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"Me have good news,” came the voice from next to Henny’s bed. Upset at being woken, yet slightly curious, Henny opened one eye at her room’s invader. 

“Esti!” she groaned, pulling the warm covers over her shoulder. She gave her little sister’s blonde head a slight push in the direction of the door. “Get out and let me sleep! Why do you always bother me on Fridays?!” As adorable as Esti was, she was home all day and it was quite annoying. Often bored, she sought the company of whichever family member was home and on the one day that Henny had off from school, it was predictable that she was chosen to be bothered. 

Insulted, Esti wandered out of Henny’s room, a pout on her face, and thumb in her mouth. Henny heard her whisper, “But Faigy is gonna be a kallah soon”. 

Now both eyes were open. Henny felt her heart begin to beat faster with excitement. Could she believe what her toddler sister was saying? Two year olds, particularly the talkative type like Esti, spent half their waking hours imagining things that didn’t exist. But sometimes, Henny admitted, it was the little people who were in the right place at the right time, innocently absorbing the most important information. This particular news seemed too interesting to dismiss as false. 

Faigy was 18, the oldest child in their family — and in Henny’s mind, the most privileged. There were five years between them, a gap that seemed larger since they were separated by three brothers... probably one of the reasons they’d never been close. 

Henny had spent most of her childhood climbing trees, scraping her knees, and getting into mischief with her brothers, while older sister Faigy, aka Mother’s Best Helper, was always busy trying to keep everyone out of trouble.

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