Page 45 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

Gitl made a small snick of annoyance between her
teeth and wiped up the spill with the edge of her apron.
Almost shyly, Yitzchak smiled up at her, took a deep
drink of coffee, then turned slowly to Shmuel. "I have
two cages of chickens .outside, Shmuel. My wedding
gift. Should I leave them or take them to Fayge's village
with us?"
"Leave them. Leave them, Yitzchak," Shmuel said.
"With our great thanks. After all, Fayge and I will be
returning here for the wedding night and she will see
them then."
"If she sees anything but your blue eyes, then she is
a fool," Gitl said. "She should be counting your curls,
not her gifts. We will load the chickens in the wagon
with the other wedding gifts. Those schnorrers in Viosk
will not think we do not honor our own."
Shmuel laughed. "Gitl and Chaya will stay the night
with Fayge's people and come back home in the morn-
.
ing. It would not do . . . the walls are thin. . . " He
actually blushed, and Gitl put her hand on his shoulder.
"Do not say it step by step in front of the child," she
said.
"I did no such thing, Gitl. I was careful. I said only
that the walls are thin. And so they are."
"He meant no disrespect," Yitzchak added quickly.
"Hush, Yitzchak the butcher. Do not tell me in my
house what is and what is not." Gitl's eyes sparked.
Hannah interrupted. "But I know what a wedding
night is." .
All three stared at her and Yitzchak laughed ner-
vously.

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