Unlike most Jewish mothers, Sybil Blau is not a good cook. In fact, using the words good and cooking in the same sentence does immense disservice to the millions of Jewish mothers who are excellent cooks. Because of that, Julia became the cook of the Blau family. Luckily for everyone Julia loves to cook and is an excellent cook. On any given night you can find Julia curled up in her bed on the distant side of the elaborate nest she lives in with her family, going through cooking magazines she had been given by friends who felt sorry for her, or a cookbook given to her by one of her friends’ mothers.

It had been about three weeks since the Blau family attended Rosh Hashanah dinner at the home of Moshe and Benne, even though they were apprehensive about going, but ended up having a great time as they were exposed to many different types of food which originated in Ethiopia. The Sandpiper colony of North Topsail Island was now back to normal.

Timmy was well pleased with himself because he took a major role in the services in his father’s synagogue Beth El Al, while George who was both the Cantor and Rabbi at that establishment pulled off the entire ten days without a hitch. But now he had a decision to make. He had called a family meeting for the middle of the week so it didn’t clash with the upcoming festival of Sukkot. The one holy day the Sandpipers revelled and excelled in because of the twigs and leaves they were able to collect in order to make a tent. Rosa was pleased because she now was able to tell her school friends she had gone camping without actually going camping. She remembered well that a member of the family had once told her that Jews don’t go camping, unless it’s catered. Well, the festival of Sukkoth had all that.

George Blau was in a very tough spot. He had been the Rabbi of Beth El Al ever since the colony had flown down from The New Jersey shore because it got too cold there in August. Additionally, the amount of junk on the beaches had become unbearable. But now ever since they had all gone for Rosh Hashanah dinner to Sneads Ferry, he had been made an offer which if it was all about money there would be no contest. He would take the job even though he had turned down the job as Rabbi of the Reform Synagogue in Surf City using the distance as a reason. But here Sneads Ferry was even further. It was on that Wednesday morning he was pacing to and fro as the family was waking up slowly. There was no school that day. His wife Sybil wanting to help George out by making breakfast for the family, managed to fill the kitchen with smoke.

“What happened?” asked Julia coughing and trying to cover her beak with her right wing. “Nothing,” replied Sybil nonchalantly, “I was just making Rosa her breakfast.”

“But whatever you were making, must’ve burnt.” Rosa all this time sat in her chair dutifully listening to her elder sister and mother argue about making breakfast the proper way.

Finally, Rosa got up sauntered into the kitchen, put her wings on her hips and said loudly, “Mummy!” That got everyone’s attention. “Mummy,” she repeated now that she had the stage to herself. “I love you very much, but please, you have to stop cooking on the stove before there’s an explosion and the nest burns down! Instead of making my oatmeal on the stove please do what you always do and that is put it in the microwave.”

Julia looked at her mother who stood there grinning and crossing her legs and wings looking rather foolishly. “Did you finish your breakfast, Rosa?” Julia asked.

“Yes,” Rosa admitted her voice cracking at remembering how bad it was.

“In that case Rosa, I have surprise for you.”

Rosa perked up and grinned, “surprise for your little sister?”

“Yes,” replied Julia and went to the fridge. A few seconds later she came out with a small bowl of yellow berries. “You know how you like berries Rosa.”

“I love berries Julia you know that.”

“And that’s what I have for you. They are golden berries. I bought them just for you.”

No more to be said. Rosa at first took a handful but when she saw Julia’s look of disapproval, she put them all back and kept just one. She popped into her mouth. A second later she began to gasp for air and coughed. “Oh, this makes my tongue feel bad,” she kept crying.

“What’s wrong with them?” asked her mother.

“Oh, they are sour.” And then she added. “The only thing worse than these berries Mummy, is your cooking!” The kitchen broke out into laughter. It was this scene that George entered and was taken aback by the laughter.

“What’s the matter?” he asked. He put his beak up and began to sniff the air, “who burnt something?” and as soon as he asked, he answered his own question. “Was it you Sybil again?” “Mummy tried to make me my oatmeal on the stove and then when she burnt it she added a drop of her coffee in it and said now it probably tastes good.” George began laughing with the rest.

“I hope you didn’t eat it Rosa dear.”

“No, no, Daddy I didn’t want to die today. I told mummy that so she made my oatmeal in the microwave.” That brought about another round of laughter. Timmy who was in his room studying Torah didn’t want to be left out and decided to see what all the fun was about.

“Do you want some breakfast?” asked Julia seeing him walk in with a cross look on his face.

“Not if Mummy made it,” he replied sniffing the air.

“Well for you I bought some turkey bacon yesterday,” to which Rosa wondered why she hadn’t been offered that by her mother but stopped herself from asking because she realised the smoke damage could’ve been much worse.

George cleared his throat. “Please eat up whatever it is you’re eating quickly because we need to have that meeting.”

“Well Dad,” began Timmy, “I’ve been thinking about your problem. Doesn’t it say in Jewish law that anyone who has had a bar mitzvah can preside over services?”

“Yes you are right,” replied his father trying to figure out where his son was going with his line of thinking.

“Well in that case, why doesn’t Uncle Jeremey stay here and Julia and I can stay with him. Then you and Mummy can go to Sneads Ferry.” After a moments’ thought he added, “And Rosa can go with you!”

Rosa immediately grabbed her throat and collapsed against the counter. “Mummy will kill me with her cooking,” she said dramatically beginning to cough. “I have to stay with Julia otherwise I will die.”

George shook his head in disbelief and began to walk out of the kitchen. “I'll see everyone on the sand dune in about 15 minutes. I do my best thinking on one leg!” He let the last sentence trail behind him as he walked outside into the brilliant sunshine.