It's Hanukkah, Dude
“What do you want?”
“Your brother is going to be busy next week Joan. Try not to ask too many questions, ok?”
“Why? What’s he doing and what does it have to do with me?”
“Just don’t ask too many questions and you might find out.”
“I seriously never understand you,” Joan called as God walked off to fill a prescription.
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BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Dude!
GRAVITY_BOY says
Hey
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
I was wondering if you would go see House of the Flying Daggers with me this weekend.
GRAVITY_BOY says
Sure let me know when you want to go. We could go out and eat too.
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
I don’t know geek
GRAVITY_BOY says
How about I pick up something and we take it to the park then go to the movie, separately of course
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Fine
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Luke crossed the park where he and Grace usually met. The air felt crisp and clean and the sun shone; it was a perfect December day. He carried a Wendy’s bag in one hand and a drink carrier in the other while he attempted to find where Grace had decided to sit.
“Finally,” he spoke as he sat down next to her. He found her seated on the roots of a large maple tree looking over the duck pond. From what he could hear she was listening to Lovedrug. The headphones were resting around her neck and the volume up.
“What?” she asked, feigning disgust as she turned off the CD player.
“Nothing,” he said smiling and leaned in to kiss her.
Grace quickly pulled away from the kiss, “Easy dude I’m starving. What’d you bring me?”
Luke rustled around in the bag and brought out a salad and dressing packet.
“I wasn’t sure what kind of dressing to get so I got Italian. I hope that was ok.”
“It works. So you got something to drink in there too?”
“One double sweet, grande, vanilla cappuccino, just the way you like it. And I got a large Sierra Mist if you want some of it,” he told her, handing over the coffee.
Grace prepared her salad while Luke squirted catsup all over his fries. A comfortable silence settled over the pair as they ate. While Luke would have happily talked, he knew Grace didn’t like chitchat when she was hungry. And if he started rambling on about science she’d quite possibility take his head off and blame it on low blood sugar levels. So he settled for at least getting to be with her. Every once in a while he noticed her leather-clad arm reaching over and snagging his soda.
Suddenly Grace spoke, “I can’t go to the meeting this week.”
For the past month Luke and Grace could be found attending Thursday night Alateen meetings. They seemed to be helping. Luke was happy she had begun to deal with her mother’s alcoholism. Well at least acknowledge it. He also liked the fact that during the meetings they could be open; she would hold his hand or let him rest his arm on the back of her chair.
“How come,” he asked, knowingly pushing but hoping that she might share something with him.
“Dude, I thought you were smart.”
“Am I missing something?”
“Yeah, I can’t go because of Hanukkah. My dad wants to attempt the whole thing together again. He’s even having people come over this year. I’m thinking that this things gonna be a disaster.”
“Come on Grace it can’t be that bad.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Grace said glaring at him with a look that told Luke to back off.
The pair went back to their meal and soon departed for the theater.
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Grace, Adam, and Joan found themselves headed for the school gym Monday afternoon. The Secretary of State had come to speak to the student body.
Grace quickly staked out seats on the top row of the bleachers.
“Grace why do you always pick the worst places to sit, it’s all dusty up here,” Joan asked as she came up the steps on Graces left.
“Cause the Gestapo’s of Arcadia High are to lazy to walk their butts up here.”
“She’s right Jane the teachers never come up here,” added Adam as he came up the last two steps.
“Do you guys mind if I join you,” asked Luke, appearing on Grace’s right on the steps that divided their two classes.
“Aren’t you suppose to sit over there plebe,” Grace asked in response.
“Yeah well Friedman’s being…” Luke trailed off and simply shook his head. His eyes met Grace’s in a silent plea to allow him to sit down.
She responded with a look of question but she said, “Yeah sure whatever.”
Luke didn’t answer but sat down next to her. Adam and Joan were sitting on Grace’s left. The pair next to her were already lost in their own world and the assembly hadn’t even started. Grace glanced over making sure they really were spaced out and then turned to Luke.
“What’s up,” she whispered.
“It’s nothing,” he quickly answered in a hushed tone.
“Like hell. You are mad, that means something’s happened.”
“Friedman was harassing me about some stuff and ragging on you. I wish I could just lay it all out for him. Make him pay for what he’s said.”
“I thought you were friends with the freak.”
“Yeah well that doesn’t mean I still can’t be pissed at him.”
“What are you two talking about,” Joan interrupted teasingly.
“It’s none of you business Girardi,” shot back Grace.
“Cha Grace you don’t have to be all mean about it.”
“Well I wouldn’t have to be mean if someone would stop eavesdropping.”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping I just noticed you two talking again and that’s a little disturbing. I mean your best friend and brother…hanging out is just wrong or something.”
“Whatever Girardi, go back to inspecting Rove for mites or whatever it was you two were doing.”
Joan just gave Grace and Luke a weird look and turned back around.
“What’s with those two? Luke looks mad and Grace is all…snippy,” Joan asked Adam.
“I don’t know Jane. Maybe we should just leave them alone.”
“No. I want to know…” Joan trailed off remembering what God had told her, “Maybe your right. Let’s move down a few rows.”
“What’s with your sister dude,” Grace asked after Adam and Joan left.
“I don’t know Grace,” Luke answered but she could tell he wasn’t listening.
Grace took a moment to survey the student body below to make sure they weren’t being watched. The next thing Luke knew his girlfriend was kissing him. It didn’t take him long to respond. After a few seconds Grace pulled back.
“Cool it horndog we still have a few hundred people around us.”
Luke smiled and his eyes danced in the delight of kissing Grace. The look didn’t go unnoticed by Grace, who smiled in return. But her affect on him quickly wore off and his earlier mood returned. Luke propped his feet up on the seat in front of him and leaned back against the window with his arms flopped down beside him. Grace reached over and slid her hand into his and leaned back herself. They sat together for twenty minutes listening to school officials and the speaker before Luke suddenly started talking.
