"The gates of repentance are always open." - Pesikta of Rab Kahana, page 142.
"Our father, our king, grant unto us a new year of happiness." - Evening service for the new year. The Union Prayer Book for Jewish Worship, 1945
Widowed Bella Mykoff Silverman and her recently divorced daughter, Janet Silverman Jones, were members of the dwindling Jewish community of Cole, descendants of much larger group who had immigrated to the area in the late 1800s and established businesses, homes, and a few synagogues which, sadly, were either falling into disrepair, or had closed, their contents having been donated either to other synagogues or to a camp in Utica, Mississippi. It was always of interest to "Yankee" tourists that there were any Jews in Mississippi, but the surviving group who remained in the Cole area were a hardworking, humorous, generally happy community. No racism existed between them and other white skinned people of the area though, unfortunately, some of the old timers still held on to outdated segregationist attitudes when it came to blacks who, for the most part, had served both Gentiles and Jews in subservient roles.
Bella'a parents owned, for many years, the only drugstore in town, across the street from their beautiful Victorian house.
When she turned eighteen, Bella married Sam Silverman, and they took over the store. Sam was "no stranger to the bottle," as the old saying goes, and it wasn't long beforre Bella had to hire extra help, then, finally, sell the store. Not long after Janet was born, Sam died. With help and determination, though, Bella maintained her natural beauty and wits, and held on to her property.
From the start, Janet was spoiled. She was the pride and joy of Bella, who, every afternoon, rolled her child around in a stroller, up and down the streets of Cole.
Fortunately, Janet had a sharp mind, and was an outstanding student. When Janet was fifteen, Bella inherited a fortune from a cousin in New York, and invested some of this money in Janet's education at a California university. After her graduation, janet landed a teaching position in a Los Angeles high school.
In 1961, Janet came home for the summer and was soon followed by a tall, dark marine by the name of William Jones. Within weeks, their engagement was announced.
Minor repairs were made to the crumbling old synagogue, and the reception was held in the palatial antebellum home of a family friend, The Oaks. Much todo and fesitvity surrounded the wedding.
After the wedding, Janet and William returned to California.
In June, 1963, after having given birth to a girl, Carrie, Janet phoned Bella, telling her the marriage was all over. Sadly, Janet returned to Cole several weeks later.
Now, Bella, Janet, and little Carrie lived in their restored Main Street home, and were close and happy, though Bella's occasional berating of Janet for this and that, and Janet's heavy smoking gave a puzzling impression to those who didn't know them that well. Bella and Janet, in a way, looked after each other.
Janet taught at Cole High School for two years, but grew tired of teaching. She was now a deputy clerk, and quite satisfied with that job.
Whenever there was a social event in Cole, Janet and Bella usually attended together. Janet talked continuously, and Bella always seemed to be around to keep things on an even keel.
Janet had a relatively quiet social life, though. Her closest friend was a short, handsome, distant cousin named Harry Kahn.
Harry was thirty two, and, like his brother, David, had inherited both a family clothing store and some valuable property which included the palatial old house they shared. They took turns minding the store, but also played a lot of golf, and were fond of parties.
After Fifi's funeral, which Harry attended with Bella and the weeping Janet, the three went to the home of Lu Heidenrich, a close friend, for lunch.
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