Dreams, Memories & Keys

Chapter 17 - A Village in a City

Saturday morning started early at the Abernathys. Everyone except Susan was going to Temple. She stayed home to clean up after breakfast after seeing Greg, Jessie and their guests out the door. Jessie seemed uncharacteristically nervous to be going and Susan couldn't help wondering why.

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Greg's party arrived significantly early on the Temple steps, early enough to allow them to visit with others arriving to attend services. Jessie went to join her cousins and friends as soon as the first of them showed up, leaving Greg with the Sloanes.

"Jessie has certainly matured since you've moved to New York," Sarah remarked.

"Oh?" Greg replied.

"She's a typical teenager now," Sarah told him. She was just beginning to explain what she meant by that when they were joined by Rabbi Tabor.

"Hello Rabbi," Rabbi Tabor said respectfully to Rabbi Sloane.

"Hello Ishmael, and 'David' is fine here," Rabbi Sloane replied.

Rabbi Tabor looked at him in surprise. "I expect the number of things I have to learn from you has hardly diminished since I was a boy."

"Learning is a life-long endeavor. It comes from surprising sources sometimes. One should not restrict oneself to learning only from those who hold the qualifications necessary to be called 'rabbis'," Rabbi Sloane coached.

Rabbi Tabor smiled. "You say that, and yet you continue to teach."

"It's in his nature, Ishmael. You can hardly blame him," Sarah remarked.

"I don't," Rabbi Tabor assured her. "I feel honored to continue to learn."

"Are your parents here?" Sarah asked.

"Mom is right over there." He nodded towards a group of older ladies closer to the women's entrance to the Temple.

"If you'll excuse me. I will see you after the meeting," Sarah told the men.

She went to join the ladies, greeting them as old friends, which Greg supposed they were.

"Tell me, Rabbi. What troubles you these days?" Rabbi Sloane asked the son of his friend.

"I suspect you are in the middle of it, David," Rabbi Tabor told him.

"Oh?" Rabbi Sloane asked.

"You arrived with the Abernathys. And I understand you have taught, coached, and counseled Jessie for many years," Rabbi Tabor told him.

"Ha. When it comes to the Abernathys and their family, those activities come with a unique set of challenges. Things are not always as they seem initially," Rabbi Sloane cautioned.

"The exact reason I hoped to speak with you," Rabbi Tabor told him.

Rabbi Sloane glanced at his watch. "We have a few minutes before the meeting begins. Walk with me, Ishmael."

"I was hoping you would say that," Rabbi Tabor replied gratefully.

"If you will excuse us, Greg," Rabbi Sloane told his old friend.

"Certainly," Greg agreed as the two rabbis walked away.

More of the family was gathering to the side of the entrance and Greg went to join his nephews nearby. They were close enough to the women for him to overhear Norma's exclamation of surprise at seeing Sarah Sloane ... who in the old days was known as Sarah Bright ... here.

"Sarah Bright. As I live and breathe. What are you doing here?" Norma asked.

"I'm here with my husband, visiting friends and family for the holidays," Sarah told her honestly.