Exiles in Elseworlds

Billy's not the speedster of the family. That title belongs to his brother and uncle. That said, he's kneeling in front of his mother's feet so quickly that one could easily be confused.

What? He likes story time!

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Tommy zooms into the room, cheese dribbling off of his cheek from his snack in the kitchen. He whirls around Billy for a moment and comes to a stop, grinning at his mother.

"Look, Eema! Billy's finally a girl!" he says, pointing to the brightly colored bow that's holding up a small amount of Billy's hair.

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"It takes more than a ribbon to make a girl." Wanda leans forward and gently unties the bow. "Why don't both of you sit with me here on the couch?" She pats the cushions with her free hand. "That'll make it easier for you to see the pictures."

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Billy climbs up, but not before a hand gesture and blue light sends the bow flying towards Tommy and wrapping around his legs.

In true eight-year old style, the gesture is of course accompanied by an extended tongue.

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Tommy, being Tommy, is up and dashing towards the couch before realizing what Billy's doing.

"Eeeeee!" he exclaims as he falls flat on his face.

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Patiently (one learns to be patient, when one is Tommy's mother), Wanda leans forward again to help Tommy up. "There you go. Maybe next time you'll remember to look before you run?" She ruffles Billy's hair. "Billy, don't poke your tongue out like that. The north wind might come along and freeze your face that way."

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"Sorry, Eema."

Billy pulls his tongue in and quickly forgets all about the twin-feud he's had with Tommy since they were practically in the womb. Instead, his eyes are glued to the book, eagerly awaiting the next story.

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Tommy smiles appreciatively at his mother and pecks her on the cheek in an unusually affectionate move.

Anything to wriggle his way out of a grounding.

"What story is it, Eema?" he asks, praying for something short so he can go terrorize the people in the kitchen.

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"Tonight's story is the Golem of Prague." She opens the book and points to the map showing the location of the city, then begins to read: "Long ago, in the city of Prague, the Jews of the city lived in the ghetto of Josefov. But the walls of the ghetto could not protect them from the wicked Emperor, or the evil rumors that ran like cockroaches throughout the city. It was whispered, then said, then shouted, that the Jews were murdering Christians and drinking their blood, that Christian babies were sacrified at Shabbat. The Jews were afraid. They had never butchered anything besides the cows they ate, and at night they huddled behind the ghetto walls, praying that angry crowds would not storm in and kill them."

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"But if they weren't killing Christians, then why would people say they were? Why would people lie about the Jews like that?"

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Tommy's grumbling something about wanting to hear the Tortoise and the Hare while Billy asks his question.

In response to Billy, though, Tommy lights up considerably and leans forward, peering around the book at his twin.

"It's called a lie, Billy. Like how you lie and say you aren't a girl." He raspberries Billy really quickly and sits back up, pressing his lips together.

That one's gonna get him in trouble and he knows it.

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"No, a lie is when you call your brother a girl when he isn't, Tommy, and if you keep calling him that, I will turn you into a girl for the rest of the evening." She flicks a shower of illusory sparks at him to underscore her point, then resumes the story.

"The rabbi prayed with his people, asking, 'Why must this happen, Lord? Why must we tremble while our enemies cry for our destruction?' And as he prayed, an idea came to him, and he searched through his books until he had learned the secret he hoped would save his people." She looks at her sons. "Can you guess what the rabbi learned?"

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Billy thinks about the patriarch in his family, a semblance to the Rabbi, and about what Opa does that makes him so capable of leading the way.

"Was it the books like you have, Eema? Full of magic and spells? Did the Rabbi learn to have power like you, or like Opa or Aunt Lorna, or like Uncle Pietro?"

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"I think the Rabbi learned that it was a test or something," Tommy replied absently, peering out the window, wanting to go out and run along the streets or go knock on that one apartment across the street and run away before they opened the door.

Anything but this.

"Just like sitting here and listening to this story is a test."

