Morning Musings

Brring...brring...brring! Esty Tessler turned over onto her side, and her eyes blearily took in the numbers on the alarm clock near her bed. She could only see the last two digits on the glowing screen: --:10.

What! Esty jumped up. She had set her alarm clock to go off at eight oclock. How was it that she hadnt heard it until now? Esty glared at the offending item accusingly, or rather tiredly, and slammed her hand over the clock, putting an instant end to the annoying noise. She looked across the room to where her roommate usually slept. Hennas bed was empty. She was probably eating breakfast already, no doubt trying not to make faces as she downed a bowl of stale cereal.

Hurriedly, Esty leaned over to wash negel vasser and then rushed to pull her uniform out of her closet. Sticking her feet into her shoes, Esty rubbed the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hand. Brring...brring... She must have hit the wrong button earlier. Firmly this time, Esty held down the off button.

As she quickly brushed through her hair, Esty thought of her usual morning routine, and tried to calculate whether or not she would make it to school on time. She was usually up by 8:00, dressed by 8:09, had her hair brushed by 8:11, and by 8:13, she was racing to the bathroom. While waiting for her turn, shed spread toothpaste on her toothbrush. At 8:20 she would leave the bathroom and make her way to the kitchen for breakfast, grabbing a bite of whatever was available. Then, at 8:27, shed race out of the dorm and down the block to meet her friend Adina Sanders. The two of them would then enjoy a leisurely walk to school. They would normally make it into their classroom a full three minutes before the 8:45 bell would ring, signaling the start of the school day. The two friends would stand at the window of their classroom smiling, as a stream of yellow-and-black-clad girls would race down the block, desperately willing time to stand still.

It seemed as though today Esty would be one of those last-minute stragglers. It was already... She glanced hurriedly at the clock and gulped. --:17. Grabbing her toothbrush and toothpaste, Esty rushed out of her room. Silence greeted her. No line to the bathroom, no bleary-eyed girls entering and exiting the various bedrooms, looking for just the right socks to match their sweaters (the only room for versatility in their otherwise boring school uniform). No laughter coming from the breakfasters in the kitchen. Just stark silence.

Where is everyone? Esty wondered. Has everyone gone off to school already? Or, more likely, is everyone still in bed recovering from yesterdays late-night party? A party had undoubtedly been called for. Yesterday had marked two weeks since the end of Sukkos, and for the dorm girls, Sukkos equaled the big LA earthquake which had damaged the dorm and caused the dorm girls to be scattered around at different families houses. But last night, after weeks of workmen fixing up and renovating the dorm, the dorm girls had finally moved back into their home. Though not in perfect order, the dorm was finally livable. And that certainly called for a celebration.

Didnt it?

Brring...brring...brring... That annoying sound again. Where was it coming from? Esty wasnt in her room anymore, so it wasnt her alarm clock ringing. What was it? Brring...brring...brring... What in the world? Esty looked down at her watch, and her eyes did a double take. The numbers 7:17 taunted her. Esty groaned. Of all mornings to wake up early! She was so tired.

Brring...brring...brring...brrrrring... The ringing grew more incessant. The doorbell, Esty finally realized. Thats what was making all that noise. Esty ran toward the steps, accidentally smearing some toothpaste onto her skirt as she hastily made her way to the front entrance.

Brring...brring... Would the noise stop already? Who was at the door so early in the morning? Brring... Would whoever it was be quiet already?

Esty peered through the peephole. Her eyes widened in shock. Standing on the doorstep were two fiery-redheaded women. They were identically clad, wearing denim jackets and pants, dark blue eyeshadow, smudges of orange blush on their cheeks, and gold earth shoes. Green kerchiefs sticking out of their pockets completed their outfits. Twins? Who were these people? And what business did they have at the dorm?

Brring...Brring... Uncertainly, Esty called out, Hello?

Good morning, Lady #1 drawled in a distinctly Midwestern accent. She nudged her red-headed partner in the ribs. The girls finally noticed that the bell was ringing.

Yeah, Lady #2 drawled. Finally.

The partners didnt only look alike, Esty thought with a mixture of amusement and alarm, they sounded alike too.

Well, Lady #1 continued, maybe its time that you let us in.

Esty flushed. She didnt know what to make of these two strange women. Uh, she coughed, who are you?

Who are we? Lady #1 asked with a laugh. Listen kiddo. You and your friends have not been living in this here house for the last few weeks, right? That terrible earthquake turned this place into a wreck, right?

Lady #2 gestured at the broken steps and dirty doorpost, as if to emphasize Lady #1s point.

Esty nodded her head, despite herself. Workmen had spent many hours fixing up the place during the last couple of weeks, but there were still many overlooked areas which needed attending to.

Well, Lady #1 said triumphantly, linking hands with Lady #2, Paula and Tina are here to fix this place up.

Lady #2-Esty wasnt sure if she was Paula or Tina -put her hand on her hips. Are you going to let us in? Esty tiredly rubbed her eyes, and then vaguely remembered something. At a dorm meeting last week, Mrs. Markowitz, the dorm mother, had mentioned something about cleaning ladies coming to the dorm and the girls making a good impression on them. The message had somehow gone over her head, as at that point the dorm girls still did not know when theyd be moving back in. Relieved to have recalled that crucial fact, Esty called out to the women, Uh...just a minute. She ran back toward the bedrooms and rapped on the dorm counselors door. Two ladies...cleaning ladies...at the front door... Esty breathlessly called in.

