Decker paused. “Your mother went with Mrs. Decker?”
The youngest boy said, “She took a walk. She told us to sit here and not move.”
The older girl squinted at the TV, eyes a mixture of awe and cynicism. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“Pardon?” Decker asked.
“In this game. I think if she guesses the price of the washing machine, she actually gets to keep it?”
Decker bit his mustache. “Uh, yeah, I think that’s how it works.”
The girl turned to him, her face full of confusion. “It isn’t a joke?”
“Uh … no, it’s no joke.”
“That is unbelievable!” the girl said. “You mean they just give that lady a washing machine?”
“If she wins, yes.”
“How can they do that!” the girl exclaimed. “Why would they give away a washing machine? Isn’t that expensive?”
“And the automobile,” the little boy chimed in. “That’s real ispensive!”
Decker paused. How do you explain the corporate world and prime-time advertising to kids who never owned TVs.
The girl still had her eyes glued to the monitor. “How do you get to play that game? You got to give them money or something?”
“Minda!” the oldest boy rebuked her sharply. “This is not our world!”
“Mendel, Mama could really use a new washing machine.”
“Then Papa will buy her one.”
“Yeah, sure. He never buys us anything.”
“Minda!” the boy scolded.
Minda fell silent. The little boy smiled at Decker. “I saw the horses.”
Decker smiled back. “Would you like to ride one?”
The boy’s eyes grew big. “Can I?”
“Pessy, wait for Mama,” the oldest boy said.
“Good idea,” Decker said, wondering where the hell Mama was. Instead he turned to Mendel and asked him what he was learning. The teenager shrugged, leaning over the volume of Talmud as if hiding his paper from a potential cheater.
Again, Decker bit his mustache. “Anyone hungry?”
“We’ll wait until our mother comes back,” Mendel said. “But thank you anyway.”
Decker shuffled his feet. “How long has your mother been gone, kids?”
Minda said, “About half an hour. Before Joker in the Deck … will you look at that! She won a whole living room full of furniture! I can’t believe it!”
Decker smiled tightly. “Is anyone hungry?” He looked at the youngest. “Are you hungry, Pessy?”
“He’ll wait,” Mendel said.
“Don’t be such a meanie, Mendel,” Minda said. “Are you hungry, Pessy?”
The little boy looked at his brother. His brother nodded. Pessy said, “I’m a little hungry.”
“I can fix you a sandwich,” Decker said. “What would you like? Tuna? Egg salad? Peanut butter and jelly?”
“Peanut butter and jelly,” Pessy said. “Please.”
“Coming right up.” Decker stood. “How about you, Mendel? Anything?”
Mendel blushed. “I’m okay.”
“You’re sure?”
Minda said, “Go ahead, Mendel. You already checked out the kitchen. It was fine.”
Mendel glared at his sister. Decker said, “I’m glad you checked out the kitchen. I want you kids to feel comfortable here.”
Minda said, “Thank you very much. And thank you for letting us stay here. I’ve never seen a game like this in my life. It’s fascinating!”
“It’s beetul Torah,” Mendel said.
“Mendel, relax, okay?” Minda said. “It’s vacation!”
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