“He said I was an idiot for even thinking about liking you, that you were just another femanazi. I’d like to beat him to a pulp. All I could do was tell him to shut up and you weren’t like that, you were friends with my sister.”
“Don’t sweat it man, Friedman is an idiot like you said. Let him think what he wants.”
“I still want to hurt him.”
“I think I’m rubbing off on you Girardi.”
“Oh I’d say so.”
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“I think something’s up with those two,” Joan started the second she sat down.
“Maybe they’re teaming up on a science fair project; like they did last year,” suggested Adam taking a seat next to her.
“Grace would never start this early on something like that.”
“Can’t they just be friends Jane?”
“Grace friends with Luke? Come on, she harasses him all the time.”
“That’s just the way Grace operates.”
Joan thought about that for a while. A few minutes later she looked over her shoulder to see if she could figure out what her little brother and best friend were up to. All she saw were the two of them slumped down talking. God had only told her not to ask questions, he didn’t say anything about doing a little snooping.
After the assembly everyone had be told to go to their last hour class for the last fifteen minutes of the day, but Joan decided to see where Grace and Luke went. Knowing Luke, he’d be the good boy and go to class. She knew Grace would skip out; she always did unless Price caught her getting her skateboard and gave her detention.
“Come on Adam.”
“Jane do you really think this is such a good idea?”
They were waiting outside the gym doors waiting for Grace and Luke to come out so they could follow them.
“What other option do we have?”
“We could just leave them alone. If Grace finds out she is going to kill you.”
“Look something is up and has been for a while now. I mean during the student council elections they were sitting together at lunch and then he said something and I’m pretty sure that they had been talking. Like, talking talking, and Grace was trying to hide something I could tell. Also have you noticed that Grace has been busy every Thursday night for the past month? And Luke is always busy on Thursday nights now. And when he does finally come home he’s all smiley and trying to hide it.”
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Grace and Luke remained where they were and waited for the stampede to clear up so they could leave. They hadn’t said anything since their discussion of Freidman.
“Are you leaving,” asked Luke and they started to make their way down the bleacher steps.
“I don’t think Price quit heard you geek, but yeah. I think there’s a coffee with my name on it down at Starbucks,” answered Grace.
“Can I come with you? I’ll buy.” Luke asked distantly not even making eye contact during his inquiry. This wasn’t the Luke Girardi that Grace had grown accustom to dealing with. Yes he could be pushy, nerdy, and yapped, but all out of it and wanting to skip school wasn’t him.
“Sure dude. Grab your stuff, try not to be seen or you’ll get detention and head out the closest door. I’ll meet you at Starbucks.”
They finally made it to the gym floor and were nearing the school officials, including Price, who advanced on the pair.
“Mr. Girardi I noticed you weren’t seated in your class section. Would you care to explain why?”
“We were kicking ideas for the science fair. You know when those scientific juices flow and all,” jumped in Grace before Luke could mess up their escape.
“Why thank you for you input Ms. Polk but from now on please only answer questions directed to you, not Mr. Girardi.”
“Yes sir,” she answered her most insincere voice.
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“Hey there they go. If they split up you go after Grace, ok?
“I don’t…”
“Just do it!”
“Cha.”
Joan and Adam followed Luke and Grace as the pair walked side by side in silence. When they reached the main hall Grace pealed off in the direction of her locker and Luke continued heading straight.
“His last class isn’t in this direction but his locker is. Those two are skipping out together.”
“And so are we if you plan to follow them.”
“Just follow her. I’ll take care of Luke.”
But their plans were cut short by the appearance of Mr. Price.
“Mr. Rove, Ms. Girardi I believe you two are supposed to be in class not wondering the halls.”
“We aren’t wondering the halls. We are just…just,” Joan tried to think of an excuse but couldn’t.
“Just heading to class now,” Mr. Prince finished for Joan.
“Yes sir.”
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Mr. Price’s detaining of Adam and Joan gave Luke and Grace a chance to leave without detection. Grace made it to the coffee shop before Luke did simply because she could make better time on her skate board than he could walking. So she walked in and picked a table in the back to wait at.
“Can I have an extra sweet vanilla cappuccino grande and a decaf chocolate cappuccino grande,” ordered Luke, able to walk in and order right away, being that it was the middle of the afternoon. With their order in hand he headed back to sit with Grace.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks dude.”
“No problem.”
“So are you going to tell me what’s got you in this funk?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Ok man but you’re the one that always wants to share things.”
“He said all those stupid things and I guess it started to get to me. He said that I didn’t know a thing about you. And I realized that it’s true. I mean even if you don’t really like it being Jewish is apart of you and I know nothing about it. I can’t even tell you when Hanukkah is.”
“It’s no big deal. It just something I do the keep a little peace in the house.”
“But you do it.”
“Are you saying you want to know about Hanukkah?”
“Yes!”
“Chill dude. Come over tomorrow and you can get a first hand look at it.”
“As in…your house?”
“Where else, besides we’re stuck having some other people there and I could use someone on my side.”
“I can’t believe you are letting me come. Thank you Grace.”
“Don’t think I’m all open with this you’re only getting to come ‘cause no one knows you and they are all over the age of thirty-five.”
“But that security guard could have?”
“Hey don’t push it dork.”
“Right, sorry, my mistake.”
“Whatever.”
“So what is Hanukkah?”
