“Hello” Rena said shyly “is this Mimi? Avigayil said I should call you”

“Yes this is Mimi, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

“Oh I’m so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Rena”

“Oh yes, Rena” Mimi said cheerfully “I’ve been anticipating your phone call. Avigayil mentioned that her close friend had gotten engaged and would likely be calling me”

“Well I think I want to set up a session to learn some things that you teach. Would that be possible?” Rena asked

“Of course” Mimi answered “the first two sessions will be you alone and then after, if your chosson is willing to, I’d have him join the next few sessions. Don’t worry, everything will become clearer once we meet in person and I’m happy to answer any questions you have. If it works for you, I can see you Tuesday from 1-3”

“Um yeah, that works for me” Rena replied

“Great. I’ll see you then”

Rena hung up the phone feeling a little nervous. She had a kallah class meeting today with Mrs. Rothstein and they were going to start learning the niddah calendar. She was relatively well versed in what to do in regard to niddah but it was a good idea to relearn it with an expert. Also, the haskafa that would be presented alongside the halachos was important for her to learn. She packed her crossbody bag and headed into her car and drove to the rothsteins home.

Rena knocked on the door. Rabbi rothstein answered.

“Hello, I’m here for my kallah class with Mrs. Rothstein” Rena said

“Rena, the one who is engaged to Shimon. If I am not mistaken I believe I made your shidduch” rabbi rothstein said with a slight grin

“Yes, that’s me. I never had a chance to properly thank you”

“We would you like to properly thank me?” Rabbi rothstein asked

Rena stared blankly at rabbi rothstein.

“Um sure” she answered

“Oh Rena, you’re sweet and fine. Don’t worry, your parents took care of the shadchanus and I know you are extremely grateful” rabbi rothstein told her “look, Mrs rothstein is here and available now for you. I’ll be in my study learning baba kama”

Mrs rothstein walked down the stairs in her black pillow case shaped midi skirt and gray wool oversized sweater that has little embroidered black flowers embroidered by the neckline. A safety pin ensured that her collarbone was completely covered. She wore black tights and black loafers. Her shaitel was light brown and hit her shoulders and her makeup was nonexistent. A true eishes chayil epitomizing the lesson of “kol kevudah bas melech pnima”.

“Good afternoon Miss Rena. Let’s head to the dining room so we can begin our lesson”

Rena followed Mrs. Rothstein to the dining room feeling like a provocative fashion model in her fitted knee length pencil skirt, leggings, and oversized sweatshirt. She sat down at the table and endured the lesson of how beautiful taharas hamishpacha is.

“Renala, the halachos of niddah are a gift to us. Hashem knows how we need passion and renewal in our lives so he gave us the mitzva of niddah. It’s one of the three mitzvos that are special for a woman. If we are constantly muttar to our husbands, they would grow bored of us fast. Niddah allows us the opportunity to bond and develop the other elements of our relationship with our spouses without touch or intimate actions. It’s to be cherished, it’s a Bracha” Mrs. Rothstein gushed

“Of course” Rena answered while already calculating how to use birth control pills to extend her cycle

“If you keep niddah properly you will have the most magnificent relationship with your husband. And when you are finally together on that mikvah night, it will be so special. The two weeks when you are tehora you will cherish and you will learn to cherish your niddah weeks as well. This is where we will leave off for today Renala. Does this time next week work?”

“Yes, I’ll see you then”

Rena ran home. Her head was bursting. She had gotten a taste of touch from a man with her hug at her engagement and she was not looking forward to niddah. What she was looking forward to was her lesson with Mimi tomorrow.

Tuesday morning, rena got up and went for a run. Shimon has texted her overnight with a kiss emoji and a link to an article on hunger in Madagascar. She sent back the kiss emoji and quickly scanned the article so she could write back how interesting it was.

At 12:45, she headed to Mimi’s house and arrived perfectly on time. She rang the bell and Mimi answered. She was a very different sort than Mrs rothstein.

“Come in, you must be Rena” Mimi said

“Yes, please don’t call me Renala. My other kallah teacher does and it drives me up a wall” Rena told her

“Oh don’t worry, I’ll stick to your given name” Mimi said with a laugh “follow me”

They headed down to Mimi’s basement and entered a room off to the side of the playroom. Mimi had to unlock the door for the two of them to go inside. Nothing could prepare Rena for what was inside and she gawked in wonder when she stepped in. There were diagrams and pornographic pictures everywhere and countless dildos in a bin on one side of the room. Another box held vibrators and there was an assortment of books covering a myriad of sexual topics.

“Well Rena” mimi said “shall we begin with the really important stuff for your marriage?”