The Invitation in the Blue Envelope
Chapter 1Rina's Name
The blue envelope had Rina's name on the front.
Not "the Feldman family." Not "girls upstairs."
Just Rina.
Inside was a folded card from Mrs. Klein, who lived across the landing.
"Rina, please join us in welcoming our new neighbor on Sunday afternoon. We would love your help."
Rina read the first line twice.
She pictured chocolate biscuits and Mrs. Klein asking about school.
Her younger sister Suri leaned over her shoulder.
"What does the rest say?"
"It is a welcome. Sunday."
Rina folded the card along its crease.
At the bottom, there was more writing. She would read it later.
Chapter 2A Welcome Present
Rina decided to bring something beautiful.
She cut a paper border shaped like little houses. Behind each window she put a square of gold paper. Then she wrote WELCOME on a stiff white card.
Suri asked if she could draw a cat beside the last house.
"There is no cat in the design."
"There could be."
Rina kept cutting.
On Sunday, Mommy tied a navy scarf over her hair before leaving to take a meal to the new neighbor.
"Did Mrs. Klein tell you what she needs?"
"She invited me."
"Bring the card with you."
Rina tucked the blue envelope into her pocket. She carried her paper houses flat on a tray so the chimneys would not bend.
Suri followed with an orange crayon.
"In case you change your mind about the cat."
Chapter 3The Other Table
Mrs. Klein opened the door wearing a neatly tied brown headscarf.
"There you are. Come see."
The landing outside her apartment held three shopping bags, a stack of empty boxes, and a narrow table.
On the table were blank labels, string, and a thick black pencil.
There were no chocolate biscuits.
"Mrs. Weiss is downstairs helping the movers," Mrs. Klein said. "These bags are things our neighbors lent her for the first few days. We need labels so everything gets back to the right person."
Rina looked at her paper houses.
"I made this."
"How lovely. We can put it on her door once the large boxes are inside."
Mrs. Klein set the tray on a clear chair.
Then she handed Rina a bag containing two clean towels.
"This belongs to Mrs. Adler. The blue jug belongs to me. Could you help mark them?"
Rina held the bag without moving.
Chapter 4The Small Writing
"I thought I was coming to visit," Rina said.
Mrs. Klein paused.
"We will visit when Mrs. Weiss has a place to sit. Today we are helping her settle. Did you see the bottom of my note?"
Rina took out the envelope.
Under the fold, the small writing said, "Could you help label the borrowed things and carry the light bags? Please wear clothes you can work in."
Rina's best cuffs rested against the shopping bag.
She had chosen the first line and built an entire afternoon around it.
Mrs. Klein did not take the note from her.
"You can bring your sign back after we finish. You do not have to stay."
Rina looked toward her own door.
She could go home, put the houses on her desk, and tell Suri there had been a mistake.
Across the landing, Mrs. Weiss, her hair tucked beneath a gray scarf, was trying to open her new door while balancing a bag against one elbow.
Rina put the blue envelope back in her pocket.
"I will change my blouse. Then I can carry that."
Chapter 5Whose Jug?
When she returned, Suri was tying string around a bag handle.
Her loops were enormous, but the label stayed on.
Rina began writing the names Mrs. Klein gave her.
On the blue jug she wrote MRS. KLEIN. On the towel bag she wrote MRS. ADLER.
Then she found two covered dishes with no names.
"These must be yours too," she said.
Mrs. Klein shook her head.
"One is mine. One belongs downstairs. I need to check which."
Rina put down the pencil.
She carried the labeled towels while Mrs. Klein asked about the dishes.
At the new apartment, boxes stood everywhere. Mrs. Weiss had cleared one chair and part of the kitchen counter.
"Towels!" she said. "I was looking in a box marked winter coats."
Rina put them where Mrs. Weiss pointed.
On the next trip, she brought the correctly labeled dishes. Suri carried a small bundle of cloths.
Nobody had to guess who owned what.
Chapter 6The Last House
By late afternoon, the landing was clear enough for the welcome sign.
Mrs. Weiss came out to watch Rina fix it to the door with removable tape.
The houses made a crooked street. One chimney had bent. Rina pressed it, but it would not stand straight.
"A busy moving day," Mrs. Weiss said.
Suri uncapped the orange crayon.
"May I add one thing?"
Rina looked at the empty space beside the final house.
"A small one."
Suri drew a cat sitting on the doorstep.
"Our last neighbor had a cat like that," Mrs. Weiss said.
Rina smiled at the changed sign.
Mrs. Weiss invited them inside. Three seats were clear.
Mrs. Klein brought a plate of biscuits from her apartment.
Suri chose one with chocolate on top.
Rina put the note in the blue envelope with the small writing facing out.
Then she put it away and asked Mrs. Weiss which room she wanted to unpack first.