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BLACKWIDOW-4-U says:
Dude are you awake yet
GRAVITY_BOY says
Uh sorta
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Well if you want you can come over to my house after school and we can work on homework before the ceremony starts
GRAVITY_BOY says
That sounds good
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
See ya in 20 dork
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Helen stood at the stove, preparing breakfast, Will was pacing the floor talking on his cell phone, Kevin was attempting to find milk in the fridge, and Joan was prattling on about some new problem in her life. All in all, the scene that Luke greeted him every morning. He navigated around his family to the counter and grabbed a packet of pop tarts for breakfast. As usual no one noticed him yet. Luke often wondered why he even bothered telling his family if he was going to be in late, but knew that by dinnertime his mother would be worried.
“Mom I’m going over to a friend’s after school. I’ll grab dinner there.”
“Joan I don’t think you should be meddling.”
“Mom did you even hear me?”
“Oh I’m sorry honey what did you say?”
“Nothing I’m just going over to a friend’s after school.”
“Ok have fun.”
“Oh I’m sure I will.”
Luke slid past Joan and grabbed his bag from his chair at the table.
“Are you going to school already?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Joan I don’t have time for this.”
“Where are you going?”
“Why do you care? I’m just going to school.”
“You really are a freak you know that.”
“Thanks Joan.”
“Well only a real freak would go to school this early,” she called as Luke made a hasty exit out the back door.
“What does he find to do at school this early?”
“I’m sure he’s just getting in some extra studying or something sweetie,” answered Helen.
“I’m thinking it’s a girl,” commented Kevin wheeling up to the table.
“That’s sick Kevin,” replied Joan making a face at the thought.
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“Dude, are you ready to go yet,” asked Grace, impatiently waiting next to Luke’s locker as he gathered his books before leaving Arcadia High for the day.
“Just a second.”
“You are taking forever.”
“If you’d be quiet for two seconds I’d be able to think.”
“Ok, ok.”
“Grace, hey,” Joan called as she came running down the hall.
“Chill Girardi.”
“What? Never mind. I was wondering if you wanted to work on that AP physics homework. I can guarantee that the dweeb here won’t be around. He has a play date,” Joan finished in a childish voice.
“No can do Girardi. I have plans.”
“Plans?”
“Yes.”
“You never have plans.”
“Well I have some tonight.”
“What?”
“She’s going to be busy for a week,” added Luke as he closed the door of his locker.
“She told you about her plans?”
“We were attempting to find a common time to fill out the science fair application. You know the competition is really strong this year.”
“I’m outta here.”
“Right behind you.”
“Wait Luke, are you going with her?”
All Joan received in response was Luke and Grace heading down the hall to leave. Now she knew something had to up with those two. Maybe Adam was right, they were just working on a science fair project. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t make sure.
“Be supportive Joan.”
“Doesn’t that ring in your lip hurt?”
Goth God had been placing books in a locker just past Luke’s.
“Your brother needs support Joan.”
“Isn’t that my mom’s job?”
“Yes but it’s yours too. As a family you need to support one another.”
“Great.”
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“Do you want something to drink,” offered Grace walking into the kitchen of her house with Luke behind her. His eyes darted all over the place, taking in the sights of the Polanksi’s kitchen.
“You have a silver refrigerator, that is so cool,” noted Luke as he wondered around the counter to Grace, standing next to the sink.
“Very observant of you Sherlock, now do you want something to drink because I’m not going to ask you again.”
“Uh sure thanks.”
“Let me guess chocolate milk.” Grace took a couple of steps forward.
Luke followed suit as he quietly spoke, “You know me too well Grace Polk.”
They were merely inches apart now. A half smile crept onto Grace’s face as her arms slipped around Luke’s neck. His hands found their way along her waist and his thumbs found their way under her shirt as they began to kiss.
They were interrupted by someone walking into the kitchen. That someone turned out to be Grace’s farther, Rabbi Polanksi
“Grace, who’s the goy?” The pair sprang apart. The expression on the Rabbi’s face appeared to be one of quiet disapproval as he looked from his only daughter to the strange boy. While Luke turned ten shades of red, Grace just stared him down as though he hadn’t walked in on them making out and calmly said, “The goy’s name is Luke and I invited him to the ceremony. We’re grabbing some snacks then we’re going to go work on homework till its time.”
“You can work in the living room.”
“Whatever.” With that Grace wheeled around and started rummaging through the fridge.
“So Luke do you have a last name?”
“Oh um Girardi, Luke Girardi. It’s a pleasure to meet you Rabbi Polanksi.” Luke extended his hand. He could see Grace’s farther staring at him in an attempt to make a judgment about him.
Finally he shook Luke’s hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you too Luke.”
“I hope I’m not intruding on your…holiday’s sir.”
“Oh no, it’s just Grace has never invited any of her friends over.”
Grace decided that this was the opportune moment to interrupt their little conversation before it became to embarrassing, “Dude, what do you want to eat?”
“Uh whatever you feel like is fine.”
As Luke looked around things felt a little surreal; Grace fixing snacks, her farther sifting through the mail on the counter, and him standing in their kitchen.
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Looking into the living room, Luke suddenly felt out of place and a little underdressed. He sat on the bottom of the stairs as he waited for Grace to get changed. They finished all of their homework and Grace gave a quick history lesson on Hanukkah. People started to arrive shortly after Grace kicked Luke out of her room. All these people wear dressed casually but nicer than he.
“Are you going to move or are you attempting to turn me into Rapunsal?”
Luke jumped up from his seat, “Sorry I was a little…,” he tuned to see Grace dressed in form fitting button down shit with a tank underneath and a dark knee length jean skirt. She had a section of her soft blonde hair pined back with a jeweled clip and wore a black pair of kitten-heeled sandals.
“Wow.” It was the only word that Luke could force out of his mouth.
“Yeah, don’t talk about it,” they finished in unison.
