Burnt Challah Bread

Julia’s burnt Challah bread

“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Mummy burnt the challah bread!” George, who had just walked in the front door after a tough day at work, stopped dead in his tracks. It wasn’t the customary greeting he was used to from his youngest daughter. Usually it was, ‘daddy, daddy, daddy, how much did you miss me today?” followed by a regular routine ending up with Rosa flying into her father’s wings. Then after giving her a huge peck and a hug, he would put her down and venture into the dining room, where Sybil sat at the dining room table going through years of family photographs. It was something she did every week on a Monday. After going through them together with a running commentary, she would put everything back in a large manila envelope and return it to the closet.

But George wasn’t prepared for the greeting he received that Monday. He stood there for a moment contemplating his next move. His well-rehearsed entry had been thrown into chaos. “How’s that possible?” he heard himself say, “Mummy doesn’t cook, let alone bake,” and with that, he stepped forward and hugged his daughter. Rosa was stumped for an answer. George grabbed her wing and walked smartly into the dining room where his wife was sitting with her spectacles low on her beak, because she believed that made her look studious. Sybil looked up and smiled at her husband.

“Hello darling,” she said rather meekly, and it was then George knew that something was amiss. Sybil only called him darling when there had been an issue.

‘Could it be possible,’ George thought for a second as he stood in the doorway, ‘could it be possible that Sybil actually tried to bake a challah?’ No, he shouldn’t diminish her, he should congratulate her because in all the years he knew her, she had never attempted to bake anything. No, he would take that back. Yes, Sybil did the first time she came over to his place before they got married. She had wanted to impress his parents and so she decided to make some Sufganiyot. The result was batter all over the floor in which everyone slipped and then spent hours cleaning up.

“Next time young lady,” George’s father said to her after lifting himself off the kitchen floor for the tenth time, “next time young lady, go to Katz’s and get the doughnuts from there.”

So maybe Sybil was turning a new leaf, even though it may have been a burnt leaf. However, before he was able to congratulate his wife, Rosa filled him in, it was her duty in life.

“No Daddy, Mummy didn’t bake the challah, Julia did. She set the alarm and then went into to the bathroom to take a shower. She asked Mummy when the alarm went off if she could take the challah out of the oven and put it on the counter, but she didn’t.”

Sybil was embarrassed and let out a slight laugh. George was intrigued. He in his wildest dreams couldn’t have ever thought of such an entrance after a hard day at work. “Well darling,” Sybil continued, knowing she had to take charge. “I was so engrossed in looking at these old photographs of us on our wedding day, that I was so carried off with that feeling so when the timer sounded, I turned it off but forgot to tell Julia. So, when she came out of the bathroom expecting to see the challah on the counter, she realised what had happened. By the time she got it out of the oven, it was black.”

There was only one thing for George to do and he did it well. He began to laugh. First quietly and then as he imagined the scene unfolding his laughter got louder and louder until Timmy, who was outside playing with Max, came indoors wondering what had happened.

“It’s not funny!” Rosa said trying to be heard above her father’s laughter. Sybil smiled and Julia who had such incredible plans for breakfast, wasn’t amused. “But Daddy listen, listen, listen, it’s very important,” continued Rosa undeterred. “It means there won’t be any challah French toast for breakfast.”

George heard her and stopped laughing. He looked forward to that most delicious treat. “How about just ordinary bread,” he asked hoping Julia would offer to make another loaf, but she didn’t. Julia had a lot of other food to prepare for Chanukah which began in two days. She wouldn’t have the time to redo her hard work.

“Why don’t I do this,” George needed to resolve the situation before it turned worse. “How about I go to Slotnick’s deli and get some challah?” Julia screamed. Julia never screams. But the idea of her challah being superseded by a store bought one, made her scream. The Blau household froze. It wasn’t often they heard Julia scream. In fact, no one could remember the last time Julia screamed.

“How about I make another one?” offered Rosa trying to be grown up.

“No young lady,” her mother objected, “instead of just a burnt loaf of bread, we’d have to find another place to live.” Rosa couldn’t disagree. Sybil was going to offer, but disregarded that when she realised she had done enough damage.

“How about I try?” said Timmy, “after all, how difficult can it be? I did reconstruct the bridge I made with Legos after Rosa tried to cross it.”

Yes, thought everyone, what a brilliant idea, everyone except Julia. “Men don’t bake,” she replied not wanting any dissention.

“Yes, they do,” Timmy was insulted.

“Name me one male baker,” she crossed her wings and stood behind her mother’s chair to protect her, even though she had burnt her challah.

“Paul Hollywood!” shot back Timmy very pleased with his answer.

“He’s not a baker,” Julia replied, “have you ever seen him bake?”

“He’s on that baking show,” replied Timmy now digging his heels in.

“Yes, I know. But have you ever seen him bake?”

Timmy was going to say something but then suddenly realised he had never seen Paul Hollywood bake. This discussion wasn’t going anywhere. So, Timmy exhausted turned to his friend and ushered him out into the sand where they were building a sandcastle with the help of the Buddhist children.

Once he had left, Julia decided there really wasn’t any alternative but for her to remake the challah bread. Rosa sat down feeling her time had passed and that any more chaos using the challah bread had evaporated.

She looked at her father still standing in the doorway to the dining room. “Hi Daddy!” she shouted, “how much did you miss me today at work? Mummy said you missed me a lot.” Rosa walked towards her father trying to put the last few minutes of utter chaos to rest. George looked at Sybil, Sybil shook her head, no she hadn’t told Rosa that. George smiled. All was well now in the Blau household. Rosa was back being hugged by her dad, Sybil sat looking at a photo of their wedding reception, Julia had returned to the kitchen to continue her preparations and Timmy was busy with his friends.

The backdoor opened. It was Elizabeth. “I understand you burnt the challah bread!” Bad news travels fast in North Topsail thought George as he walked into the living room with Rosa.