“My wish and bracha—my blessing—to you, Milla, is may you continue along your path; may your strengths continue to be channeled toward good; may any mistakes, setbacks, or unhappiness not be seen as roadblocks but simply the route anyone must take toward success and ultimate fulfillment, in whatever form that might look like for you. May you become the person you want to be, that you are already on your way toward, who is a Kiddush Hashem.”

I go to my mom, and we hug for a long time, Aunty Steph–style.

Then Mr. Rosen breaks into a dancing song and everyone rushes out to the dance floor in two joyous circles, one for men and one for women. All my friends gather together and raise me on a chair. Then my parents’ friends raise my mom and dad on chairs. Uncle Dougie and Uncle Robbie raise Max on a chair. Ollie and Oskie, wearing matching clip-on bow ties, stand on a chair together chanting “Up, up!” until finally Auntie Jacqui and Uncle Dougie grab one each and hoist them onto their shoulders, their hands clutching my aunt’s and uncle’s foreheads as they bop up and down to the music with glee.

All the pieces of my locket are here together in one place. I have a dance in the middle of the circle with my mom, and with Aunty Steph, and with the three of us, and with my bubbie, and with the four of us, and with Aunty Jacqui (and Oskie), and with the five (six) of us, and with my grandma, and with my grandma and Aunt Ronit and Aunt Ilana. I have a dance with Honey; and with Honey and Mrs. Wine; and with Aginéni, who I spin in her wheelchair; and with Tali and Sophie; and with Natalie; and with lots of other people and in lots of combinations. And what does this party say about me and my family? I have no idea. But I feel a warmth pervading everything, a brightness and light. I grab my mom, my dad, and Max and we dance in a circle, just us, while everyone here at this party to celebrate me and my family surrounds us whooping and clapping in time to the music.

When it is Honey’s turn to give the best friend’s speech, she stands in front of all the guests and says, “Milla: You are thoughtful, observant of details other people wouldn’t notice or think about, and introspective—which is a word you taught me. You know big words and use them without being a show-off. You are funny and have a unique style. I love laughing with you and just spending time with you. I feel lucky that we got to go to school together this year, and lucky that you’re my best friend.”

I rush to give her a hug, and I might be wrong—she might have had something in her eye—but I think she has to wipe her cheek. I find I have the same problem.