Free Sunday the Rabbi Stayed Home by Harry Kemelman

of them over at the rabbi’s house tomorrow afternoon.”
    “Why?” asked Gorfinkle. “Is he holding some kind of a meeting?”
    “Oh, all the kids from the post-confirmation class sort of drop in the first Sunday they get back for vacation. You know, it’s like an open house. They just talk, tell how things are going at school.”
    “Hm – that’s interesting.” Gorfinkle was interested. “How come? I mean, how did this – this tradition start?”
    “No tradition. Just that sometimes he held the confirmation class at his house, and we kind of got into the habit of going there – you know, every now and then.”
    “And he’s popular with you kids? You all like him?”
    She considered. The question struck her as requiring thought, not because she was unsure of her feelings, but because they were hard to frame in words. “He’s not fun, exactly,” she said tentatively, “and he doesn’t try to be pally or even friendly. He doesn’t try to be anything, I don’t think, but –”
    “Yes?”
    “An equal. I guess,” she said, finally finding the words. “When you’re with him, you don’t feel like a kid.”

Chapter Thirteen
    The rabbi phoned Wasserman as soon as he arrived home Sunday. He caught him just returning from the board meeting.
    “Mr. Wasserman? Rabbi Small. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get back in time. They had arranged for a party for me at the college for Saturday night. I didn’t know anything about it.”
    “Nu, it happens, If the party was for you, you had to go.”
    “Tell me, did anything happen at the meeting? Anything special?”
    “Well. Gorfinkle announced the new committees, like I thought.”
    “Yes? And how are they?”
    “Well, if he appointed they should do a job. I guess it’s all right. After all, he didn’t appoint idiots. But if what he wanted is to start a fight, the appointments are good for that, too.”
    “That bad, eh? And what did Paff say? Was he there?”
    “Oh, he was there. And that’s the only nice part of it, because he didn’t say a word, not Paff, not Edelstein, not Kallen, none of them. So I guess they’re giving in, and for a while we’ll have a little peace. But how long it will keep up?”
    But the rabbi was disturbed. “What do you mean, they didn’t say a word? Did they have a chance to? Was there time for discussion?”
    “Oh, time, there was plenty, but no objections, no discussion, not one word, I tell you.”
    The rabbi waited for Wasserman to say more, but nothing was forthcoming. “I don’t like it.” he said at last.
    “Why not?” said Wasserman. “You remember I told you it was like a marriage. If an open break doesn’t develop, it can be fixed up.”
    “Yes, but if they don’t talk at all, if the husband insults the wife and she doesn’t even bother to answer, then it can mean that she’s already made up her mind and it doesn’t make any difference anymore. It seems to me Paff should have reacted. And I don’t like the fact the others remained silent too.”
    “You think they decided something already? Well, maybe. It’s possible. After what happened Friday night at the Brotherhood service…”

Chapter Fourteen
    “All right. Meyer,” said Dr. Edelstein as Paff wove his way through the traffic. “We sat tight like you asked us to, and Gorfinkle went ahead and nominated Roger Epstein as chairman of the Ritual Committee and Ted Brennerman as Chairman of the Seating Committee. After his talk Friday night, that was really rubbing it in. So what’s the big plan already?”
    Right after the board meeting Paff had insisted he. Edelstein. Kallen, and Arons go for a ride in his car. “I promise to bring you back in half an hour, so you’ll have plenty of time to drive on home for lunch. I got something to show you boys.”
    He put his foot on the brake and brought the car to a halt opposite Hillson House. All through the ride he had kept silent, refusing to be drawn, his only response to their questions a