“I know but you really do look nice Grace. And a skirt…that’s like amazing.”
“Thanks,” she leaned in closer and checked to make sure no one planned on coming out of the living room before saying, “It’s a skort.” She gave him a quick peck and stepped off the last step.
“If I’d known I would have dressed nicer.”
“You’re fine. You tucked your shirt in.”
“I could have worn a tie.”
“Ties are the noose that is corporate America.”
“Right.”
“Grace! Luke! We’re waiting.” Grace’s mother called from around the corner. She had come home early that afternoon while they had been doing homework.
“Come on, you were the one who wanted to see this.”
Luke followed Grace into the other room. There were several couples and her parents standing around the table. Two seats were open for the two of them next to her parents. Grace stood behind the seat nearest them. Every adult eye in the room landed on him as he took his place.
“Stop staring,” Grace snarled to the room, “his name’s Luke let’s move on.”
“Always the rebellious one,” Mrs. Polanksi sniped quietly, but loud enough for Grace and Luke to hear.
Rabbi Polanksi began welcoming their guests when Grace leaned over whispering to Luke.
“I assume you know that the candelabra thing is called a menorah.”
“Yeah, got that.”
“Okay the candle in the middle is the shammus. It’s used to light the other candles each night.”
“Okay.”
“Grace would you light the shammus,” asked her farther.
Grace walked to the head of the table and used a match to light the candle that sat taller than the other. She came back and Rabbi Polinski started to sing the evenings prayers, “Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam…”
Grace touched Luke’s arm to get his attention and leaned up on her toes so she could whisper in his ear, “This is a blessing over the candles.”
“…asher keedishanu b'meetzvotav v'tzeevanu l’had’lik neir shel hanukkah.”
She leaned up once again as her farther started another blessing, “This ones for Hanukkah.”
“Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam she-asah neeseem la-avotaynu ba-yameem ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh”
“Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam…”
Luke stooped down to ask, “What’s this one?”
“Shehecheyanu.” That’s all she said as if he knew what that meant.
“…she-hecheeyanu v'keey'manu v'heegeeyanu la-z'man ha-zeh.”
Rabbi Polanksi finished the Shehecheyanu, picked up the shammus and used it to light the only candle on the far right of the menorah. Then he said something else in Hebrew and everyone sat down for dinner. Mrs. Polanksi had the food on the breakfast counter and Rabbi Polanksi carefully moved the menorah onto the bookcase/shelf behind him.
“I’ve been stuck lighting that stupid shammus candle since I was five years old.”
“You know you enjoy it.”
“One word and I’ll cut your make out time.”
“What was the last one?”
“Oh it’s a blessing just for tonight.”
“What was being said?”
“Just a bunch of ‘blessed are you Lord’ stuff.”
“Okay. So what’s for dinner?”
“Basically fired potato pancakes.”
“That doesn’t sound too appealing”
“There called latkes son and they aren’t that bad,” offered Rabbi Polanksi as he passed the plate to Grace. “I take it you haven’t had much Jewish food?”
“No sir.”
“When Grace was little she refused to eat theses.”
“Could we not talk about my childhood?”
“I believe you’ve seen my baby pictures. That entitles me to a few stories of young Grace.”
“Dude if you know what’s good for you…”
“I’ll shut up now.”
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“Where have you been,” Luke’s father’s question, asked from his seat on the couch, was the first thing that greeted Luke as he walked in the front door of his house.”
“At a friends.” To admit where he was would have easily resulted in the family tradition of “tease Luke.”
“Oh that screams girl’s house to me. What do you think Dad?” Kevin wheeled in from the kitchen loaded with junk food. ESPN had on a commercial break.
“I’ll let Luke answer that one Kev.”
They both turned to stare directly at him, that all knowing look plastered on their faces. This wasn’t the place Luke wanted to be at the moment.
“I’m just going to…,” Luke said pointing vaguely up the stairs, “go.”
He took off up the stairs only to run into Joan half way up.
“So where were you? You’ve been gone forever.”
“Why do you care?”
“I can’t be supportive if I don’t know where you’ve been all night.”
“What?”
“What?”
Looks of confusion dawned both their faces. Joan scoffed and took off down the rest of the stairs and Luke continued up to his room. And people said they never understood him.
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“Where’s Rove?”
“He’s taking the day off…some sculpture or something,” Joan answered Grace as they walked down the hall of Arcadia High Thursday.
Behind the girls another conversation started.
“So you want to kill a few zombies after school man,” ask Friedman
“I can’t,” Luke answered rather tactlessly.
“What’s up man? You’ve been livid since Monday,” commented Friedman swinging his arm around Luke.
“Just lay off,” Luke exclaimed shoving Friedman away from him and continuing down the hall.
“I see it now,” remarked Friedman catching up with the group. “When are you going to realize Polk isn’t going to give you the time of day? She’s not into your equipment man.”
“You don’t know Grace half as well as I do,” Luke said rather loudly.
This got Grace’s attention and she started walking backwards.
“You still haven’t realized she’s Mac your PC,” continued Friedman not caring Grace was now paying attention. The group had come to a halt as Luke bellowed, “I know her a hell of a lot better than you do or ever will,” and with that he hauled off and slugged Friedman in the face and sending the boy into the lockers.
“Dude!” Grace lunged between the two of them to prevent any more punches. Grace looked Luke in the eye, and he saw her alarm and confusion.
“I’m tired of hearing all his crap.”
“What’s up with you two,” demanded Joan, “You’re always busy…at the same time and neither of you seem tell anyone what you’ve been up to.”
Friedman was still slumped on the floor rubbing his jaw staring up at Luke.
“It’s none of you’re business what I do with my time or who I spend it with.” And with that Grace stormed off.
“Ok dweeb lets hear it,” demanded Joan.
