Eight Awkward Nights
An Invitation
I’m sitting at the dining room table tediously painting a new dreidel to use this year. I’m dipping my paintbrush into silver paint when my mother walks in with an armful of clean cloth napkins.
“Is your Jack coming for dinner tomorrow?” She asks, folding the napkins and stacking them on the corner of the table. I pause. I hadn’t considered inviting my boyfriend to Hanukkah dinner. He and I had only been dating a little over two months. I wasn’t sure if he would enjoy awkwardly sitting through a bunch of prayers and traditions he doesn’t understand with my extended family.
“Um, I actually haven’t asked. I can, though”. My mother nods. I finish painting my dreidel and set it to dry. I get up and go upstairs to my bedroom, logging onto AIM, hoping Jack is online. He is, as always.
Hey, do u wanna come to dinner tomorrow?
At ur house?
Yeah it’s Hanukkah
Oh? Sure! I’ve never experienced Hanukkah before
Well, it’s sure to be an experience
Dinner is @ 4
I’ll b there!
I nod to myself, still a little apprehensive despite Jack’s enthusiasm. I go back downstairs to help Mum clean and prepare the table for the next eight nights.
“Is your Jack coming for dinner tomorrow?” She asks, folding the napkins and stacking them on the corner of the table. I pause. I hadn’t considered inviting my boyfriend to Hanukkah dinner. He and I had only been dating a little over two months. I wasn’t sure if he would enjoy awkwardly sitting through a bunch of prayers and traditions he doesn’t understand with my extended family.
“Um, I actually haven’t asked. I can, though”. My mother nods. I finish painting my dreidel and set it to dry. I get up and go upstairs to my bedroom, logging onto AIM, hoping Jack is online. He is, as always.
Hey, do u wanna come to dinner tomorrow?
At ur house?
Yeah it’s Hanukkah
Oh? Sure! I’ve never experienced Hanukkah before
Well, it’s sure to be an experience
Dinner is @ 4
I’ll b there!
I nod to myself, still a little apprehensive despite Jack’s enthusiasm. I go back downstairs to help Mum clean and prepare the table for the next eight nights.