Having it Made

BY: CHAYA BLUSTEIN

And I’m supposed to be having the time of my life, Mindy thought ironically, looking at the shards of broken glass.

She stifled an unfunny chuckle and went to grab a broom.

So Shia had been a little overexuberant about his trip and broken the vase that costed enough to pay for the entire camp’s trip. It wasn’t a big deal, right? Not if you had the money anyway.

She swept the shiny fragments into the dustpan, noticing the way they reflected the sunlight, twinkling in an array of colors. Almost like diamonds.

But diamonds were unbreakable, while expensive crystal vases were not.

Really, what did it matter? No one she knew was going to see this summer home and the furnishings that they’d spent a filthy fortune on, not if she could help it. Even though her sisters surely wondered why she never invited them up for a Shabbos. It was true that Mindy’s bungalow only had four bedrooms, making it hard to host large families, but that wouldn’t normally stop her.

She was running out of good excuses to give her family. Although none of them openly questioned her, Mindy could tell they were wondering. Her phone rang with the predictably familiar ringtone. It was Chani, once again.

“Where are you, Mindy?” Chani asked stridently. “I saw Shia running to day camp earlier, and I’m still sitting here and waiting for you.”

“I’m coming,” Mindy said automatically. Chani was her walking partner, who wouldn’t miss a day of jogging in her sneakers. Mindy wasn’t the most avid walking person, but it was a good way not to have to sit out in the circle with all the other ladies every morning. There was a limit to how much she could handle their socializing.

“Good,” Chani said imperiously. “I’m waiting on my front porch.”

Mindy checked Sarala’s diaper and strapped her into the Joolz stroller. Sarala kvetched as she secured the straps.

“Come Sarala, want to go on a walk with Mommy and see some birdies?”

Mention of the birdies worked wonders as Sarala bounced up and down in glee, her chubby cheeks wobbling in delight.

“Oh my, I love that outfit on her!” Chani said as soon as she caught sight of Mindy. Apparently, she’d gotten impatient enough to come out of her comfy bungalow and wait outside. “Where did you get it?”

“The Red Balloon,” Mindy said. And she had spent the equivalent of her mother’s weekly salary on it. But it was okay, because the romper was absolutely adorable. Even Mommy had admired it, even though Mindy would never tell her how much it cost.

“Totally love,” Chani said, as they turned up the road heading out of the bungalow colony. Mindy let herself feel a sense of satisfaction. Chani’s compliments didn’t usually flow so easily.

“So, what do you think I should do about our summer pictures?” Chani asked. They always started at a slower pace that allowed for talking, but by the time they reached the top of the first hill, they’d both be panting too hard to make conversation. “I don’t know who to use, and my kids have like, nothing to wear. I don’t know why I always forget that we need photography clothes for the summer when I’m shopping. You could think I don’t take these pictures every year.” Mindy hmmed, and Chani was content to go on.

“But my main issue this summer is that my Gitty is so hard,” Chani shook her head. “It’s a good thing I found this mother’s helper arrangement. I would not manage having her home with me every day. Gitty is also the reason I haven’t had any guests yet this summer. I couldn’t think about it.”

Chani’s last few words came out stilted, as the two of them started to inch up the incline. Mindy didn’t bother answering as she concentrated on climbing the mountain. Most of their walk passed in silence, with the occasional comment from Mindy to Sarala. It was only on the way down that Chani began another conversation.

“I heard that the Bergers are going home early, before first half finishes. They’re not being here next Shabbos,” Chani said. “You heard anything from Toby?”

“No,” Mindy said, though she wondered why Toby hadn’t told her anything. It was a pity Toby was going home early. Mindy had enjoyed her company.

“One minute. She’s leaving her bungalow empty?”

“Well, I think her brother’s coming up for second half, but it’s probably being empty over Shabbos. Why?”

“Just curious,” Mindy said. There went her excuse of not having enough space. Instead of cramming her own kids and her sister’s family into her four bedrooms, she could let her sister stay comfortably at Toby’s bungalow. ***

“Hi, sheifela, how are you?” Her mother’s voice was always concerned, even when everything was wonderful. Mindy wondered if she’d get to be like that too one day.

Ensconced on her couch and surrounded by central air, with Sarala in the baby bouncer close by, Mindy was able to answer the question easily.

“Terrific! It’s gorgeous up here in the mountains. Me and Bentzi are enjoying the house so much now that it’s completely finished. Last year it was nice, but because it was our first time here, we were still getting used to it. This year, we can really enjoy it.”

Mindy looked around her summer home again as she spoke. If Mommy would only see what Mindy meant by finished…her mother probably didn’t even dream that such finishings could be in evidence in her own daughter’s second house.

