“I told him to hear her confession,” Rina said. “Then he should confess the sin later on at his own confession. He thought that was a good solution. Ah well…” Rina began clearing the table.

Sammy said, “It was a fun day…you bought us Mickey Mouse pajamas.”

“I’m impressed, Shmueli! Yes, I bought you Mickey Mouse pajamas. We stayed until the park closed. I hadn’t anticipated being there that late. Had to get you into something you could fall asleep in.”

“Yeah, it was fun.” Sammy got up from the table. Kissed his parents. “Thank you, Eema, for dinner. I’ve got homework. Can I be excused?”

Rina nodded, kissed him back. “You’re a good boy, Shmuel. I’m sorry I jumped on you.”

“S’right.” Sammy kissed her cheek, then left the table.

Decker took Rina’s arm. “Sit, honey. I’ll clear later.”

“You want any more food?”

“Goyishe food?”

“Peter, I’m sorry.”

He smiled, spooned mashed potatoes onto his plate. “Next thing I know you’ll be making creamed chicken on toast points and lime Jell-O.”

Rina scrunched her nose. “You really didn’t eat things like that, did you?”

“Every church social had creamed chicken and lime Jell-O. I half-expected to see that kind of food at the Sparkses’ house. Being there, even under those circumstances, reminded me of home.”

Rina paused. “Do you ever miss it?”

“Miss creamed chicken and lime Jell-O?”

“No, Decker. Miss what you left behind.”

“I was very alienated from my church by the time you met me. Don’t forget, you weren’t my first Jewish wife.”

“Why were you so alienated?”

“I don’t know…independent spirit. Maybe I just didn’t like the attitude: that man was born a sinner. I could never accept the dogma that newborn babies were sinners. Then, after I found out about my Jewish roots, I became even more estranged. I find the Jewish concept much more livable despite the restrictions. That man was put here, not just to worship God in order to be saved but to do good deeds. It subscribes to the philosophy that man is basically good. Which is what I believe.”

“After everything you’ve seen, that’s quite an endorsement of mankind.”

“I’ve seen the worst. But I’ve also seen the best.” Decker smiled at his wife. “It was nice that you talked to Sammy about Disneyland. His memories are very important.”

Rina nodded.

“Sounds like you had a good time.”

“Relatively speaking,” Rina said. “We stayed until the park closed, watching the electric light parade at midnight. I remember thinking how wonderful it was…how normal I felt.”

She hesitated, her eyes watching a distant videotape. She returned her focus to the present.