A half hour before Shabbos, Malkie Klein knew that there
might be a serious problem. "There is nothing to be done
about it now," she told herself. "This will have to wait
until after Shabbos. Until then, Shabbos is Shabbos."
With that, Malkie continued with her last minute
preparations, davened mincha, and lit the Shabbos
candles. Only the two youngest children were home with her.
The rest were off to shul or shmiras haloshon
groups. In between setting the table and reading to little
ones, Malkie took solace in a few comforting chapters of
Tehillim.
Soon the family members made their way home, one by one.
Malkie greeted them all with a warm smile. A guest would be
joining them that evening. Randi was a forty-something woman
who somehow had never found her intended mate, or even
herself, entirely, for that matter. Every couple of years
Randi would move. A different neighborhood, a different city
or even a different country. Presently, Randi found herself
back in the same neighborhood with her old friend Malkie.
When they bumped into each other at the local fruit store,
there was a happy little reunion. Malkie quickly extended a
Shabbos invitation. They agreed on that Friday night.
Randi surveyed the surroundings. "Malkie really did it
right," she thought. "A nice husband, a whole bunch of great
kids and look at her. She looks the same as she did twelve
years ago. Thin, sweet smiling, not even a wrinkle," Randi
considered, sizing up her friend. Randi wasn't really jealous
but she did feel a twinge of what she was missing.
Throughout the meal, the two woman caught up on old news.
Malkie gently prodded her children to help with the serving
and clearing and to participate in the Torah talks and
singing. Malkie continued to smile even when the juice
spilled and the floor became sticky, when her two-year-old
didn't stop screaming for no apparent reason, and even when
the girls' bickering threatened to take over the meal with
all the other kids taking sides.
Malkie was tired and edgy herself, but she warmly wished
Randi well before tidying up the kitchen and living room. A
summer Shabbos made it very late when everything and everyone
was put back in order. Leaving Malkie's humble abode, Randi
reflected on the evening. Such a warm, loving, family. True,
they were living in tight quarters and Malkie seemed to watch
her budget with great care. Money was one thing that Randi
never had to be concerned with. Born to wealthy parents and
the boss of her own independent business, Randi could enjoy a
certain level of comfort. Despite it all, seeing Malkie made
her realize once again how much she was missing. "Does Malkie
know how fortunate she is?" Randi wondered.
The next morning Malkie allowed herself the luxury of
sleeping in. Still she had to get up eventually and get
going. The table had to be set, the little ones dressed, and
Malkie liked to have extra time to daven leisurely on
Shabbos morning. She went about her duties methodically. It
was especially important to Malkie to have everything set up
before her exceptionally helpful husband came home from
shul, so that he could sit and prepare a d'var
Torah.
For lunch they would be hosting two university students
touring on an introductory program. Malkie and her husband
usually prefered to have one of the main meals on Shabbos
alone with the children, but the students were booked a few
weeks earlier. The young men were congenial and seemed to
have some background with Jewish practice. They asked
intelligent questions and seemed to be genuinely interested
in the answers given.
After the guests left, Malkie and her family settled into
their regular Shabbos routine. Tehillim groups, a
Brochos party, friends coming to visit, the boys
learning with their father. Eventually Malkie lay down to
rest. Her mind was distracted and she found it hard to rest.
She tried hard not to think about what she would have to take
care of after Shabbos and to keep the day happy and holy. Her
girls were bored, so she agreed to play with them a Jewish
holidays card game.
When it rains it pours, so they say. Friday morning Malkie's
husband had met up with Boruch, an elderly widower, who'd
never had any children of his own. Usually Malkie's husband,
Reuven, would cheerfully invite Boruch for one of the Shabbos
meals. More often than not, Boruch wouldn't show up. Lo and
behold, this very Shabbos he agreed to come for the third
meal. Boruch often mentioned a desire to remarry and even
start a family of his own.
A lonely but friendly man, Boruch questioned Malkie about her
schooling, her home town, what her parents did, and her
current business, selling hats and head coverings from the
house. Malkie was losing patience. Reuven picked up on it and
diverted Boruch's attention with the beautiful singing. As
Boruch was ushered out for maariv, he wondered why
Malkie had been so unfriendly. After all, he was only asking
harmless questions; making conversation.
"What's wrong with making conversation with a lonely old man.
She doesn't even know what it means to have problems," Boruch
grumbled to himself.
When Shabbos was definitely declared "out," Malkie and the
girls zoomed into action. Sara cleared the table and prepared
it for havdoloh. Rivka put in the first load of
laundry. Six-year-old Racheli washed up the dairy dishes.
Malkie busied herself with the fleishig dishes while
her two littlest splashed in the soap and bubbles.
Malkie thought she would faint when Boruch came back in with
her husband for havdoloh. She had to get out of the
house as soon as possible, with as little delays as could be.
At least the clean up was under control. The boys quickly
straighted up the small living room and havdoloh was
underway.
"Have a wonderful week, Boruch," Reuven wished his older
guest, as he walked him to the exit of the building. "What?
No melavah malkah?" Boruch thought to himself
displeased. "Uh, and a good week to you as well," he answered
meekly.
As quickly as they could, Malkie and her husband settled the
kids to bed. It was so late, as it was. They left
instructions with their oldest daughter and raced out of the
house. In the car, the couple didn't speak much. They let the
silence speak for them.
When Malkie got to the clinic she settled herself for a long
wait. Her trusty Tehillim sat on her lap. Somehow she
couldn't concentrate. Her husband sat in the corner reviewing
his gemora. Finally it was Malkie's turn. She
explained to the doctor about her concerns. He agreed to do
an ultrasound. Ten minutes later, the doctor confirmed her
fears. It seemed that for the time being, there would be no
new baby, after all.
