Have you ever been married before?”
She put her spoon down. “Well, no. I was engaged once but that was a long time ago and it, well, it’s a sad story.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up something personal again.”
“It’s okay. I was engaged to a wonderful man when I was 20, but sadly he became ill and was niftar before we could marry.”
“That’s horrible.”
“It’s sad, and it took me a long time to be able to date again, but I know everything happens for a reason. Whatever Hashem does, it’s for the best, even when I can’t see that at the time, so I believe he was a very high neshamah and Hashem wanted him here for a holy purpose and needed him to come back. I was zocheh to be part of his mission on earth.”
I still thought it sounded very sad and tragic but I didn’t say anything.
“Yehudis, I was thinking about something.”
I took a spoonful of oatmeal and chewed.
My phone rang.
“Hudi, how are you?”
“Baruch Hashem.”
“I heard about the intruder. That’s awful. “Aba’s voice sounded tired.
“How’s Grandma?” I asked.
“Still in surgery. I have to stay probably at least until Sunday. Sorry, Hon.”
“It’s okay,” I said, “We’re doing fine.”
Miss Gross flashed me a big smile. “Very fine,” she called.
“What about Motza’ei Shabbos?” he asked.
“Sari and Chevi and Ada are coming to sleep over, so it’ll be okay,” I said, still wondering if it would be okay having Chevi in my house.
There was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Miss Gross called.
Aba had to get off the phone and I joined her at the door.
Mrs. Bauers was standing in the doorway.
“Did someone come here last night?”
“Someone broke into the house,” Miss Gross said.
“Who are you?” Mrs. Bauers asked.
I introduced Miss Gross. “We had to call the police,” I said.
Mrs. Bauers shook her head. “I just came to apologize. Believe me, it won’t happen again.” Mrs. Bauers turned to leave.
“How can you know that?” Miss Gross asked.
Mrs. Bauers strode away without answering.
To be continued…