AllFreeNovel
Share Us
How about being a good Jewish wife?
Oh God, had her mother just taken the N train to 14thStreet – from Florida – just to nag her? Ruth Ruben’s voice sounded clear as a bell in Nora’s head. So clear, Nora felt the need to glance over each shoulder (and possibly spit three times to ward off evil, but she refrained) just to make sure her snowbird mother hadn’t flapped her way back up north.
And there – she saw it.
What no good Jewish wife would ever buy a man if she wanted him for a husband.
It was glorious, it was perfect, and it was $19.95.
ChapterEleven
“Close your eyes, hold out your hands.”
Nora’s eyes sparkled in the light of the three candles dwindling down. They’d recited the prayers, without a boatful of other people to carry them, and Alex enjoyed the way their voices had twined together.
Her menorah, a modern one with itsshamashsitting slightly higher on one side rather than in the middle, had served as their centerpiece, lighting up Nora’s coffee table as they sat on floor pillows to eat. Briny olives, hummus and pita, and cubed cheese made the perfect finger foods to snack on, and an antidote to all the fried delicacies they had enjoyed the night before. Alex had bought a hard cider from an upstate vendor at the holiday market, and its hints of ginger and cinnamon with the apple brought a bit of sweetness to the meal.
He did as he was told, and was rewarded with a bulky lump rolled in tissue paper. They hadn’t bothered with holiday wrapping, having arrived at Nora’s apartment famished, and just in time to light the candles.
Alex slid his finger under a small length of tape that kept his present rolled, and the tissue fell away. “Oh…wow.”
It was pretty much the tackiest Hanukkah sweater he had ever seen. And his sister owned a rainbow-tasseled one that proclaimedWe Be Flaming, so that was saying a lot.
Nora’s selection was blue knit with white lettering that read“TOO LIT TO QUIT”and boasted a big yellow menorah in the center. A border of dancing dreidels ringed the neck, the cuffs and the bottom of the sweater.
“You said you could ugly sweater with the best of them,” Nora howled with laughter as Alex gamely shed his flannel shirt and pulled off his T-shirt to model his gift. “Wait, wait, here’s the best part.”
She practically climbed into his lap, fiddling with the hem. “There we go.” The monstrosity actually had a battery-poweredswitch, and suddenly he was blinking; all eight candles, in unison.
“Oh, you’re going to pay for this,” he warned, laughing and pushing up his sleeves.
“Oh, I already did.” she mocked. “19.95, including tax.”
“I love it. Honestly. I’m going to wear it to the office on Monday.”
“Not if I steal it from you and wear it first.”
She sat back on her heels, biting her lip in anticipation as Alex leaned to grab her gift from his coat.
It was a smallish box, but he hoped it contained a big pay-off. He’d found it about half-way through his twenty-minute search for just the right present. After all, her grandmother’s gifts were a hard act to follow. But this…he thought she would appreciate this.
“Happy Hanukkah, Ruben.”
She shook it, smiling at him. Then quirked a brow when it made no sound whatsoever. It felt light enough to be empty. But Alex had watched the vendor pack and seal the box himself. “Go on…open it. It won’t bite.”
As she worked to unclasp the box, Alex had momentary second thoughts. That this was too personal. Or she would take it the wrong way. Her gift had been all in fun, while this…
A red pompom fell out of the box as she tilted it, then yarn. A glassine envelope containing two black buttons. Followed by a tiny sewing kit and a bag of cotton batting. And last, Nora pulled out the pièce de résistance: a pair of brown and white knit socks.
“Original Rockford Red Heel?” she practically whispered, as if it were too good to be true. “Oh, Alex.”
It was the first time she had used his given name. It did things to him that he couldn’t put a label or a price tag on.
“I know there’s no replacing Jocko. Or your grandma’s gift. It didn’t feel right to just buy you a ready-made one…”
The whole stall had been filled with the finished products –sock monkeys in different colors, sizes, genders. But when he’d spied the option for a Do-It-Yourself Sock Monkey Kit, he instantly knew.
Her eyes filled. “This is…this is amazing. And the most thoughtful – thank you.” Her voice caught. She hugged the socks close to her chest. Then, thinking better of it, she pulled off her striped socks and pushed her feet into the new ones. “Breaking them in first.” She laughed, stretching out her legs to admire her feet, and wiggling her toes.
