The gift

On waking, I find a ladybug on my pillow. I’m reminded that in Hungarian we call this small insect katicabogár. Katica is the Hungarian diminutive of Katherine. I say it out loud: Katica, Katica, Katica, till it understands its name, unfolds its wings and launches itself into the air, only to change its mind and perch on my shoulder. Later that day, when the rain begins, it rains challah. During the downpour I am able to harvest three full baskets of it. That evening, when I set the table for dinner, I notice that neither of us has a mouth. Where our mouths were, now we have love locks. I half a challah and witness how hungrily we devour it with our eyes.