Awakening

On the Saturday night after the holidays Jacob's parents had to return to America to resume their work. This time I accompanied them to the airport, the five of us cramming ourselves into his car for the short ride.

At the port, after the parents received their boarding passes and handed over their luggage, they came back to say their final goodbyes before passing through to the other side of the barrier. Jacob's father gave us all blessings, placing his hands on each of our heads in turn and reciting verses. The mother was urgently giving last minute advice and instructions to her children. Then she turned to me.

"It was nice to meet you. Please be good to my son," she said, almost pleadingly, then pulled me into an embrace and kissed me on the cheek. I kissed her back.