A pajama-clad arm stretched out and handed over a key. Thanks Esty, Menucha Kaplan answered sleepily.

Can you let them in?

Esty took the key and raced back to the front door. Morning Musings 11

Come in, she motioned with a half-smile, half-yawn. Youre the cleaning ladies. Im sorry I didnt realize that before.

Lady #1 bowed slightly. Paula and Tina at your service. She turned toward Lady #2. Tina, this place is a real wreck.

Tina firmly placed both hands on her hips and swirled around. It sure is.

Esty tried not to giggle. There was something amusing about the two women. Even if they did wake her up.

Do you need a mop or anything? Esty offered. A broom? Cleaning things?

Paula made a dismissive gesture with her hands. Its all right, she said. Connie Markowitz showed us where all of the stuff is last week. Didnt she, Tina? Tina nodded her head and pointed at a closet in the corner of the room. Connie said everythings in there, didnt she?

Esty heaved a small sigh of relief. It was good to hear these two women mention Mrs. Markowitzs name (even if they mispronounced Chanie as Connie). That meant that the dorm mother really had hired these two strange workers. She watched as they went over to the closet in the corner and removed a few rags, a mop, pail, and different types of soap.

Can I get you anything else? Esty asked. The two women shook their heads in the negative.

A coffee, maybe? Esty specified.

The Windex fell out of Paulas hands as she nodded vigorously. A coffee - yes. Most definitely yes.

Removing two hot cups and a jar of coffee from a nearby cabinet, Esty stifled a yawn. All that she wanted right now was to get back to bed. She quickly prepared the coffees.

Here you go. Esty handed the hot cups over to the two cleaning ladies.

Thanks. The two women dropped their rags, accepted the coffees, and settled down onto one of the couches. This is a good breakfast.

Esty gazed over their heads at the clock on the wall. 7:40. Maybe she could catch another half hour of sleep... A bedroom door slammed in the distance. A dorm counselor? A fellow dorm student? Whoever it was could stay here with the new cleaning ladies. Then shed be able to close her eyes for another half hour. Esty hurried over to see who had woken up.

Raquel, she waved. It was Raquel Biton, her sister Shaynas Brazilian roommate, and Esty was pleased to note that she was already fully dressed, which surely meant that she had some time to spare.

The girl looked at her questioningly as she came down the hallway. Olla, Esty.

Esty smiled. Good morning. Would you mind doing me a favor? These two new cleaning ladies came and Im exhausted. Can you please stay here with them until Menucha or Yehudis get up, so that I can go back to sleep? Esty yawned again. I got up early to open the door for them.

Raquel looked at her quizzically. What?

Two new cleaning ladies, Paula and Tina, Esty motioned for Raquel to follow her into the sitting room.

See? Theyre here to clean our dorm, and someone needs to stay here with them.

Oh, Raquel nodded, still looking slightly confused. I stay.

Thanks, Esty said. She walked over to the staircase when she suddenly turned around. She just had to know.

Are you two twins? Paula and Tina both smiled. No, Tina said. Only sisters.

Five years apart, Paula added. And Im older. Well, I couldnt tell, Esty thought. The two women shared a remarkably similar appearance. Aloud, she announced,

Well, Im going back to sleep, and this girl, Raquel, will stay here to help you if you need anything. She waved at a still bewildered looking Raquel and at the two cleaning ladies.

Its a good thing Raquel got up, Esty thought, as she climbed the steps. There was no way that she could leave two cleaning ladies alone on their first day on the job. Her own mother was always careful to be around whenever she hired a new cleaning lady, and Esty was pretty sure that Mrs. Markowitz would feel the same way. As pleasant (or strange!) as a cleaning lady might seem, one could never be too cautious. And it sure was strange that the two women had come so early in the morning!

Esty yawned again and opened the door to her bedroom. Hennas bed was still empty and neatly made. Was it possible that Henna had woken up even earlier than her? Oh, she suddenly realized, Henna and her sister Cheyenna went home for their brothers wedding. How forgetful of me.

Esty kicked off her shoes and snuggled under her covers. She still had a full twenty-five minutes left to sleep before she had to continue from where she left off in her early morning schedule.

Closing her eyes, Estys thoughts meshed together. A messy dorm...funny cleaning ladies...a late-night party... ringing alarm clocks...exhaustion...three weeks ago...the earthquake...

Three weeks! Estys eyes fluttered open. The earthquake had taken place three weeks ago? That meant that it was two weeks since the end of Sukkos, and that meant...that meant that in exactly three weeks, she and her triplet sisters, Shayna and Chaya, would be celebrating their bas mitzvah!

Esty sat bolt upright, all tiredness forgotten. Twelve! She could hardly believe it. In less than one month, she and her two sisters would be celebrating their bas mitzvah. Happy bas mitzvah Chaya. Happy bas mitzvah Shayna. Happy bas mitzvah Esty. Three times the bas mitzvah experience. Now that meant doing something big!

Drip! Clatter! Clump! The noise of two cleaning ladies beginning to work shook her momentarily. The sisters needed an exciting idea for their bas mitzvah. An exciting idea times three.

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