Page 42 of The Dreidl Disaster

“Let me get this straight,” Abe said with a grin, and paused for dramatic effect.

Artur nodded, knowing he was in trouble.

“You need me to pull together a barbecue party.”

“Yes,” he said. “Maybe a way to, you know, try your recipes for new places and meet some people.”

Abe laughed; his best friend could see right through him. Hopefully the prospect of all of this was enough to make it happen.

“Right. And if I agree to do this thing…a random pop-up that’s accessible to you and a small group of people, I’ll be covering up the fact you’re asking this woman…the Mayor of Briarwood no less, on a date.”

Artur nodded. “Yes,” he said, realizing how ridiculous he was being. “That’s what I’m asking you.”

Abe didn’t respond immediately, which Artur would chalk up to his good luck, the timing, or whatever plan his best friend was forming in his head.

“So,” Abe finally said, breaking the silence and making Artur a little nervous. “What’s the catch? For me, I mean. What do I get out of it?”

“Yes,” Batya said; she’d been strangely silent, which was unlike her. He’d known her a long time, not as long as he’d known Abe, but long enough to know this was out of character for her and did not bode well. “I mean I certainly see the benefits for you, Artur, but what does my husband get for doing this?”

He had to think fast.

What could he give Abe and Batya that they’d accept? What could he do to justify this ridiculous favor?

And then he got it.

The one thing neither of them could say no to.

“How about this,” he said. Hoping this gamble would work. “You can invite a select number of people who will spend the time giving me the business? Me specially, and not her because this is…”

“A cover-up,” Abe replied. “Yes. I get it. You’re going to get the business of course, but from a select group of people of my choosing, who will meet her andbehave,before giving you the business later?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Is that the offer on the table?”

Artur nodded. “Yes.”

“And when would you want me to do this?”

“Next weekend? I’m not that horrible a person.”

“You’re not horrible but you’re not as altruistic as you think.” Abe turned to Batya as Artur waited. “What do you think?”

Batya took another slice of the brisket. “I think we might be able to pull this off. A fun barbecue party before I take off for a bit and you get deep into work?”

“A fun pop-up thing.” Abe nodded his head and Artur realized this was going to happen. Which surprised him, but also relieved him.

“I like this,” Abe continued before turning to Batya. “Who do we ask?”

“Leo, Sapna, Claire and her girlfriend…”

“Whose name we don’t yet know,” Artur pointed out, as they fell into conversation about their old High School Quiz Bowl teammate.

“Claire isn’t sure whether this is serious,” Batya interjected. “So she’s waiting. It’s like a meeting-the-parents vibe. Speaking of she’s…do you think the mayor will want to bring people?”

“She’s got two cousins and a sister,” Artur replied. “So possibly three, six, somewhere in between.”

“That works,” Batya said. “But also, Sarah and Isaac, Anna and Jacob.”

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