The Long Trail Home

The Long Trail Home book cover — For Baby the best companion a girl could have K B For Ruth writing mentor critique goddess and dear friend A K

The Long Trail Home — page 1 — Chapter One Yet another Friday night when Rivka Simon should be having fun Her friends were at the movies She was at home for family dinner Come on everyone her mom called urging them to stand around the table Rivka’s dad dimmed the lights Her brothers stood at their places Rivka trudged into the dining room after them last as usual Her mom struck a match Smoke and the smell of sulfur curled through the room She held the flame to two white candles in the center of the table The wicks caught and flared illuminating the faces of Rivka’s family Her mother’s voice rose as she began 1

The Long Trail Home — page 2 — the Hebrew blessing for lighting candles on Shabbat evening the beginning of the Jewish day of rest Her dad joined in and then her older brother Noah Even nine-year-old Eli Rivka didn’t sing It was a protest She wanted to be out with her friends Her dad lifted the silver wine glass high above the table and began the second prayer When they were done singing he took a sip and passed it to her mom who took a sip too Eli drank and gave the glass to Noah who drank and held it out to Rivka When she didn’t reach for it he said What do you have against grape juice She grimaced He was trying to be sweet but that made her even more irritated Rivka took the glass from him and took the smallest sip possible Another protest Her mother lifted the golden loaf of braided challah bread and held it over the center of the table so that they could each touch it Rivka didn’t want to but her mom raised an eyebrow Rivka reached out with one finger frowning Would you like to say the blessing over the challah her mom asked Rivka shook her head 2

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