Amie Bernstein; Chapter 7

 

Amie Bernstein; Chapter 7

© 2022 by Amber Wright

LIKE THE STARS ABOVE

Date: Winter 1901

Place: London, England

The Fourth Day of Hanukkah was Sunday. Amie dressed for church and rolled a little perfume on her throat and wrists. Not too much or I’ll start sneezing! She made a face at herself and screwed the lid back onto her perfume bottle. Then she waited.

Shortly, her maid would come and brush her “tangles into curls”, as Annie always called it. Amie smiled. Annie Montgomery was simply the best maid in the world. She was sweet, dutiful, caring and a perfectionist. Where has she got to? She glanced at the clock hanging over her desk. It was nearly time to leave for the Sunday morning meeting.

Amie grabbed the brush and was about to do her own hair when Annie rushed into the room breathlessly and with a worried look on her face. “Aye, let me have that now. Turn around. Just so, thank you.”

Amie did as she was told and watched Annie through the mirror for signs of explanation. Nothing. Only a worried look filled Annie’s face, possibly disturbed, but nothing more. Amie sighed. She hated how everyone seemed to have secrets but her. Well, I shall have one, she thought a little stubbornly and partially injured inside. I shall have a secret all of my own—only, what shall it be? I’ll just have to find one. Hmm… She clacked her teeth together in concentration and found Annie shooing her out the door with her coat, scarf, mitts and little black Bible.

Amie settled herself under the warm lap robe in the large sleigh and away they went. After a few short chilly moments, they reached the white-pillared church where they worshiped. Papa helped her down first and Kitt scrambled down after her. They had to hurry into Sunday school before it started. Amie hugged her Bible in one arm and gripped Kitt’s arm with the other.

“Now Kitt, don’t stare in Sunday school like you did last week.” Amie whispered fiercely to him. “It makes you look silly.”

“Merci.” Kitt frowned and pulled his arm away.

“And no answers in French either. Mr. Russet only knows English.”

“Oui, mademoiselle!”

“Kitt, please!”

Kitt shrugged. “We’ll see.” He gave her another frown. “I only did that because he so charitably told the whole class that I came into this fine country without a penny to my name. Ha!”

“Don’t mind him. He’s funny like that.”

“If he says that again I’ll talk and swear in French!”

“You wouldn’t!” Shock filled Amie and she swallowed. “Uh, you don’t really swear in French, do you? It isn’t nice.”

Kitt shrugged again.

Amie tilted her chin up slightly and gave her cousin a stern look. “I mean—it’s perfectly horrid!”

“The French? Thanks.”

“No, you know perfectly well what I mean—the swearing. Well, we’re here.”

She gave him a pleading look and Kitt grinned, making a motion as to zip his mouth. Amie relaxed and they entered the filled Sunday school room where Mr. Russet was just walking to the front to lead the class. They stumbled into their seats near the back.



Seven happy nights had come and gone. Tonight—the eighth day—was the last day of Hanukkah. Amie dressed in her best blue silk dress with the large sash that tied grandly in the back. Her silver Star of David necklace hung at her throat, the big surprise she had received just last night.

Annie Montgomery was brushing her hair when Amie decided to ask a startling question. “Annie, what is being a Jew?”

Annie curled Amie’s hair around her fingers as she replied slowly, “A Jew is one whose blood came from the patriarch Jacob, or Israel, who was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham. Jews are called blessed of God.”

“Are you a Jew, too?” Amie chewed on her bottom lip and waited for the answer.

Annie was silent.

Amie turned around to see the brush in Annie's hands shaking. “Yes, Miss Amie, I am—but keep this a secret. Our secret. Just you and me? Please.”

“A secret, fantastic!” Amie squealed and gave Annie a hug. “Just what I was looking for. But why this a secret? Everybody knows I’m a Jew and I love it!”

“Shh!” Annie whispered with haunted eyes. She licked her dry lips. “True, everybody knows you’re a Jew…and you’re rich.” She smiled. “Let’s go now. They’re waiting on us. You are to light the last night’s candle, yes?”

“Yes!” Amie smiled brightly despite Annie's words nagging into her, Everybody knows you’re a Jew…and you’re rich. Rich? What did that have to do with it? A Jew was blessed of God. Money could never buy blessings.

As soon as the last candle had been lit, everyone gathered into one large circle with linked arms and happy voices singing long and loud. It was the last night of Hanukkah and it was a time to remember and celebrate. Amie felt her stomach rumbling beneath her laugh and song. Oncle Aaron was playing his accordion to the side of the circle and everyone sang until their voice-boxes tingled. Beside her, Amie heard Kitt mumbling repeatedly. She gave him a quizzical look.

