Sarah 2

I have just finished putting away all the books, onto shelves. Time for a break, I put on the electric kettle to brew tea. Naomi, a friend of one of my older sisters arrives, to drop off a couple returned books and choose new.
"Like tea?" I ask.
"Thanks, kind of you. So, aren't you just a little bit worried about the yeshiva (religious school) lads? I mean come on, it's been five days since summer vacation started. No one can stay there in residence, they loan out those rooms to foreign students travelling. So, where are they?"
I guffaw, "every year, same thing. Go berserk, drink too much, hooliganism. They'll show in a few days, once they burn it outa their systems."
"You just don't understand. This year, different. By now, some of them should have shown. But none, not a one. We got over 200 lads from the Development who study (and reside) in Ramallah Colony Yeshiva."
"That's a tad unusual, so, worried about your husband?"
"He's an ok guy, by himself. But once he starts hanging out with that crowd, well anything can happen."
"I wouldn't worry over much. Too much Torah does that to a person. Need to go berserk a bit during breaks."
She looks at me with a surreal sense of disbelief. At that moment, a vision comes to me. Oh yes, I know what'll happen and tonight too. Still, nothing I can do to stop it. And why worry her? So, I do the only sensible thing and change the topic. It's amazing how much conversational mileage one can get by speaking of the generosity of American Jews.
After tea, she leaves, looking more cheerful. I feel like the world's biggest fraud.