1. The Plan of Concealment
Normal Point Of View
'Ruby, Ruby!' Leyva shouted as she slid up besides her best friend, her red, shoulder length curly hair came to a sudden stop from being airborne. Ruby was at her locker, arranging and rearranging her stickers she had magneted up on it. Leyva hadn't seen her friend in weeks, and was eager to talk to her again.
'Hello, Leyva,' said Ruby, as she put up her mirror and checked to see if it was the right height. 'What do you want?'
'Oh,' Leyva answered, 'it's just that I'm gonna go somewhere in a couple weeks.'
'How long? Where?' Ruby pestered.
'I'm going around the world on a boat for a year and a half.'
'What's the boat called?'
'The Dragon.'
'Really. Tell the truth. I don't believe you.' Ruby looked at her disbelieving.
'Why not?'
'Because I'm going around the world for a year on a boat called The Dragon myself.'
'Oh�Gods! Do you think our parents planned this?'
'Probably. Should we tell anyone?'
'No.'
'Lena?'
'NO!' Lena was their other best friend, but Leyva and Ruby loved to play tricks on her.
'There you are!' Leyva and Ruby turned as one to the voice.
It was Lena. Speak of the devil.
'Hey.'
'I came to say goodbye. I'm going to be leaving soon. On a boat called The Dragon.' Leyva and Ruby were speechless.
This is�strange, they both thought at the same time. Very strange.
Lena left, and Leyva turned to Ruby.
'I have an idea. I'm really good at disguises, and for about the first week, I'll be a really dressy man with the cap and the tux and the cane with a silver top for whacking people's behind.' Leyva imitated doing so on a person passing by. 'You can be a prissy girl with hair like your mom's, and lots of makeup and perfume.' Ruby's mom's hair was brown and curly with highlights and red streaks. 'Well�' Leyva paused, '�more makeup than you wear already.' Ruby aimed a swipe at her head.
'I don't wear all that much makeup!' she said, laughing. Leyva tried to trip her in response, didn't succeed, and both of them walked off together to their first class, science.
At the end of the day, at study hall Ruby went to her locker, her favorite place in the world, for now, saying: 'I'll hate having to take down all of my things before the trip. I spent hours getting all of these magnets and stickers out of the boxes, putting them up in my locker and arranging them. I'm not even done yet! Looks like I'll have to stay after school again to take them down before I leave. I sure hope they have lockers on The Dragon,' she added, but with little hope. Ruby paused. 'Or something I can stick my stuff to.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was Shabbat, the holy day for Jews. Leyva just happened to be one, and so did Ruby, who came over every Friday to celebrate with them.
Leyva's mother, Rivka, lit the Shabbat candles and a feeling of warmth and security spread over the two families. Their souls felt like they were lifted from their hearts and rose above the flickering candles and twined together as they sang. Each individual felt a need to laugh and cry at the same time. Such was the power of Shabbat. Once the prayers were over, the wine cup passed around and a piece of the traditional bread, the chalah was either in everyone's hand or mouth, the two families walked into the kitchen together where the food was waiting. It had to be in the kitchen because there was too much food for the small table, and the table was already laden with cups and candlestick and chalah boards.
Leyva walked though the doorway into the small kitchen that had a mixture of sweet and spicy and heavenly smells coming from the counters. The aromas spread though the house, making everyone impatient to get to the food and stuff their faces.
The table had six people at it, all of their eyes filled with happiness at the joyous occasion, and with hunger. Many hadn't eaten since breakfast, for one reason or another.
'Shabbat Shalom, Ruby.'
'Shabbat Shalom. Your mom did great cooking! I can't wait to eat!'
'You think so? Cool! Well, I get this food my whole life, but I still love it! My mom's cooking is kind of hard to get tired of. She just has so many recipes!'
'I'm stealing your mom! My parents cook nothing like this!'
Leyva and Ruby had the same argument every weekend, that she was going to take Leyva's mom and make her a slave in her own house.
'But, what would I do for my own mother? She'd be gone, and I wouldn't' have any good food!'
'Well, good for you! I want good food once in a while! You can take my mother!'
Both girls laughed.
'Oh, Ruby, want to sleep over tonight? My parents said it was okay.'
'Sure. Should we plan for The Dragon? It does leave tomorrow!'
'I know! I'm so happy!' She jumped up and down in excitement.
'Now, what did my mother make for us to eat tonight?'
It was lasagna, stuffed shells, salad and apple cider. The cider had been made about two weeks before the dinner, and had had time to age and get stronger, as was the liking of everyone. Leyva had about two helpings of everything on one plate, and a pint of cider in a big metal tankard with a glass bottom. It had been her dad's when he was little, so it had age marks and scratches, making it look more like the antique it really was. It was the only cup Leyva would use, if possible.
Ruby and Leyva stayed awake until long past midnight, talking about their trip, and anything else that came up. They fell asleep with the light still on, curled up on either side of the bed, with a big blanket of Leyva's with a tiger and an eagle, and Nile and Tuki under the large cover.