Page 63 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
P. 63
"Strange and mysterious and to make up rhymes, sing
songs, tell fortunes. He said I looked startled by life,
Chaya. Do you think so?" She put her arm through
Hannah's.
Hannah shrugged, but she wasn't really thinking about
what Rachel said. She was watching the badchan. He
reminded her of something or someone, but she couldn't
think what. Then, when he tipped his hat to one of the
old women on the wagons, it came to her. He was like
a court jester. Only instead of wearing one of those
colorful caps with bells, he wore a black hat like the
other men, and the bottom of his coat danced along
with his every move.
The idea of a Jewish jester so tickled her, she began
to laugh out loud. Without even knowing the joke, the
other girls joined in.
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