The familiar fragrance of food laid out on tables greeted her
as she entered the Beit Hachlama. Her heart leaped up at this
warm welcome.
"Here, lay your baby down in bassinet No. 12 and you can go
right into the dining room."
She laid down the tiny creature which had received the name
No. 12, as it would be called until she left this place, and
went over to the woman at the desk, whom she already knew
from previous visits.
"Oh, hello! How are you! Mazel tov! What is it this time, a
boy or a g..?"
She interrupted her in the middle. "Yochy, do me a favor. I
desperately want to be alone in a room but a private room
costs almost double and I hope to stay here for a few days.
Please try to put me in a room for two which is still
unoccupied at the moment. Let me have at least one night's
uninterrupted sleep," she begged. She needed some real, deep
sleep, and with another person in the room, she knew she
wouldn't get it.
"No problem. The truth is that we're not as crowded at the
moment as usual. Here, take the key to Room 213."
A weight dropped from her heart. She entered the room. There
were two beds neatly made, an air conditioner, and with good
food, she'd be able to recuperate as she needed to.
She woke up the following morning thoroughly refreshed, to
the daily routine of the Beit Hachlama. On the way to the
dining room, she stopped by Yochy to thank her and
incidentally ask her if she could arrange another day without
any roommates.
"It all depends on the pressure here. But I'll try."
She was lucky; the bed next to her remained vacant and she
was able to have another night of blessed, uninterrupted
sleep. For the price of one, she had gotten two.
On the following morning, as she sat by the table, deciding
which of the many tempting dishes to taste, she made a
decision. Later, she admitted that a tremendous backlog of
sleep deprivation had engendered this twisted plan. At that
moment, she simply did not have the strength to fight the
impulse. Her postpartum weakness apparently contributed to
her moral weakness, as well.
She dialed the number of the Beit Hachlama from her
cellphone.
"Hello," she said, changing her voice so that Yochy wouldn't
recognize it, "My name is Shira. I just had twins and I'd
like to come today to the Beit Hachlama for several days."
"Gladly. You just have to bring your letter of release from
the hospital and an open check deposit..." Yochy
explained.
"Look here, I have a friend in Room 213. Could you save me
the bed next to her? She knows I'm supposed to come and she's
waiting for me."
"No problem. Mazel tov to you!"
She had lied, just like that. She convinced herself that it
was a lie for a valid reason, and even though her conscience
bothered her somewhat, she was able to blithely go back to
eating from the vast, tempting array before her.
That afternoon, she looked calmly, without pressure, at the
stream of new women that swarmed inside. She knew: the bed
beside her was reserved for Shira.
It seems that the One on High has a sense of humor... That
evening, while she lay peacefully reading, there was a gentle
knock on the door.
"Yes? Come in."
An unfamiliar woman stood in the doorway, pushing two baby
basinettes.
"Hello, my name is Shira. They told me at the desk that I
have a friend in Room 213 who's waiting for me. Where do I
know you from?"
Before she could find any vocal chords able to emit a sound,
Shira continued,
"I hope the noise won't bother you. I have twins..."
