@arrangematches gave a 🖤 !!
mendel’s heart is pounding.
the people of anatevka, including the boy himself, have never known such a thing. nervousness burns hot in his chest && face, despite all his best efforts to flush it down. in his slightly shaky hands, he carries a small box ---------- it’s been hidden under his bed for weeks, having been a very impulsive purchase, followed by endless lamentation. over && over he’d prayed for guidance (what should i say ?? how do i go about this ?? is this far too obvious ??), but received little answers... eventually, mendel decided that god must want him to endure this test ALONE.
of course, there is a reason... there always is. his best guess, though he doesn’t claim to know for sure, is to see whether he is worthy of the fate that he’s chasing. never one to back down from a heavenly challenge... here he is, deliberately seeking, instead of arranging for ‘coincidental’ meetings.
“----hodel,” he says, pleasantly, though there is a quaver in the back of his throat. before he speaks again, he does his best to squash it FIRMLY, under the heel of his dress shoe. “there you are. i’ve- ah, i’ve been looking all around for you.”
...what now ?? does he come right out with it ?? may as well, it’s not like the box is hidden. “i have something for you.”