“Wonderful,” her mother said, and the note of concern decreased a bit. “I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying yourself. You both deserve it. Bentzi works so hard, I’m sure it’s a great vacation for him to come up to the country like that every Shabbos and find you and the kids having such a nice summer.”

Mindy swallowed. Bentzi did work very hard all week.

“How are Fraidy and Chavi doing?” she asked. All her siblings had stayed in the city, as Mindy herself had all the years that she was growing up. If the whole truth could be told, Mindy missed her sisters like crazy. And since the whole truth could never, ever be admitted aloud, Mindy would only acknowledge to herself that she was a bit jealous of them. Bentzi would be scandalized if she expressed any such sentiment about her sisters who were so much less well off. So Mindy wouldn’t say it.

But she couldn’t say it to her worried mother either. Nor did she feel comfortable admitting it to her sisters, who, although not poor by any means, all worked very hard to cover their budgets. Mindy had been cast into the lucky position of the rich sister, but for some reason, it didn’t feel lucky to her at all.

“Fraidy works very hard all week,” her mother said, the concern back in her voice full-force. “She and Duvid are both out of the house a whole day, and the kids are in day camp. By the time she comes home, she’s exhausted. I told her she must take a vacation.”

“Why doesn’t she do that?”

“She says she used up all her vacation days on her midwinter vacation, and she in any case doesn’t have the energy to plan a vacation now,” her mother said.

Mindy hesitated. Toby had confirmed that her bungalow was going to be empty for Shabbos, and that Mindy was welcome to use it to invite family.

Not that Mindy had been planning to invite anyone. She’d just checked, because Bentzi would have wanted her to.

She couldn’t invite her sister to see the luxury she was living in this summer. Could she?

“And how’s Chavi doing?” Mindy asked instead.

“She loves it here, Baruch Hashem,” her mother said. “Now that she cut her hours by her job, she has the whole afternoon off until the kids come home from day camp. She’s also looking forward to going up to her mother-in-law’s bungalow for two weeks in the second half. I’m happy for her.”

Mindy was, too.

Her mother began talking about her sister’s kids and the witticisms she’d recently overheard. Mindy sipped her iced coffee thoughtfully.

Her sister probably wouldn’t even want to come up to Mindy for Shabbos, she rationalized. Fraidy had told her she was happy staying in the city, without the bugs and the dirt. And knowing her sister’s finicky nature, Fraidy probably hadn’t been exaggerating.

But what if she could offer her sister a stateof-the-art summer home to stay in for a Shabbos, in the clean, well-kept grounds of Summerview Cottages?

Would Fraidy say no?

There was no way to know unless Mindy made the offer. ***

When Bentzi called during his lunch break, she told him about the latest developments. “I don’t even get your question,” Bentzi said, and his puzzled tone showed he meant it. “Of course you should invite your sister for Shabbos! Why are you even thinking twice about it? I think Duvid will be happy to come join the chevrah for shalosh seudos, and I know how much you love to hang out with your sisters all the time. Weren’t you just saying the other day how the kids miss their cousins?”

It was all true, and Mindy was tempted. But when she pictured leading her sister into her fully-outfitted summer home, with every amenity that Bentzi had insisted they install, she felt her stomach curl up into a twist. She’d be so embarrassed. Fraidy would go home and rave to all her sisters and sisters-inlaw about Mindy’s stunning summer cottage. Once again, Mindy would become the odd one out, the one no one was quite sure how to talk to because her husband Bentzi had “made it” in business.

Mindy worked hard all year to keep the differences in their status carefully camouflaged. Their home in the city had been built before Bentzi’s business took such a quantum leap to success, so there wasn’t that much of a difference between her home and that of her siblings’. Their kids went to the same schools and wore the same uniforms, and though Mindy dressed her kids very well, there was no glaring difference between the cousins.

She would have stayed even more low-key, except she couldn’t.

Bentzi, her husband, wouldn’t let her. While Mindy was embarrassed to be the one who could afford what everyone else could only dream of, Bentzi was thrilled with their new opportunities. He insisted on buying her lavish gifts and bought himself a gleaming Tesla to drive.

It was Bentzi who’d insisted on furnishing their summer home to the highest standard, enjoying every last opulent touch. Including the vase that Shia had broken today, which Mindy had pushed out of her mind.

Mindy couldn’t object to Bentzi’s grand style, but it didn’t mean she had to show it off to her sisters.

“You think that they’ll really enjoy coming here?”

“What’s there not to enjoy about our gorgeous grounds, a fabulous pool, and fresh air?” Bentzi asked rhetorically. “If you’re scared it will be too hard for you to cook, just call me tomorrow and tell me what to buy. I’ll head to Gourmet before I leave the city and buy out the takeout.”