“Look…It’s just…I…,” Luke started backpedaling, attempting to figure out if he should go after Grace, tell them the truth, or just run.
“I’ll figure it out soon enough,” Joan said jabbing a finger at Luke and then taking off.
“I’m with your sister on this man,” Friedman said getting up, “You’d better watch your back.” And he too took off leaving Luke stunned and shaking his sore hand in the middle of the hall.
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“Is it safe to enter?” Grace asked in the doorway of Adam’s shed. Things were getting tight at school. She needed talk to someone, and Rove happened to be just the person. She had gotten her thinking taken care of on the walk over, now it was time to talk to her long time friend.
“Why aren’t you at school?”
“I needed out. The walls were closing in.”
“Unchallenged.”
“Thus the day off.”
“Yeah.”
Grace took a seat on the other stool across from where Adam was working. A scrap piece of wire soon found its way to her fingers. More than ten minutes elapsed before Grace broke their silence.
“He slugged the creep.” A half smile graced her lips.
“Who,” Adam asked confused.
“Friedman dude keep up.”
“Cha, who slugged him?”
“The geek.”
“Why?”
A long moment passed before Grace whispered, “Me.”
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“Joan, would you please stop sticking your finger in there,” chastised Helen as she went about preparing dinner.
“I just tasted it,” whined back Joan, her finger still red with sauce.
“I’ll see ya later mom,” Luke called as he bounded off the last stair step.
“Where are you going tonight,” his mother asked.
“Uh…Friedman’s…we’re going to play Halo after we finish some Physics homework.”
“You are so weird,” Joan stated matter of factly, “We have homework?”
“Honey you have been gone every night this week. Why don’t you stay home?”
“I don’t have plans tomorrow night. I’ll be home then,” and with that he headed out the backdoor.
“Joan do you know where Luke has been going? I’ve been worried about him. He isn’t acting right.”
“Hello, Mom he’s been like weird his whole life.”
“I just wish he’d tell me where he’s going.”
“He did.”
“No I mean the truth.”
“He was lying?”
“Yes.”
“How could you tell?”
“I’m a mother, I know theses things.”
“That is so weird.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Ok I’m going to go call Grace before dinner. I seriously don’t remember any homework.”
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“Hey geek grab that and get rid of them we’re about to start,” Grace said on her way out of the room. Luke had just walked in the kitchen door after hurrying to the Polanksi’s to make it in time.
“Uh sure.”
He picked the cordless up off the counter, “Hello?”
“Luke,” the voice on the other end turned out to be his sister.
“Joan?”
“What are you doing at Grace’s?”
“Hey who is it,” asked Grace coming back into the kitchen.
Luke put his hand over the phone before he spoke, “Joan.”
“What? Give me that.” Grabbing the phone she groused, “Girardi!”
“Grace. Was that dog boy,” Joan question over the phone line.
“What do you want?”
“I want to know what he’s doing there.”
“Let me put it this way. Why did you call?”
“Luke said he was going to Friedman’s that we had physics homework.”
Luke, still rooted in his place, watched in awe as Grace dealt with the problem.
“Well we don’t, he’s here, and I gotta go,” with that Grace punched the phone off and headed into the dining room.
Back at the Girardi’s Joan stood staring at her phone after being hung up on.
“Mom! I’m running over to Grace’s I’ll be back later!”
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“Luke we were wondering if you’d like to light the shammus candle this evening,” asked Rabbi Polanksi.
“Me,” Luke asked pointing at him self.
“Yeah geek.”
“Uh Grace,” Luke lowered his voice to a mere whisper, “don’t you want to.”
Grace leaned in closer looking him in the eye, “Let’s do it together freak.” Huge smiles appeared on both their faces.
“Are we ready you two?” Rabbi Polanksi broke the pair from their trance.
“Aren’t we going to wait on Mrs. Polanksi,” asked Luke slightly confused that they were starting without her. She had joined the three of them last night.
The look that washed over Grace’s face told him everything he need to know but her farther felt the need to cover for his wife saying she wasn’t feeling well.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” Grace handed Luke the shammus and lit it. She took the shammus back from Luke. He slid his hand over hers and together they placed the candle back on the menorah.
“Since it’s just us tonight Luke how would you like to hear the blessings translated,” Rabbi Polanksi asked.
“That’d be great.”
“Grace would you please translate them.”
“Whatever.”
“If…if you don’t want to…”
“Shut up geek.”
“Let’s begin.”
Rabbi Polanksi picked up the shammus candle and began the chant like song.
“Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam…” He stopped giving Grace a chance to turn the Hebrew into English.
“Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe…”
“…asher keedishanu b'meetzvotav v'tzeevanu…”
“…who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us…”
“… l’had’lik neir shel Chanukkah.”
“..to light the candles of Chanukkah.”
They paused for a moment before starting the next blessing.
“Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam…”
“Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe…”
“…she-asah neeseem la-avotaynu ba-yameem ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh”
“…who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.”
Rabbi Polanksi took the shammus candle and began to light the Hanukkah candles.
A third candle had been added to the right of the others. This was the first one lit and continued lighting to the right. Once they were lit the menorah took its place on the shelf.
“Hope you like leftover’s Luke,” commented Grace’s farther as he headed for the kitchen.
“You have some of those pancake things?”
“If you mean Latkes, then yes. I think we even have some sufganiyot’s too.”
“Old lady Levy dropped off some of those stupid Marshmallow Dreidels about ten minutes before you got home.”
“I guess that means we have dessert.”
“Don’t push it geek.”
The leftovers had been put on the table and the group started passing around the different dishes.
The conversation wasn’t moving, so Rabbi Polanksi thought he’d take the opportunity to learn about the young man his daughter was spending so much time with. “I understand you’re interested in science.”
