All-of-a-Kind Podcast

When the summer heat is relentless, Mama promises the girls a visit to the beach. The girls help Mama prepare, packing lunches and carrying bundles on the over-crowded streetcar, arriving early enough to swim in the ocean before eating lunch. They play in the sand, and beg to be allowed to visit the midway. Mama relents, but then disaster strikes when Henny gets lost. Mama and Ella fruitlessly search the crowds, until the carnival workers suggest they try the police station. Henny turns up safe and sound, and the family comes back to meet Papa in the sweltering city, almost too tired to tell him of their adventures.

The girls spend a thrilling fourth of July with Charlie and their parents, featuring potato kugel, firetrucks, firecrackers, and even Roman candles. Charlie opens up to the family about his childhood, but while Ella is supposed to be asleep, she overhears the private details of Charlie’s quarrel with his parents and his ongoing search for his sweetheart. Ella’s weeping alerts Mama and Papa and they comfort her. Ella doesn’t confess her secret crush, but goes to bed crying again, heartbroken.

Episode 009 - Mama Has Her Hands Full + Show Notes

Sarah engages in a battle of wills with Mama when she declares that she doesn’t want to eat her soup at the midday meal. Mama insists that Sarah will get nothing else to eat until she eats her soup. Sarah endures family entreaties through dinner, afternoon snack, home and piano lessons, before finally capitulating and eating a few bites of soup at the supper table and being rewarded with a supper that doesn’t consist of soup.

On Purim day the girls accompany Papa to synagogue, and return home for special holiday treats at lunch, like hamantashen and teiglach. Then they dress up in costume to deliver Purim baskets to their relatives and friends and get a chance to show off their costumes. Back at home, the front room is full of many of the same relatives and friends, and the girls get to show off their musical talents in performance, with Ella singing to great acclaim and even praise from Charlie.