“Nu, Bubby, come on, shtell hock,” he said, and she looked at him primly, as if she had no idea what he meant

B

ubby liked to hock. The children didn’t know it, because they themselves didn’t have much appetite for it — they were busy enough with their own lives and didn’t find other people’s little intrigues and dramas that interesting.

But Brachi’s oldest son, Leizer, knew this about his grandmother, and he knew just how to play it.

It was Motzaei Shabbos, and the family was gathered for Chaim’s birthday party. Chaim hadn’t been much interested in the celebration, and Shaindy had been sort of let down by the reaction of her children when she called to tell them about it. She’d expected them to be more excited about it. Shabbos was over early, and she would make her own homemade pizza, a family favorite! When did they ever get together? And wasn’t Chaim worth celebrating?

She had moved to Lakewood for this very reason, and she was determined to do it. To be like every other couple in this neighborhood, who seemed to have children and eineklach coming and going at all hours.

Chaim deserved his moment in the sun too, she decided, and went ahead making plans.

They had come, after all, but Nussi’s wife, Pessy, couldn’t make it because she wasn’t feeling well, and Brachi’s husband, Moishe Dovid, was saying a chaburah and could only come late, and Ezriel was there, but he looked like he would rather be having a root canal at the dentist.

So Leizer, who was 17 years old and full of life, was there to save her night while the men spoke in learning. He came noisily into the kitchen and busied himself clearing off the counter, which wasn’t super helpful because all he did was move dirty dishes from one place to another, but still, she was grateful for the company.

“Nu, Bubby, come on, shtell hock,” he said, and she looked at him primly, as if she had no idea what he meant.