“Ha. To him science is like sex.”
“Why do people keep telling me that? Just because I find such topics as Schroedinger’s Cat interesting doesn’t…”
“Schroedinger’s Cat?” the Rabbi started to rethink his opinion of the boy.
“Oh well see the Austrian scientist Erwin Schroedinger had a theory…”
Luke was well into his explanation of one of the most “celebrated paradoxes in quantum theory” when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll grab that!” The Rabbi practically ran from the room. He could hear Luke still rambling on about Quantum Mechanics as he opened the front door.
“Hi Rabbi Polanksi is Grace home?”
“We were just sitting down to dinner.”
“Oh well…”
“Perhaps you’d simply join us. This way my food won’t get cold.”
“Oh thanks. I haven’t eaten yet.”
Joan followed him into the dinning only to be stopped dead in her tracks. At the table sat her brother and best friend together kissing. Grace’s farther cleared his throat and the pair broke apart. When they did the pair realized Joan was in the room.
“Joan what are you doing here,” asked Luke shocked.
“Oh. My. God. You…and Grace…you were…oh my God.” Joan stammered attempting to process what she a just witnessed.
“Breathe Girardi.”
“What’s going on?”
“What does it look like?” Grace knew she couldn’t get out of this one. She wasn’t so much upset with Joan for finding out as she was with herself for being careless enough to get caught.
“Like you two are…are you?”
“Yes! Are you happy? You found out the big secret.”
“How long?”
“Stop nosing in my business Girardi.”
“Grace. She knows just tell her.”
“Joan would you like to sit down and have something to eat,” asked Rabbi Polanksi. His food seemed to always get cold when this girl came around.
“Uh sure. Thanks.”
Joan joined them for dinner and received a quick run down on her brother’s secret relationship with her best friend.
“So this is where you’ve been all week,” Joan asked her brother seated across the table from him.
“It’s Hanukkah. Grace invited me over,” he answered passing a dish over to her.
“How come you never asked me,” Joan asked, slightly dejected, turning back to Grace.
“Don’t get all emotional on me.”
“Grace, why don’t you have all your friends over Sunday,” the Rabbi suggested.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Grace said, backpedaling when she saw the excited look on Joan’s face.
“It’ll be ok. I’ll make sure of it,” the Rabbi assured his daughter.
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“The food was really good Rabbi Polanksi,” Joan complimented as the group made their way toward the front door.
“I’m glade you enjoyed it. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to take care of the dishes.”
With that Grace’s father excused himself, leaving Grace to the final goodbyes.
“Dog boy are we walking home together,” Joan asked unsure if he planned on leaving yet.
“Sure.”
“See you tomorrow Grace,” Joan said as she headed out the door.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll talk to you later tonight.” Luke said as he learned in and kissed Grace.
“Could you two stop doing that, it’s revolting,” Joan complained from the front step several seconds later.
“Oh and we don’t want to hurl when you have your tongue down Rove’s throat,” countered Grace.
“Grace that’s sick,” whined Luke beside her.
“Well it’s true. If Rove and her can suck face, then so can we.”
“I’m leaving now. Let’s go dweeb.”
Joan started down the sidewalk as Luke said goodbye once again only to be swarmed by dogs.
“Oh God.”
“That’s me Joan,” replied hippie dog walking God, catching up with the canines.
“What? Was I not supportive enough?”
“You know everyone has burdens they carry with them Joan. Sometimes they hide them from even their friends.”
“So what Grace has burdens? I thought I was supposed to be supportive of Luke?”
“Look at the big picture Joan.”
“I get more confused every time we talk.”
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GRAVITY_BOY says
Hello
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Hey
GRAVITY_BOY says
My sister knows
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Why’d you do it
GRAVITY_BOY says
What
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Why did you hit Friedman
GRAVITY_BOY says
Because…because it hurts ok
GRAVITY_BOY says
It hurts when people insult someone I care about
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Dude
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Thanks. I have to say when you slugged the creep it ROCKED
GRAVITY_BOY says
HAHA…it felt amazing.
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Want to meat before school
GRAVITY_BOY says
Uh sure. Our usual place
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Yeah
GRAVITY_BOY says
Was your mother home
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Don’t let her control us
GRAVITY_BOY says
I just wanted to know
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Yes
GRAVITY_BOY says
I’m sorry if us staying was a problem. If you need us to leave or don’t want us Sunday just tell me and I’ll take care of Adam and Joan
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
She was passed out up stairs
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
She probably will be passed out Sunday too
GRAVITY_BOY says
I’m sorry you have to live with that
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
Don’t say stuff like that. This is my life I can deal
BLACKWIDOW-4-U says
I gotta go
GRAVITY_BOY says
I’ll see you tomorrow
BLACKWIDOW-4-U has logged off
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“Rove,” Grace called from her perch on the railing of a section of stairs of AHS Friday morning.
“Hey Grace.”
“What are you doing Sunday night?”
“I don’t know probably whatever Jane wants to do.”
“In that case she’ll be dragging you over to my house for Hanukkah.”
Adam checked to make sure no one appeared to be listening to them before he spoke.
“What about your mom? Does Jane know?”
“No! So don’t tell her. My Dad says he’s going to take care of her.”
“What about Luke?”
“He knows.”
“Cha what are you like in love with him or something,” Adam accused laughingly. Grace just turned pasty and her eyes widened.
“Grace?”
“Just drop it! I’ll see you Sunday.” Grace lept from her perch and took off around the corner. Adam was left on the landing somewhat confused when Joan came running down the hall.
“Adam! Adam!”
“Hey Jane!”
“Oh my God you won’t believe what I found out last night. I mean this is like world ending. All I could do was just stare.”