“I said I’m starving!” he shouted above the loud noise.

“All you think about is food!” Amie shouted back to him, grinning. “You’d better watch out or you’ll grow into a fat man!”

“I doubt that—but I say, I’m starving!” Kitt shouted even louder as the noise suddenly stopped and his voice rang throughout the large, silent dining room.

“Yes, we shall eat our last supper of Hanukkah.” Papa smiled as everyone unlinked their arms. “Thank you for reminding us that food is waiting for us.”



As soon as Amie finished her prayer, Papa added in a rich warm voice, “And may we dedicate our temples of flesh to You, our Living God and the Author and Finisher of our faith. May Your face shine upon us every day as we thank You for the many blessings You have freely given us. Our Jesus, we thank You. Amen.”

Amie felt warm tears sliding down her cheeks. This was indeed a time to remember of long ago…when Jesus had walked the earth in ancient Israel and had attended this same Feast of the Dedication, renamed Hanukkah. Papa stepped over to her as she wiped her cheeks dry through a smile. She looked up at him. She was indeed grateful.

“My daughter,” Papa picked up the silver star of David attached to her silver necklace and said thoughtfully. “This star of David I gave you this year is to remind you of your heritage. To remind you never to be ashamed of your blood. To remind you of this Hanukkah, your first time to light its candles.”

“Thank you, Papa.” Amie smiled, feeling the candlelight sparkle her aqua-colored eyes.

“And never forget this time to remember days of long ago,” Papa patted her shoulder with a smile. “To remember there is always a miracle for us when we ask. For when all else fails, God is still there.”

“I shall never forget, Papa—ever.”

“And always let your inner star shine!” Papa lifted his eyes upward with a twinkle to his black eyes. “Like the stars above. Now,” he turned to everyone else, “we shall eat.”

They settled into their seats and immediately Kitt sank his teeth into a latke, making munching sounds until he had devoured his whole plateful of food. Meanwhile, Amie was deep in thought as she slowly chewed the fried potato and juicy lamb together. She thought about her first time to light the candles, about her star of David to shine and about Annie wanting to keep her being Jewish a secret. Her mind whirled as her voice remained silent throughout the whole meal. She swallowed her last bite.

After supper, the maids brought out the platters of fudge-topped, custard-filled doughnuts.

“Mm!” Amie licked her salty lips and reached for the moist, oozing doughnut.

“I thought you never thought of food, Amie.” Kitt smirked and helped himself to two doughnuts.

“Well…” Amie took a big bite of doughnut. “Desserts are fantastic! I do like food as well. But there’s such a delight about the sweet foods, don’t you think?”

Kitt only nodded, looking as if he did not want to pause one split second as he enjoyed his own moist, plump doughnut. He started on his second one. Amie watched and with a little smile took another doughnut and whispered to Kitt. “If you can have two, so can I.”

Kitt chuckled with a nod, starting to lick his fingers.

“No!” Amie gasped, elbowing him. She glanced around the table to make sure nobody had seen him. “That’s not the proper thing to do, Kitt. Use the napkin.” She picked up the napkin from her lap and demonstrated. “You wipe your fingers like this.”

“Merci, Mademoiselle!” Kitt dramatized with a grin.

“Well, you can lick your fingers all you want in the kitchen but,” she took a deep breath and smiled, “not in the dining room full of guests! They might laugh at you.”

“Thanks for warning me. I’ll try to remember.”

“Just say…you will remember. I know you and your trying.” Amie giggled behind her napkin, almost spitting out the doughnut in her mouth.

“Miss Amie,” Kitt decided to counter-reprove. “Don’t talk with food in your mouth. That’s not the proper thing to do. Swallow it first. People will laugh at you.”

“You!” Amie swallowed her doughnut down properly and grinned. “Alright, Mr. Lazar, I shall be just as proper as you. Thank you.”

“Everyone,” Papa stood at the head of the table with his glass of holiday punch held high. “I would like to say thank you all for celebrating this Hanukkah with us and for all the gifts you have given. They are very much appreciated—very much.”

A murmur of “thank yous” and “your welcomes” came from around the table.

“And now,” Papa continued as raised his glass to his lips, “I drink to your health and a Happy Hanukkah everyone!”

“Happy Hanukkah!” the chorus followed and glasses of the holiday punch were lifted into the air.

Amie raised her glass high above her head and repeated her papa’s words that he had told her, “And always let your inner star shine! Like the stars above. Happy Hanukkah!”

French/English translation:

Mademoiselle………… Miss

Oncle…………………… Uncle

oui……………………… yes

merci…………………… thank you