
Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 40 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week. Click here for previous chapters.
Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications.
Hinda had spent more than half the morning finishing the kitchen plans for Leah Weitzen. Simi spent that entire time closed in her room. Her husband must have gone to learn in one of the shuls in the area; Hinda hadn’t seen him come or go.
At noon, Hinda collected her papers from the kitchen table, leaving Leah a voicemail message that she’d finished, baruch Hashem, and then she went to the door of Simi’s room. She listened for a moment, and when she heard the baby wailing and Simi cooing to him, she knocked gently. There was silence inside; only the baby was still whimpering.
Finally, Simi answered, “Yes?” She didn’t say, “Come in,” so Hinda remained outside.
“How are you doing, Simi?”
“Fine, baruch Hashem,” the other woman replied through the door.
“I wanted to know if there’s anything special you’d like me to make for you,” Hinda said pleasantly.
“No thanks, don’t put yourself out.”
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