Bubbe’s Shaynekeit

Bubbe’s Shaynekeit - Grandma’s pretty thing

Eli shook the wooden box. Each dull thump vibrated soundlessly into his fingertips, and it grew warmer with each impact. It had severe half-blind dovetail joinery but was accented with three iron nails on all four corners. Eli rubbed his thumbs over the nails, cold in contrast with the warm wood. The iron mortised lock wasn’t originally part of the box. It was hammered in with claw-like nails bent inward around the edges that dug into the box. Above the keyhole, carved and painted red, was [3]אגלא.

Eli sighed. His Hebrew was limited to what he learned for his Bar Mitzvah. He set it back down at the center of a round ornate handkerchief on the side table and sat down in the recliner.

Bubbe Ruzi wasn’t well, and this wasn’t her first stroke. She told him to look after the box while she was in the hospital. It will be his one day, the same way her grandmother left it to her. He needs to learn sooner or later.

Eli took an iron key and the instructions from his pocket:

1.     Feed every fortnight: piece of challah bread soaked in a spoonful of milk and three drops of blood. Leave on saucer in front of box.

2.     Unlock box and stand 3 paces away.

3.     Tell him – Ess dayn esn, yingl, un loz mikh in ru.[4]

Eli took a bite out of the soft, warm challah bread next to the box and shook his head. Weird. He drank the milk that was left next to the bread, it was ice cold. The iron key made the palm of his hand tingle. Tonight was the night, Bubbe reminded him over the phone earlier. Don’t forget to water the olive sapling and tend to the box. Call when done. Let’s get this over with.

            Eli put the wooden box on his lap and inserted the key. The lid flung open. His body went rigid and cold as his hands fell limp into his lap. A small, threadbare golden mouse sat inside with brown button eyes. It tilted its head, left and right. It smiled. Eli wanted to scream but couldn’t. His jaw went lax against his chest and a soggy piece of challah fell out.

            “Rachel fed me milk and blood. You fed me your silence. You are mine now, boy,” said the mouse in deep, rasping voice.

            The mouse rolled onto its back and its chest burst open. A black clawed hand floated out from the hole and sliced open Eli’s throat. Eli shuddered, tears rolling down his cheeks, as he felt the hand enter his body. Eli groaned and panted. The dybbuk[5] melted under his skin, turning his eyes black.

[1] Bubbe – Yiddish; Grandmother

[2] Shaynekeit – Yiddish; literally “pretty thing,” often said ironically

[3] AGLA = Hebrew acronym; Atah Gibor Le’olam Adonai; translation “You are mighty forever, O Lord”

[4] Yiddish; translation: Eat your food, boy, and leave me in peace.

[5] Dybbuk – a malevolent, wandering spirit that clings to and possesses the living, often drawn to people with spiritual weakness or unresolved family sins.