“Ah, Koby. Yaakov. Yesh lee Yaakov gam ken. Ma nishma?”

“Beseder gamur.”

“That good, huh? You’re doing better than I am, but I’m always frazzled before Shabbat.”

“That is the same for women worldwide.” Koby extended the flowers to her. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“You’re welcome.” She took the bouquet. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“I’m from Ethiopia. I’m always hungry.”

Rina smiled. “When did you emigrate to Israel?”

“It was 1983.”

“Where did they settle you? Near Kiryat Arba?”

“Exactly.”

“I knew that because I used to live in Kiryat Arba. I remember when you all came over. The government recruited us for help. I ran an ulpan for the Ethiopians that summer.”

“You’re kidding!”

“No, I’m not. For all I know, you could have been one of my students.”

“I don’t think so. I would remember.”

“You would have definitely remembered. I was out to here.”

Rina made a pregnant stomach by extending her hands forward. “They gave me the four- to eight-year-olds.”

“I was twelve. Do you remember names?”

“I’ve got to think.” She furrowed her brow. “I remember a little boy named Elias Tespay.”

“I know the Tespays.”

“And someone named Welda.”

“Yoseph Welda?”

“No, it wasn’t Yoseph … Eliahu maybe.”

“Probably one of his younger brothers or a cousin. There were lots of Weldas. I think about sixty of them came.”

“Yeah, you guys were crammed into the housing like sardines. Where did you finally settle?”

“Petach Tikvah. My father remarried, so the housing didn’t improve much. There were ten of us in a three-room apartment. But at least it was our own apartment.”

“That’s not exclusive to Ethiopians, you know. Everybody’s cramped in Israel. You learn to be a good team player.”

“Or you leave,” Koby stated.

“Gotcha.” Rina held up the flowers. “I should put these in water and check on dinner. I’m actually planning to go to shul.” She looked at Koby. “Did you want to go to shul? It’s Ashkenaz davening.”

“No problem. The beit knesset I go to—when I go—is Ashkenaz.”

“Which one is that?”

“It is in Los Feliz, near my house. It is Conservative service, but the rabbi has Orthodox background, I think. He’s Hungarian.”

“I’m Hungarian,” Rina said. “What’s his name?”

“Robert Farkas.”

Rina shrugged ignorance. “Lots of Hungarians in this city.” Another shrug. “I should check on dinner.”

“Anything I can help you with, Rina?” I piped in.

“Yes, you can help your sister get dressed. The child is a turtle.” Rina looked at my father. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am. Need help in the kitchen?”

“If you’re offering, I won’t say no.” She smiled at Koby, then at me. “See you in a minute.” She took Dad’s hand. It might have been my imagination, but it looked as though she was trying to calm him down.

“Don’t say a word,” Rina whispered.

“I’m not saying anything!” Decker whispered back. “And you don’t have to tell me how to behave. I am not a racist!”