Orca Currents: The Book of Elsie

Orca Currents: The Book of Elsie — page 7 — That’s true I pulled a mint-green shirt off the rack and held it up against my chest Grace made a face That color is no good for you she said You’re too pale It would look great against my dark skin But you need darker colors Grace always knew so much about colors and fashion I held the shirt out toward her Want it No thanks She shook her head Not my style I’m just saying the color would work on me I put the shirt back I wish we could do some of those fun things together she said She pulled a hoodie off the rack and held it up to herself When I shook my head she returned it I like to dress up We get to dress up together for Halloween I said Grace sighed Halloween is months away I wish I could go to your Purim party I’d probably be the only Black Wonder Woman there 6

Orca Currents: The Book of Elsie — page 8 — Probably I put my arm around her and gave her a side hug And I wish you could go too But it’s only for temple members I know Grace sounded so sad Suddenly I got an idea Rabbi Alisha was always talking about community outreach She said that learning about non-Jewish people and teaching them about our customs was a good way to build a community where everyone was loved and respected Maybe letting my best friend come to our Purim party was a sort of outreach Hmm I’d ask Rabbi Alisha at Sunday school But I didn’t want to get Grace’s hopes up just in case So I kept my idea to myself I paid for my scarf and then we walked three blocks to the dollar store When we got inside we went past the Easter section Even though it was still only February and Easter was in April the store had all the stuff 7

Orca Currents: The Book of Elsie — page 9 — out already There was a whole row of yellow pink and green Baskets colored fake grass plastic eggs and everything bunny and baby chicken I didn't know a lot about Easter but it was a really colorful holiday That was nice Chocolate was involved which made it even nicer We went through the store to the party section at the back It bummed me out that there wasn’t a specific section for Jewish holidays but I was used to it Our friend Sana who is Muslim said there wasn’t a section for her people either In among the cheap toys there were plastic crowns hanging on pegs I sighed They weren’t fierce Or real Definitely not the kind of thing the winner of the Purim costume contest would wear Grace pulled one off the peg and frowned at it It’s funny that an ugly plastic crown is more expensive than that fancy scarf you got at the thrift shop 8

Orca Currents: The Book of Elsie — page 10 — I know I said And it’s not even nice Maybe I can make something better I bet you can she said You’re crafty Come on I said Let’s go We can get some chocolate Easter eggs to eat on the way home the best ideas I gave her another side hug You always have She grinned at me When it includes chocolate I do What do people eat at Purim My favorite are these special cookies called hamantaschen Grace stared at me Haman what I slowed down the word and sounded it out for her Ha-man-tasch-en It’s Hebrew I think They’re shaped like triangles and have different jam fillings My bubby makes really good ones Oh your grandmother is a great cook Grace said Maybe someday I can try them She sounded hopeful 9

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