Page 26 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

The rest of the Passover meal was tempting, but Hannah
had eaten so much at Rosemary's, she only picked at
her food. Besides, her head was beginning to throb.
Uncle Sam poured another quarter glass of wine into
her glass, then filled it the rest of the way with water
for the next blessing. Suddenly she was sure she didn't
want any more.
"My head feels funny," she said to her mother.
"I told you she was too young for wine," her mother
said with a sigh. "Even watered wine."
Uncle Sam handed around the large cut-crystal gob-
let, Elijah's cup, and everyone poured a little bit of
wine from their own glasses into it. When it was Han-
nah's turn, she emptied her entire glass.
"Elijah can have it all," she said grandly.
Grandpa Will smiled down the long table at her.
"What a good girl. For being so unselfish, you can open
the door for the prophet and welcome him in."
"I wanted to do that," Aaron called out. "That's the
most fun."
"Hannah will do it, Aaron," Grandpa Will said, "be-
cause she was so generous with her gift."
"He can have my whole cup, too," Aaron said.
"A sacrifice unasked is so much the greater," Grandpa
Will stated flatly. "Come, Hannah."
Hannah stood reluctantly. She felt like a fraud. She
hadn't given the wine out of generosity, but only be-
cause she didn't want it. It was no sacrifice.
"Remember, Hannahleh, we open our door to re-
mind ourselves of the time Jews were forced to keep
their doors open to show the Christians we were not

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