Community Magazine June 2009

108 Community magazine Mmm… yours looks good! Can I have a lick?” “Sure.” Rebecca held out her strawberry cone for Sharon to sample. “Eww!” Morris made a face. “That‛s germs!” “We‛re sisters!” Rebecca rolled her eyes at her nine year old twin brother. “Ahem!” Judy got their attention. “Let‛s review the situation. Joey, you want to explain?” Joey, 13, and Judy, 12, were the oldest of the siblings, and therefore leaders of the little group. Joey quickly crunched down the last of his chocolate chip mint cone. “Okay. Here‛s the problem. We are facing a miserable summer. Daddy and Mommy decided to take us away from Brooklyn, away from camp, all our friends, the ice cream stores and pizza shops, away from weekends at Grandpa and Grandma in Deal, and, worst of all, away from every bit of technology we know and love!” “What‛s tek-na-lo-gee?” Sharon, at six years old, the youngest allowed to attend, asked. “Electronics,” Judy, explained. “As in – no computers!” Her audience gasped in horror. “No Ipods!” Another gasp. “No Wii!” Ezra, 10, looked like he might faint. “No Wii?!” he protested. “What are we going to do all day?!” “And no cell phones!” Judy finished dramatically, and whirled her tongue around her scoop of Mocha Chip. The six kids became quiet. What kind of dismal summer were they facing? The younger ones were curious to know what this was all about. Only Judy and Joey knew where they were going. Ezra, Rebecca, Morris and Sharon all began talking at once. “Where are we going?” “What do they want us to do with ourselves?” “Let‛s go to sleep- away camp instead…” Joey laughed. “Guys, settle down! We‛ll tell you everything. Look.” He pulled out a bunch of colorful brochures from his pocket, and gave one to each kid. Sharon read aloud slowly. “Pardes Acres.” They all examined the pictures of a huge farm and glistening lake. “Newly renovated rooms. Hundreds of animals to feed and enjoy. Horseback riding. Boating. Night activities including bonfires. Breakfast and dinner served daily. Packaged lunches. Daily minyanim. Bet Midrash. Tennis. Ping-pong. Separate swimming. Crafts. Woodworking. No technological distractions. The perfect place to get away!” Sharon smiled. “Sounds like a ton of fun!” “No friends? No camp trips? No computer games? Give me a break!” Ezra groaned. “This is going to be the worst summer ever!” “Listen everyone,” Joey spoke quietly amid the chorus of reactions. “Daddy‛s shoe store hasn‛t been doing so great. And camp is very expensive. There‛s been this property in the family for years. It‛s an abandoned farm in upstate New York. Anyway, Grandpa Joe suggested that they try to make the place into a kosher hotel, with animals and activities, like you just read. Daddy said farm animals are sold for a bargain in that area. They are getting some yeshiva boys as staff, but we‛re expected to help out with morning and evening chores. The boys will have a learning session each morning with Daddy and our afternoons will be free. “Worst of all, Mommy‛s going to give us all a big speech about how we‛re not taking the laptop, any electronics or games. They want us to break from all that this summer, because, as you know,” he grinned wryly, “…it‛s about the only thing we like to do…” Aweek later, EzraPardeswaspacking. Out of his closet and over his shoulder flew socks, shirts, and, of course, his entire rainbow collection of Crocs, courtesy of his father‛s store. In fact, all the kids had been nicknamed “The Crocs Kids” by their friends, because they loved to wear them while relaxing after coming home from school. His suitcase bulging, Ezra surveyed his room. His eyes landed on the slim screen and Wii system. Impulsively, Ezra stuffed them into the suitcase. Mommy would never know. Miles away, a lone figure stood staring at the sign. “Kosher family farm?” he spat. “They‛re gonna wish they never came… T h e C r o c s K i d s Part 1: The Crocs Kids Fear a Dismal Summer ESTHER PARDES

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