Disclaimer: I don't own Fiddler on The Roof

Golde's point of view

When Chava was nine I started trying to teach her how to mend and tend and fix. I tried to teach her how to sew. I tried to teach her how to cook. I had taught Tzeitel and Hodel years before and they picked it up quickly. Chava on the other hand didn't pick it up so quickly. After she had poked herself with the sewing needle and burned dinner she started to cry.

"I'm so stupid mama," she said, "I can't do anything right."
I put my hand on her shoulder.

"Chava," I said, "Do you know what I think?"

"You think that paapa cuts his hair way too long," she said eliciting a small smile from me.

"I think," I told her, "that you are the one prophesied about. You are always reading. You know more than any of us. You do wonderful things-"

"Wonderful things? I poked my finger 3 times and burned dinner."

"Chava," I said, "Remember when your sister Shprintze was feeling horrible and you were the only one who could get her to feel better?"

Chava nodded.

"But I'm a girl mama," she said, "GOD wouldn't choose me for anything."

"Ester was a girl and GOD chose her to save the entire Jewish nation," I pointed out, "I'm going to talk to your father about you starting school."

Chava seemed excited about that idea.

"But mama," she added, "What if I'm not the one? What if I just am useless."

"Chava you're nine," I pointed out, "You have plenty of time to find your purpose."

Just then Tevye got home.

He hugged the girls and then kissed me.

"Tevye," I said, "I think we need to send Chava to school."

"Mama thinks that I've got a special purpose," Chava said.

Tevye smiled.

"I will talk with the schoolmaster tomorrow," he said.

"Thank you Tevye," I told him.

"You are welcome," he told me, "Now when is dinner? I'm hungry?"

I had already made another dinner and I put it out.

"This looks good mama," Bielke smiled.

"It smells even better than it looks," Shprintz said.

"I'll bet it tastes even better than that," Tzitel added.

We all enjoyed dinner that night. After we finished Bielke went to bed. Shprintze was tired so she went to bed too. Hodel and Chava went outside and Tzitel went over to Motel's home. Tevye and I were left alone.

"Golde," Tevye said, "Are you sure about this? Chava will be the only girl in school. What if the boys are mean to her?"

"Mendel is in the school," I pointed out, "He and Chava are good friends. He'll protect her."

"You are right," Tevye said, "and do you really think what you said?"

"Yes," I nodded, "Chava needs to find where she belongs. She is wiser than all of us put together."

Tevye nodded.

"I just hope we're doing the right thing," he said.

"We are. I'm sure of it," I said.
The next day Tevye went to talk with the schoolmaster. Chava paced and I paced with her. Tevye came back.

"Well," he told Chava, "You are now a student."

Chava hugged Tevye.

"Thank you paapa," she said, "I love you so much"

Tevye smiled.

"I love you too little Chavala," he said.
Chava loved school. She excelled in everything but especially in reading and creative writing. Those were her favorite subjects