In a rush, she suddenly told him everything, from the encounter with little Chasya sitting by the window searching for her mother, to the moment she’d reached for her music, to the nasty faces of the neighbors standing by the door. She didn’t leave out the children’s state of undress, or her own dishevelment. She even gave him an account of his mother-in-law’s recent visit.

What she failed to mention, however, was the most important thing of all, that elephant in the room that, unlike the imaginary creature he conjured to tease the children, really did exist—something so big, so important, she simply did not have the courage to raise it.

He exhaled, actually relieved. While his heart ached for his little girl’s grief, what business was it of the neighbors to butt into how Leah played with the children in their own home? He shook his head, annoyed. Another yenta parade. More troublemakers. What else was new?

“You did nothing wrong, Leah-le. Nothing at all.”

She was a bit astonished to hear this. “Yaakov, I’ve brought disgrace down on this family, your family!”

“My neighbors and ‘friends’ don’t need your help. They bring it down on this community all by themselves with their wicked talebearing.”

But that was not all. She took a deep breath. “They’ve stopped sending their children for playdates. Chasya sits alone, playing with her dolls. They won’t let their children into our house anymore.”

His heart contracted. He could bear the idiot from across the street with his slimy smile and innuendoes slithering up to him on the subway. But his children! He felt rage bubbling up from his stomach, choking him. With great effort, he cleared his throat. “I’ll talk to them. Bubbee Fruma will talk to them. Don’t worry!”

“I’m so sorry, Yaakov. It’s all my fault! I’m still so new to all this.”

“Nothing to apologize for. But, Leah-le…” He hesitated. “How long has this been going on?”

She looked up at him uneasily. It was not in her nature to lie, and she had never lied to Yaakov. She tightened her lips, her heart contracting. “It started two weeks ago.”

“Two weeks?” He jumped up, pacing the floor. Two whole weeks. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“I didn’t want to worry you! You have so much on your mind, leaving kollel, the new job … I thought it would all blow over, that it was just some little thing with the neighbors. I didn’t understand.”