Mindy didn’t miss the touch of glee in Bentzi’s tone. He found it fun to splurge on delicacies. When Mindy didn’t answer right away, Bentzi grew concerned. “Is there a reason that you don’t want to invite her?” he asked, trying to sound solicitous. “Did you have a fight or something?”

“No, not at all!” Mindy protested. “Okay, let me call her and see if she wants to come.”

“I don’t know why you’re so unsure if she’ll want,” Bentzi said as they hung up. Maybe they’ll feel out of place, Mindy thought. In surroundings where even Mindy sometimes felt inadequate, with a social life that revolved so much around things, wouldn’t Fraidy feel insecure?

With Mindy’s new circumstances, it was a social circle that Mindy was growing comfortable in, although she wasn’t quite fully confident in her own skin yet.

Mindy thought of her self-assured older sister and she stifled a chuckle. Who was she kidding? Fraidy would have all of Mindy’s new friends wrapped around her thumb in an instant. Fraidy had never needed things to bolster her status. She gained popularity in an instant.

There was no reason to be concerned about Fraidy fitting in. It was Mindy who was afraid of not fitting in.

Of not quite fitting in with the haves just yet, but of leaving her family so far behind that she didn’t fit in with them either.

“Did you call Fraidy yet?” Bentzi called later, after he finished work, to ask her.

“No,” Mindy admitted. “Not yet.”

“It’s pretty late in the week to invite someone for Shabbos,” Bentzi said in a tone of reproach.

“I know,” Mindy said.

Bentzi was quiet, trying to figure out what was going on with his wife.

“Don’t you think that if we have the ability to share a little of what we were given, it’s only the right thing to do it?” Bentzi asked rhetorically.

Mindy pondered his words.

That we were given, he’d said.

It wasn’t about her, because none of this was hers. She’d been granted it for now, either for a while or for a short time. But as long as she was in possession of this grant, it was up to her to use it right.

There was no need for embarrassment, because it wasn’t hers to begin with. It was only hers to share.

“I’ll call Fraidy,” Mindy said to her husband. Bentzi was thrilled to hear it.

“Hi Fraidy,” Mindy said as soon as her sister picked up. “I was wondering if you want to join us for Shabbos this week. One of my friends is leaving early, and her bungalow is being empty for Shabbos.”

“That sounds like a dream,” Fraidy said in delight. “We’d love to come and spend Shabbos with you in the country!”

Her sister’s obvious pleasure warmed Mindy. “We’ll make sure it is a dream for you,” she said. “Mommy told me you’ve been working too hard. So when you come here, you’re being under strict orders to rest up and enjoy every second to the fullest. Got it?”

And Mindy, your orders are the same, she admonished herself again. To enjoy every bit of what she had without worrying how it reflected on herself.

Got it, Mindy? She asked herself.

When she found a smile on her lips as she thought of the upcoming Shabbos with her sister, she was pretty sure she had. •

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Campers in the Pupa camp in Swan Lake collect funds to send a public school boy to yeshiva through the Nechomas Yisroel organization. A moving moment when the boy visited the campers to thank them in person for his opportunity to attend yeshiva

Vort in Courts of Koson, Chaliov, Woodridge and Semihei of ticks. Ticks are parasites — this means they survive by living on a host. When ticks live on a host, they survive by biting and eating blood. This behavior can spread disease in humans and animals.

Deer ticks can spread Lyme disease as well as a few other illnesses to humans. They are usually the size of sesame seeds or smaller. Dog ticks are about double the size of deer ticks with a red-brown shield. Dog ticks can also spread some diseases, but not Lyme disease.

It’s important for a tick to be removed from the skin immediately and monitor the symptoms following the bite.

Deer ticks

Deer ticks will feed off a few different animals or humans during their lifespan, which is how they spread disease. You’re susceptible to illness from a tick bite because their prior animal hosts may have diseases like Lyme.

A tick needs to be attached to the person for a minimum of 24 hours before it can spread Lyme disease however it may carry other bacteria that they can spread in less time. Ticks can stay attached to the body

and fall off.

Most tick bites are painless and cause only minor signs and symptoms, such as a change in skin color, swelling or a sore on the skin.

When to see a doctor

See your healthcare provider if:

If you notice a Tick on yourself or a member of your family it is time to visit your local healthcare provider. Your provider will use special tools that will remove the tick carefully from the skin to make sure that no part of the tick or its legs remain attached to the body. The longer the tick remains attached to the skin, the greater the risk of getting a disease from it. Your skin may also get irritated.

When to seek emergency care

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you develop:

• A severe headache

• Difficulty breathing

• Paralysis

• Heart palpitations