The Two Feelings at the Farewell
Chapter 1The New Window
Rivky's cousin Chani was moving to another town with her family.
Chani had brought a drawing of her new room. There was a wide window, a shelf for books, and space for the little desk she loved.
"The school is near our house," Chani said. "Mommy showed me the courtyard."
Rivky studied the drawing. She was glad Chani would have a place she liked.
She was also thinking about their Sunday paper dolls and the jokes they could tell with only half a sentence.
The new window was lovely. The distance was not.
Chapter 2The Wrong Smile
At the family farewell, Rivky smiled every time someone spoke about the new house.
"You must be excited for Chani," an aunt said.
Rivky nodded.
Then Chani asked her to help choose a place for her dolls in the moving box.
"You can do it," Rivky said.
Chani looked surprised. They always sorted the dolls together.
Rivky went to the kitchen doorway. Mommy was there, wearing her usual scarf and putting clean plates on a tray.
"I don't want to spoil her good news," Rivky whispered.
Chapter 3More Than One Answer
Mommy set down the tray.
"What would spoil it?"
"If I say I'm sad, she'll think I don't want her to like the new place."
"Do you want her to like it?"
"Yes."
"And will you miss her?"
Rivky nodded again. This answer felt different from the first nod.
"Both can be true," Mommy said. "You don't have to make one feeling push the other out."
Rivky stood quietly for a moment. She was pleased about the room and sad about fewer visits. Saying both did not turn Chani's opportunity into a bad thing.
Chapter 4Beside the Box
Chani was wrapping the paper dolls in a clean sheet of drawing paper.
Rivky sat beside her.
"I'm glad you like your new room," she said. "I'm going to miss doing this with you."
Chani's hands stopped.
"Me too."
"But you sounded so excited."
"I am excited." Chani smiled a little. "I'm also worried I won't know the girls yet."
Now there were more than two feelings beside the box.
They did not need to solve every one before packing the dolls.
Chapter 5Something That Can Travel
Together they chose a favorite doll for each cousin to keep. Chani's doll wore a blue paper coat. Rivky's wore green.
Their mothers agreed that the girls could send drawings through the family mail and plan visits when the grownups could arrange them. Nobody promised every Sunday.
On the back of a drawing, Rivky wrote, "I want to hear about your new window."
Below it she added, "And I will miss you at our old table."
The farewell was still sad. Chani's good news was still good.
When the box was closed, Rivky helped carry a light bag to the entryway with Mommy. Then she hugged her cousin goodbye.
This time her smile did not have to do all the talking.