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"Close, Billy." She gives her dark-haired son an approving hug. "The rabbi learned something very powerful, indeed." Turning the page, she continues, "The rabbi went to the riverbank with his assistant, David, and from the clay, he sculpted a giant shaped like a man. He recited incantations in Hebrew, and wrote emet on the golem's forehead, then bid the creature awaken and rise, to protect the Jews of Prague.

"Now, what does emet mean?"

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Tommy narrows his eyes and zooms away, coming back a few seconds later, a bright, knowing smile on his face.

"It means truth Eema!"

He gives Billy a triumphant, better-than-you grin.

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He may be in a constant struggle with his twin, but Billy wasn't going to correct him. Until he gave him that know-it-all look.

"It means 'God's truth,' and it's part of God's name. Ruach HaEmet, spirit of truth!"

A proud look is shot towards his brother, then beamed towards his mother.

"It's also part of aman, which means to support or make firm! The Rabbi could used it to bring his golem to life!" Because yes, he can go the extra mile.

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"Very good, Billy!" Her little scholar gets a kiss on the head. "Tommy, you had a good answer, too. Now, look at this." She turns the page and shows them the full-page illustration of the golem, towering over the rabbi. "The golem waited for the rabbi's orders. 'Protect my people,' the rabbi said, and the golem strode forth to the gates of the ghetto, attacking the angry crowd who had gathered with torches and knives and clubs to kill the innocent Jews within the walls. Many were killed, and many more were wounded. Their blood spattered the cobblestones of the streets, as they had threatened to do to the Children of Israel.

"Finally the Emperor himself begged the rabbi to stop the attacks, promising safety for the Jews in return." She looks at Billy and Tommy. "What do you think the rabbi did?"

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Tommy sighed, bored. "He stopped the attacks and let everybody eat cake."

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"He did stop the attacks," Wanda says patiently, "but he didn't let everyone eat cake." She clears her throat and reads the next part of the story. "The rabbi accepted the Emperor's offer, and rubbed out the first letter on the golem's forehead, changing it to met. Who can tell me what met means?"

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"It's death, right Eema?"

As if he really needed confirmation.

"Did the Emperor keep his promise after the Golem went away, or did he attack again?"

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Tommy's quiet, considering this. "If he was smart, he kept his promise." He sits in his seat, fidgeting. "But I betcha he attacked, right?"

He doesn't ask Eema if he can have met tattooed on his forehead.

He'd likely never see sunlight again.

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"The rabbi was very wise," says Wanda, approving of Tommy's thoughtful expression. "He told the Emperor that he would keep the golem somewhere safe, in case the Jews needed him again." She closes the book. "This summer when we go to Europe, I'll see about taking you to the Alt-neu Shul in Prague, where the remains of the golem are supposed to be kept in a coffin. What did you think of the story, boys?"

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"I liked it! Can you teach me how to make a golem, Eema?"

Because of course his Eema knows how. She knows how to do everything.

"And can I summon him whenever Tommy picks on me?"

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Tommy raspberries his brother.

"Do people still make golems, Eema? Like, can Grandfather make a golem of clay and filled with metal?"

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"Yes, I can teach you how to make a golem, Billy. Later, when you're a little older." She ruffles Tommy's hair, then smooths it back into place. "I think your grandfather would prefer a golem made only of metal, or a robot he could control with his magnetism. A robot is a kind of golem, really, except it works by science instead of magic. Maybe you should think about making a robot for a science project some day, Tommy?"

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Tommy nods. "Or I can pay someone to make it for me and then thank them for it."

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"I'm not letting you make that Bishop girl do your science project, Tommy!"

Clearly, this is an argument they've had before.

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He gives his brother a cold, wicked grin.

"That Theodore Altman boy is the science whiz. I was going to ask him."

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"Boys." It's her no-nonsense eema voice. "It's time to brush your teeth, say your prayers, and go to bed." She leans over and kisses Billy, then Tommy on the cheek. "Go on. Scoot."

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"Yes, Eema." He kisses her back before leaving to do as he's told.

"Good night!"

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Tommy jumps off the bed and grins at his Eema.

"Can I have some ice cream and maybe some cake?"

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"No, no ice cream or cake." She points in the direction of his room. "Brush your teeth, young man. Then prayers and bed."

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