Recap from journal: All the servants left in fear of the King of Arabia, who is riding toward the palace and threatens anyone associated with the Queen’s family. Ava is the only one who can ride across town to warn Galla’s family. She heads there at a gallop, but on the way, a thunderstorm and lightning cause a fire, and she’s surrounded by flames.
Recap (Daniel, present time): Daniel and Yisroel Meir see Tasir talking to Ahmed, the suspected terrorist. All the Rosh HaShanah flyers for the program that Daniel and Yisroel Meir are putting out on campus are being crumpled and taken away.
“I have to go back home now,” Yisroel Meir said.
“Did you see Ahmed was talking to Tasir?”
Yisroel Meir nodded slowly.
“Ahmed was taking away all our flyers.”
“I’m going to tell my father what happened. The problem is the police don’t seem to care.” Yisroel Meir clenched his fist. “Hashem has to help us. I’ll see you tonight,” he said. “I hope your aunt and uncle can come, too. My grandfather is coming for Shabbos. You’ll like meeting him. He has tons of great stories to share.”
Aunt Shira was busy preparing lunch when I walked in.
“Your father called. He’s coming back tonight, and he wanted you to know.”
“So can he come with us to the dinner?”
“He said he’s going straight to the library to work on his research.”
“Aw!”
“Hey, why the sad face? You’ve got the best aunt and uncle coming.”
“Wow, thanks. I’m glad you’re coming. I just wish Dad could come, too.”
She handed me an ear of corn to put into the pot.
“Dad is never around. I mean, I never get to spend any time with him. Shabbos would be a great time for that – with no phones.”
“I hear that, Danny. Actually, I remember—” Her voice trailed off. “Go tell Uncle Owen that lunch is ready,” she said.
Uncle Owen was in the den and had his beehive photos ready.
He pointed out all the different types of bees and their honey. Then he told me stories about capturing bees and moving hives.
“Did you ever get stung?”
“Did I ever get stung! Got to say it with a different emphasis. Of course I did, but that’s part of the whole thing.”
…
We were all dressed and ready to drive over to Yisroel Meir’s house.
“Please, we must get there before candle lighting time,” I said.
“No problem. Fasten your seatbelt. Just direct me which way to go, Danny.”
We were a block away when I mentioned, “I’m so happy you’re both coming. Yisroel Meir told me his grandfather is coming, and he has tons of great stories.”
“His grandfather is coming!” Aunt Shira said.
“Uh, Owen, pull over a minute. Is it his father’s father?”
“Yeah, he said it was.”
Aunt Shira and Uncle Owen exchanged glances.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “You don’t want to meet the grandfather?”
“Danny, I’m sorry. We’ll drop you off. We have to take a rain check.”
“Why?”
My aunt didn’t answer. Uncle Owen pulled the car up to the house, and then they both wished me Good Shabbos.
“We’ll see you later when you come home.”
Why were they suddenly not coming? Was it because of Yisroel Meir’s grandfather? It didn’t make any sense.
Yisroel Meir greeted me at the door, and soon I was helping to set up the tables and greet new students. He introduced me to his grandfather, who gave me a warm handshake. He was an older version of Rabbi Diamond. He had a black beard with some streaks of gray and a warm smile.
The strange thing with my aunt canceling at the last minute was pushed aside.
Rabbi Diamond greeted me warmly.
He made Kiddush, and we lined up to wash for challah.
After Hamotzi, Rabbi Diamond went around and asked each person to share a hashgachah pratis story.
Mine was meeting Yisroel Meir. It opened this whole new world for me, and I had a new friend. I didn’t say the new friend part because I wasn’t sure if he felt the same way.
Someone else was in the middle of telling his hashgachah pratis story when the doorbell rang.
Everyone froze.
Yisroel Meir ran to the door.
Charlie Saphire was standing there, out of breath.
“Come on in. We’re glad you could come.”
“No, thank you. I came to let you know there’s something terrible going on in the library on campus.”
I literally felt my heart sink. The room spun. Dad was in the library.
“Come in, come in,” Yisroel Meir said.
Rabbi Diamond motioned Charlie to come sit down with us.
“Now, tell me what is going on,” he said.
“The protestors for Palestine took over the school library. They trapped a bunch of Jewish students and professors in there. They won’t let them out.
The police are there with bullhorns. It’s a crazy mess.”
I put my piece of challah down. There was no way I could chew it.
“My dad’s in the library. I have to go back there.”
“It’s not safe,” Charlie said.
“The police told all Jewish students to stay inside. They had to call in the National Guard.”
“The police are handling this. You can’t go there now,” Rabbi Diamond said.
My stomach was clenched. How could I sit here when my father was in trouble?
I was invited to sleep over again, and Charlie was, too.
I really wanted to go back and find my dad, but I understood it was dangerous right now.
“We’re all going to recite T’hilim at the Shabbos table for the safety of your father and the students inside the library,” Rabbi Diamond said.
Yisroel Meir handed me a T’hilim with English. We recited Psalm 20, which said that Hashem is with me in my trouble.
I said my own prayer, begging Hashem to protect my father. I wondered if my aunt and uncle knew about it.
They must – with bullhorns and all the police on campus.
After the meal, Yisroel Meir took out the book. “Let’s read together. It’ll be a good distraction…”
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of a newly released historical fiction novel, Captured (Menucha Publishers, 2025), as well as historical fiction novels Please Be Patient (Menucha, 2024), Flight of the Doves (Menucha, 2023), Please Be Polite (Menucha, 2022), A Bridge in Time (Menucha, 2021), Secrets in Disguise (Menucha, 2020), Denver Dreams, a novel (Jerusalem Publications, 2009), Memorable Characters…Magnificent Stories (Scholastic, 2002), Befriend (Menucha, 2013), The Road Less Traveled (Feldheim, 2015), fiction serials, and features in Binah Magazine and Binyan Magazine, and “Moon Song” in Binyan (2021–2022) and Alaskan Gold (2023–2024).