Aaron Babshinsky sat in his bedroom and looked out the window, staring across the sky. It was only about 6 in the evening, and it was already dark out. And snowing. He didn't fancy having to dig his car out of the snow tomorrow morning before going over to the community college.
"Aaron honey," he heard his mother calling from downstairs, "Aren't you going to come downstairs to light the
menorah
?"
It was the first night of Hanukkah, an eight night long holiday that reminded him that his was the
only
Jewish family in town. They weren't especially conservative mind you, just abstaining from pork, going to Temple on the
Shabbat
, and of course, celebrating Hanukkah (and Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach).
But this year it was different. Aaron's father had run off on them, marrying his secretary and moving half-way across the country. He left Aaron and his mother to fend for themselves. The wounds were still fresh, but Aaron soldiered on as best he could, taking on some of his father's responsibilities.
Aaron sat up from his bed, reached over and put on his
yarmulke
. He then went downstairs by the front window to join his mother. She was already there, wearing a nice looking black dress.
She wasn't crying, but Aaron knew that she was still hurting inside. It had been over ten months since his father walked out - almost a year! - and yet she still hadn't gotten over the bastard.
Aaron didn't say anything, of course. He simply looked over and his mother and smiled, then picked up the electric torch.
"I suppose I should do the honors," he said.
He utter a prayer in Hebrew as best he could from memory. Aaron surprised himself with how much he actually remembered. He then lit the torch and brought it over to the first waxen candle, and then began to sing
Ma'or Tzur
. His mother began to join in.
Afterward, Aaron recited some more prayers and then looked over at his mother again. He still didn't understand how his father could just walk out on her! Sure, she was in her forties, but she looked better than many women half her age. Her hair, not cut short and stylish, was a beautiful shade of jet black. It went wonderful with her olive colored skin. She had put on a little weight, but it almost all had gone to her breast and ass, giving her a nice curvy figure.