Page 22 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

'erbs of all kinds. Why on this night do we eat bitter
'erbs especially?"
Why indeed, Hannah wondered. Since they're so dis-
gusting. Rosemary gets to eat jelly beans and I get to eat
horseradish. "It isn't fair!" She realized suddenly that
she'd spoken the last words out loud and everyone had
heard. Embarrassed, she stared down at her hands, but
her anger at the injustice continued.
"Of course it isn't fair," whispered Aunt Eva to her,
"but what has fair to do with it?" She smiled and, to
break the tension, started singing "Dayenu" in her strong,
musical voice. The rousing repetitive song carried them
all along, even Hannah's mother, who was tone deaf.

Da-da-yaynu
Da-da~yaynu
Da-yaynu, Da-yaynu.

Hannah knew it meant "it would have been enough,"
but she suddenly felt that nothing was enough except
to get out of that room and that Seder in which nothing
fair or fun was happening.
And then she remembered the wine. That, at least,
was new. When the Seder began again, she would get
another glass of watered wine. For the first time, she
was being allowed to drink along with the grown-ups.
"Let Hannahleh join in the toasts for real," Grandpa
Will had said before the Seder had begun.
"Now, Poppy," Hannah's mother protested, "she's
only twelve."
"Thirteen," Hannah said.
Eva had patted her hand.

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