To Text or To Talk: a short story of fiction

courtesy of 123rf.com

Faygie settled the baby down for the night. She still had a ton of cooking for Succos which was beginning the next evening. Before starting, though, she knew she needed a short break. Pouring a nice, full glass of iced tea she collapsed on the couch and pulled out her cellphone to check her messages. What a mistake!

I told Yochie I’d bring salmon puffs for an appetizer first lunch but my phyllo dough went off. Any suggestions?

That was from Perel.

I have a frozen gefilte fish loaf in the freezer I can bring and you can make the salad I promised Yochie instead. Okay?

That was from Mindy.

Faygie felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Three years ago it was just Yochie and her. They were the only young Kollel wives who’d come to Sunnyvale to support their husbands with their learning, teaching, and kiruv work. Quickly they became fast friends. Then last year Rabbi Bornestein brought in three more couples. Faygie and Yochie welcomed Perel, Mindy, and Sari wholeheartedly. Now, Faygie was full of uncomfortable emotions. Was Yochie having a luncheon party in her Sukkah without her?

Hesitating for just a minute she began texting to Sari.

What are you doing first day lunch?

Going out. You?

Sari’s answer had arrived in just a matter of seconds. Faygie’s eyes filled. She really was being left out. What could Yochie have been thinking? Maybe, Faygie sniffled, Yochie knew that the Borensteins had already invited them for lunch, but still.  Not to say anything. Suddenly, she remembered the major temper tantrum her two-year-old had thrown second day Rosh Hashanah at Yochie’s table. Is that why they hadn’t been invited? Who did Yochie think she was to judge other people’s children? Hers weren’t so perfect. Just think of the time her toddler had purposely spilled juice all over Faygie’s tablecloth.

She was still sitting on the couch, too upset to begin cooking, when Chaim came home twenty minutes later. He listened patiently trying to understand Faygie’s story between her sobs.

“Yochie is a good friend,” he said. “Certainly there’s a perfect explanation for why she didn’t invite us.”

“Like what?”

“Not enough room in the sukkah.” Chaim could be so irritatingly logical. 

“So why’d she invite all the others?” Faygie cried.

“Why don’t you call her and ask her?”

“She’ll think I’m being childish!” Faygie wailed.

Chaim gave her a long look.

“I’m not being childish! My feelings are hurt! Badly! And you don’t understand.”

With that Faygie got up, stomped into the kitchen and began working. She enjoyed cooking, though, and as she measured, mixed, pared, and baked she calmed down enough to be nice to her husband. Right after washing her last dish of the evening she collapsed in the easy chair and sent a message to Yochie.

Enjoy your meals in your sukkah.

She didn’t have to wait long for a beep and return message.

You too! A smiley face was added.

That was it. No explanation or apologies for leaving Faygie out. So on Succos morning after Faygie pushed the stroller with her two children into the shul she made sure to talk animatedly to everyone except Yochie. When, from the corner of her eye, she noticed her supposedly best friend coming toward her she hurried into the bathroom. The following day she decided the baby needed a diaper change the same moment Yochie wished her Gut Yom Tov. On Simchas Torah they were hosting a large group of public high schoolers so Faygie didn’t need any excuse for avoiding Yochie. All of the women were so busy they barely had time to breathe.

It continued. The friendship between Faygie and Yochie fell into shambles. There was tension between all the Kollel wives. And then Chaim came home right before Purim with a pensive air.

 “I’ve been offered an interesting position,” he told his wife. “A day school in Chicago wants a full-time teacher. The pay’s good but it’s a lot of hours. There won’t be much time for learning. I’m not sure I’m ready for that. What do you think?”

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity!” Faygie exclaimed.

“Really? You used to be so enthusiastic about all the good work we’re doing here. You said that made up for the lack of eruv, bakery, and restaurant.”

“Yes,” Faygie agreed quickly. “But we’ve served our time in Sunnyvale. I’m ready for a choice of schools, shuls, and more friends. Chicago here we come!”

Somewhere in the background Faygie heard a hammer banging. She awoke disorientated and feeling an overwhelming sadness. Looking around the living room she saw the box of Succos decorations but nothing for Purim. Had she been dreaming? It had seemed so real.

It took a few minutes to orientate herself to reality. As soon as she felt she was back in the present she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Yochie’s number.

“Hi there,” Yochie answered enthusiastically. “How are your preparations going?”

“Okay,” Faygie answered guardedly. “By you?”

“Fine, right now I’m making your parve ice cream cake.” Yochie spoke up over the noise of the food processor.

“For your luncheon party?”

“Luncheon party?”

“Yeah,” Faygie took a deep breath. “I understand everyone, except us, is coming to you for lunch first day Succos.”

“No,” Yochie sounded puzzled. “We’re having Perel and Mindy.”

“How about Sari?”

“No,” Yochie repeated. “I didn’t invite her. I think the Lavies invited them, though. Not sure...”

“What about the phone messages?”

“The phone messages? Oh, about the fish and salad. I don’t know why Perel sent that to the Kollel list.  It should have been just between her and Mindy.”

Yochie paused as she turned off the machine.  “Wait a minute! Did you think I’d invited everyone except you?”

“Yes,’ Faygie whispered, trying not to sniffle.

“I’d never do that!” Yochie was adamant. “I don’t know whether to be insulted you thought I’d do such a thing or pleased that you made the effort to call me.”

“Well,” Faygie wiped at a tear running down her check. “You are having Perel and Mindy.”

“Right, I invited Perel last week and then yesterday Mindy told me she has an important ENT appointment for the baby tomorrow afternoon and she’s worried about when she’d be getting home and how she’d get everything ready so I told her to come, too.”

“What’s wrong with the baby?”

“They’re worried about her hearing.”

“Oy,” Faygie gasped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Maybe I should invite them for second day lunch.”

“It might be helpful,” Yochie agreed.

“I’ll text her right now.”

“Um,” Yochie hesitated for just a moment. “Maybe you should just call her. She might not see the message until after she’s put in a two-hour cooking marathon.”

“You’re right,” Faygie agreed with a smile. “I’m so glad I called you.”

“Me too!” Yochie responded wholeheartedly.

Before they knew it the holidays were behind them and Mindy’s baby underwent surgery. The operation was successful and the recovery made easier by the support of the community, especially the Kollel wives.

Somehow the pace of life didn’t slow down. There were the Chanukah retreat, the Goods and Services Auction, the young couples’ Shabbaton, and the youth group trip.

It was just before Purim when Chaim came home with a pensive air.

“I’ve been offered an interesting position,” he told his wife. “A day school in Chicago wants a full-time teacher. The pay’s good but it’s a lot of hours. There won’t be much time for learning. I’m not sure I’m ready for that. What do you think?”

Faygie’s face had blanched hearing the words she’d remembered from her nightmare.

“We’re doing a lot of good work here,” she answered slowly.

Chaim nodded. “Maybe the time has come for a choice of shuls, schools, and more friends, though.”

“Our shul’s just fine, the school’s good, and I love my friends here.”

“You want to stay?” Chaim asked.

“Do you?” Faygie answered with a quivering voice.

“Yes!”

“Me too!” As she answered her husband Faygie glanced at her cellphone resting on the counter. Stuffing it into a drawer she resolved that from now on she’d be in control of the phone. It would not control her or let her ruin any of her precious friendships.  How thankful she was she’d woken up from that horrible dream.