“Jane! Jane!”
“What?”
“What happened?”
“Luke and Grace, Grace and Luke, my best friend and my brother.”
“Oh.”
“Oh? That’s all you have to say.” You could almost see the light bulb come on when Joan all but yelled, “You knew!”
“Cha Jane! She’s my best friend too. We talked.”
“When did you find out?”
“Yesterday. When did you find out?”
“Last night.”
“Are we going to Grace’s Sunday?”
“Yeah she invited us...well her father invited us over.”
“Is she ok with that?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
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Luke didn’t join Grace Friday or Saturday evenings so he went over to her house after lunch on Sunday to work on their physics homework they had due the next day.
“See it’s really waves in the air pushing on your eardrum. The number of times per second that a wave pushed on your eardrum is called the frequency. And that’s measured in hertz. Does that make sense now?”
Groaning she threw herself stomach down on her bed, burying her head under her pillow.
“Dude can’t you just give me the answers,” she mumbled from under the pillow.
Luke chuckled and sat down on the edge of her bed.
“How would that help,” he asked starting to rub her back absent-mindedly.
“I’d be assured a good grade.” She’d finally moved the pillow but had her eyes closed.
“You’ll do fine. You know this stuff. You just need to take a new approach to it,” Luke said gesturing with his hands.
“Hey! Don’t stop.”
“What?”
“That felt good.”
“Whatever you want.” Luke gave her a kiss on her cheek and began to re-explain the physics of hearing while rubbing her back.
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“Joan! Adam’s here,” Helen called up the stairs. “So where are you two going tonight Adam?”
“Joan and Luke didn’t tell you?”
“No.”
“Grace invited us over to her house for Hanukkah. I figured you would have known,”
Adam told her slightly confused. Surely Mrs. G. knew where Luke had been all week.
“Hey Adam!” Joan said when she finally came down stairs.
“Hi Jane.”
“Are you ready to go?”
“Aren’t we going to wait on Luke?”
“Are you kidding? He left after lunch.”
“Is that where he was going all last week? To Grace’s,” Helen asked the pair.
“Honestly Mom I thought you’d have figured it out by now,” Joan said snottily.
“And when did you figure it out Ms. Smarty pants?”
Joan looked slightly uneasy. She hadn’t figured anything out, she’d walked in on it. “Well it’s more like I discovered what was going on.”
That ‘tell me’ look came across Helen’s face and Joan sang like a bird.
“Ok Thursday when I went over to Grace’s I caught them making out over dinner. Can we go now?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to freak or anything?”
Helen just laughed saying, “No of course not. Now go have fun you two.”
“You seriously aren’t freaking out?”
“I had my suspicions, now go or you’ll be late.”
“Fine we’re going. Adam lets go.”
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“Grace,” Luke whispered as he gently shook her shoulder.
Grace had fallen asleep a couple of hours earlier. He hated having to wake her up. She looked so peaceful as she slumbered. Her head high on her pillow, right arm around his waist, and leg slung over his, trapping him in place.
“Come on Grace you have to wake up,” Luke coaxed once again.
He received a groan and mumbled, “Five more minutes,” before she released her hold on him and flipped onto her back.
Luke laughed quietly at her child like behavior and checked his watch. She really needed to get up so she’d be fresh when Joan and Adam arrived.
Leaning over he spoke softly, “Grace wake up,” before capturing her lips. She woke up.
“That’s a lot better than an alarm clock,” she said breaking the kiss.
“You’re awake.”
“Yeah. How long was I out?”
“Only a couple of hours. Joan and Adam will be here in a bit.”
Grace stumbled off her bed as he spoke.
“Ok. I’ll be right back. Just stay here.”
“Sure.”
She left to find out where her mother was. When Luke arrived, Mrs. Polanksi answered the door with a glass of wine in hand. He was sure Grace would be right; her mother would be passed out by dinner. After having to be sober for the better part of the last two days she was probably making up for lost time. And the age-old not feeling well excuse would be fed to Joan and Adam.
“Dude,” Grace called as she opened her bedroom door a few minutes later, “Come on.”
“Is she,” Luke asked still seated on her bed.
“Out like a light. Dad took care of her. Now I don’t plan on talking about her for the rest of the evening freak.”
“I just…”
“Let’s go. You have to set the table.”
“When did I get stuck with that,” Luke asked coming to stand in front of Grace.
“When you let me fall asleep,” she answered sliding her arms around his neck.
“You were too cute to wake up,” Luke countered pulling her closer.
“Call me cute again and I’ll have your head.” Her threat completely empty as their lips met in a deep kiss. Seconds later, Rabbi Polanksi called to them from down stairs, disturbing their kiss.
The pair headed down the hall and descended the stairs, hand in hand. When they reached the entryway at the bottom of the stairs they found Joan and Adam.
“You’re early,” commented Grace.
“Oh what, by three minutes,” Joan said rolling her eyes.
“Whatever. Go in there. Sit. Stay. We’ll be ready in a few minutes,” Grace said showing Joan and Adam the living room.
“That TV is huge yo,” observed Adam as he and Joan sat down on the couch.
“Don’t get comfortable or anything. Once the freak sets the table we’ll get this over with.”
“Does she call you that all the time,” Joan asked her brother.
Luke creased his brow in confusion and shook his head and took off for the kitchen dragging Grace behind him.
“Hey!”
“What? I have no idea where you keep the silverware,” he teased entering the kitchen.
“Grace you aren’t forcing this young man to set the table, are you,” Grace’s farther asked as he sat down a plate of latkes on the breakfast bar.
“It’s his punishment for letting me fall asleep in the middle of the afternoon.”
“In that case the silverware’s in the drawer next to the refrigerator.”
