by Kate Neuman

In the vast, wood-vaulted, ship-like library (est. 1889) that is the pride of Norfolk, CT (est. 1758), a small white-haired woman orchestrates “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” She divides us into groups, one for each day. “Stand up when your turn comes!” she exhorts. We, dutiful and laughing, pop up and down as we sing. 

“And now, let’s sing a song for our Jewish friends. Page 10. Hava Nagila.” Blank stares surround me; she leads it as a dirge. No one but me, it seems, has heard this song before. I must be the friend she was speaking of.

Kate Neuman is a New York-based writer and actor whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Iowa Review, The Independent (UK), Juxtaprose, The Village Sun, and Six Hens. You can read more of her writing at KateNeuman.com.