One Fork Short

Ages 12-15

Zissi sets the Shabbos table by herself for the first time, and she is one fork short.

She has done it the way her mother does it. The cloth, and the candlesticks on the tray, and the plates round the table, one by each chair. She has done the cups. She goes round with the knives, and then with the forks, and at the far end, by the window, the drawer is empty.

She looks in the drawer. She looks in the sink. The last fork is in the dishwasher, mid-cycle, with the door locked, and the guests are coming at four.

She looks at the table. Every place has a fork, except the last one.

She goes round to her own seat, the one by the door. She picks up her fork, and carries it to the place by the window, and sets it on the napkin.

She goes to the drawer and takes out a spoon. She puts it at her own place, by the plate.

At the meal, Zissi eats the fish with the spoon, carefully, cutting it against the side of the plate.