The group burst out laughing and soon the table had been set and the ceremony started.
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“Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam she-asah neeseem la-avotaynu ba-yameem ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh”
Rabbi Polinski finished the blessings and began to light the candles, starting from the left moving to the right lighting a candle for each night.
“That was so cool,” Joan said, quite taken with the ceremony.
“Unchallenged.”
“Wait till you try the food,” Luke chimed in as he went to help bring the food to the table.
Joan leaned over to Adam, “It’s like he lives here or something.”
Adam chuckled at her comment, promptly caught by Grace, “What’s so funny Rove?”
“Nothing honest,” he assured her but Grace didn’t quite buy it.
“Try theses,” Luke said passing a plate to Adam.
“What are they,” Adam asked.
“Latkes,” Luke answered enthusiastically
“Potato pancakes,” Grace supplied when the pair across the table looked even more confused.
“That sounds kinda gross,” Joan said taking the serving dish from Adam.
“That’s what I thought too but they’re good,” Luke said taking his usual seat next to Grace.
“Grace where’s your mom? I thought she’d be here,” asked Joan digging into her food. Three heads shot up; Luke, Grace, and the Rabbi all tried to answer at once but Grace’s dad ended up answering. Just as Luke predicated, the illness excuse came into play.
“Oh I’m sorry to hear that. Should we even be here?”
“You’re just fine,” assured Rabbi Polinski.
The group lapsed into silence until Luke whispered to Grace, “You should teach them.”
“No.”
“Come one we can play after dinner.”
“Play what,” asked Joan.
“The Dreidel game,” Luke answered.
“You mean Jewish poker,” Grace slid in under her breath causing her and Luke to grin.
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After dinner the group relocated to the hardwood floor of the entryway with a Dreidel.
“Listen ‘cause I’m not going to explain this again. This is nun that means nothing, this ones gimel it’s whole, Hay and it means half, and shin or put in,” Grace explained pointing to the symbols on the Dreidel.
“You spin it to see what you do,” Luke added dividing up bingo chips they were using for the kitty.
“Everyone has to put a chip in the pool,” Grace explained, “You go first dude.”
Luke spun the Dreidel landing it on shin. He added one of his chips to the pool and passed the Dreidel to his sister.
Joan landed gimel with a squeal, “What’s that mean I do?”
“Ugh. You take all but one chip,” Grace groaned stretching out her legs and leaning back against the staircase.
Adam took his turn landing on nun and passed the Dreidel to Grace. She landed on shin, rolling her eyes she placed one of her chips in the pool.
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They had been playing for a while when Rabbi Polinski turned up with a snack.
“Mrs. David made sufganiot I thought you kids might enjoy them.”
“Thanks Dad.”
Handing the large sufganiot filled bowl he watched them rapidly spin the Dreidel and pass it on.
“What are you doing,” he asked.
“High speed Dreidel,” Joan answered tossing the top to Adam and throwing in a chip.
“It’s an attempt to play an entire game in less than five minutes,” Luke elaborated catching the Dreidel from Grace and spinning it.
The Rabbi just laughed and headed up stairs leaving his daughter happily playing with her friends.
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“Losers you’re all losers,” Joan gleefully sang as she won her second round.
“Was she like this as a small child,” Grace asked Luke from her spot nestled next to him.
“To this day I still can’t play Candy Land because of her,” Luke answered kissing the top of Grace’s head, “We should probably go. It’s getting late.”
“Yeah we should,” Joan agreed sliding all her chips into a pile with Adams.
“This was cool, yo.”
“Yeah Grace, thanks for letting us come over.”
“Whatever Girardi just don’t go spreading it around to the world.”
“So…Luke I’m going to drop Adam off but if you want a ride mom loaned me the car.”
“Uh yeah thanks. Mom would probably have a stroke if I didn’t come in with you.”
“Probably.”
“I just need to run get my jacket,” Luke said taking off up the stairs.
Reaching the top of the stairs Luke could hear Mrs. Polinski’s slurred speech as her husband attempted to help her. The sounds made Luke want to gather Grace in his arms and take her away. Grace would never stand her that kind of chivalry so he settled for helping in the only way he could; by supporting her and attending Alateen meetings with her. He quickly walked to the end of the hall to Grace’s room and gathered his stuff.
As he returned back down stairs he could see her Grace and his sister benignly arguing over something. “She happy now,” Luke thought, “But when we leave reality’s going to come crashing down.”
“Hey dog boy you ready,” his sister asked spotting him.
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go then,” Joan said opening the front door, “I’ll see you tomorrow Grace.”
“See yeah,” Adam said following Joan out the door.
“I’ll be there in a second,” Luke called to his sister and almost completely closed the front door.
Turning to Grace he just pulled her into a hug.
“What’s this for geek,” Grace asked and then she heard it; her mother throwing something against a wall.
“Does she get like this often?” It hadn’t been something Luke planed on asking her, the question just came out of his mouth.
“No. She isn’t usually the angry mad drunk,” Grace answered still holding on to Luke, “she’s just noisy.”
“I’ll be on-line when I get home, and you can always call me if you want to talk.”
“I know but I’ll be ok. She’ll pass out again.”
Pulling out of their hug, Luke locked his blue eyes with Grace’s. Brushing a piece of her hair behind her ear and stroking her check he whispered, “You are so strong and I love you so much.”
Grace didn’t verbally respond. Instead she gently pulled his lips to hers. They melted into a sweet, loving kiss, one to be remembered for years to come.
Pulling only a breath apart she spoke, “I love you too geek.”
The pair was lost in each others smiling faces when a car horn broke the magical spell they had created.
“I’d better go or Joan will leave me.”
“Tomorrow morning before school?”
“Absolutely.”
posted by JaN @ 7:24 PM
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