All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

Author:Sydney Taylor
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307786838
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-01-04T22:00:00+00:00

They were greeted with shouts of laughter from all the cousins. Pennies were distributed and in return, one basket was handed over. Uncle Chaim (Charles) turned to his wife and said very sternly, “Who are these people? Do we know them?” He tweaked the cap on Ella’s head and gave Sarah a light slap on her backside. Uncle Chaim was one of Papa’s brothers; he had Papa’s way of joking with the youngsters.

There were many more houses to visit, so good-bys were said, and the children continued on their way. All afternoon, they went from house to house. To some they brought Purim baskets. To others, only themselves in masquerade. But no matter how they came, they were everywhere welcomed with joy and laughter.

Mama was giving a Purim party. The front-room door was wide open, and the room itself, usually so silent and dark, was now lit up and humming with talk and laughter. All the cousins and uncles and aunts were there: Tanta Rivka and Uncle Chaim with their five children; Uncle Schloimon and Tanta Leah with their three; Uncle Hyman, Tanta Frieda, Tanta Minnie, and many others.

Charlie was there, too, having just as good a time as anyone. He was always at home in Mama’s house, even when he was the only gentile present. People liked Charlie, thought Ella, as she watched him. It was easy to like him. He had such grace and charm of manner. How comfortably he chatted away with all the relatives.

Ella wished she could be like that. No matter how much she thought about it beforehand, planning every movement and word, she still became stiff and awkward whenever Charlie was around. She’d find herself saying the silliest things. Maybe it would be different tonight for tonight she’d be in a show. In a show, when you were somebody else, it was easy to be at your best.

Mama’s children had arranged a special entertainment for the occasion. They each sang solos and they all sang together. Ella led an orchestra composed of Charlotte with a frying pan and spatula; Henny with a big spoon and a soup pot; Gertie with two lids for cymbals; and Sarah with a washboard bass viol.

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