20 | MARCH 4 • 2021 

H

ow sweet it is to 
have good neighbors 
during a pandemic.
When 8-year-old twins 
Sara and Bella Selesny of 
Southfield get bored, they 
need to go no further than 
across the street to visit with 
their good friend Sheila 
Guyer, who is 80.
There, ever since they 
can remember and were old 
enough to cross the street 
by themselves, Guyer’s home 
has been a place where on 
Shabbat afternoons they 
would enjoy the company of 
their neighbor. They spend 
the time playing games, 

reading from books like 
Amelia Bedelia or admiring 
Guyer’s collection of intricate 
pop-up books.
When the pandemic 
canceled all summer 
camping activities, Guyer 
welcomed the girls over a 
few times a week to play 
and do other camp-style 
backyard activities. 
Over the years, Guyer 
has also taught the twins to 
sew, bake and cook. Since 
the pandemic set in, the two 
families have included one 
another in their pandemic 
bubble. 
When the girls were 5, 

the three started the “Sweet 
Café.” Run out of Guyer’s 
home, it is an exclusive 
eatery whose clients are 
limited to the Selesny family 
and a few other neighbors. 
Each week, the twins and 
Guyer plan simple menus 
of tuna and egg salad or 
grilled cheese sandwiches or 
baked macaroni and cheese, 
plus some baked treats 
and homemade ice cream 
sandwiches.
The Sweet Café has served 
as many as 20 customers 

per week. The twins split 
their earnings three ways — 
equally between themselves 
with the final third given 
to tzedakah. Before the 
pandemic, Guyer arranged 
and set up tables in her 
home, the girls designing 
menus and centerpieces. 
Now, customers place orders 
over the phone and pick 
them up on Guyer’s front 
porch. 
The twins’ father, Joey 
Selesny, said they are 
blessed to have two sets 

Intergenerational buddies feed the 
people in their neighborhood.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fast Friends

OUR COMMUNITY

PHOTOS BY JERRY ZOLYNSKY

The three friends 

enjoy a “food 

challenge” in 

Sheila’s kitchen.

Sheila watches 

as the girls 

play Jenga. 

