A Late Divorce Read Online Free PDF Page A

this fast way of talking that reminded me of Tsvi’s I took out a cup and the sugar I brought him milk and instant coffee I even put the kettle on the stove and told him to light it he did with one hand I took some cake from the bread box he smiled I see you know your way around here I didn’t answer though I knew what he was getting at he cut a piece of cake for us both and gave me mine as though the guest was me and not him. The water boiled he poured it with one hand he held the baby with the other he sat down to drink. The rain was quiet outside it ran down the window what’s all this rain he said. It’s the last one I said so he said it doesn’t look like the last one to me it’s plain rain and there’s going to be plenty more he seemed sore at it so I asked have you had the last rain in America yet there’s no last rain there he said that’s an Israeli invention so now he was sore at all of Israel. The baby lay on his knees watching him put cake in his mouth and drink his coffee. Every now and then her eyes closed from sleepiness but she kept moving her mouth as though she were eating along with him. All at once she sat up with a whimper so he put some cake on his fork and stuck it in her mouth at first the fork scared her but then she started to suck on the cake because she has no teeth so he gave her some more and she ate that too she didn’t know what to make of it. I don’t know if mom would have allowed it but he was in charge now he was from the minute he got up.
    She kept eating and he fed her with a smile she really reeks he said we have to wash her. He pushed the plate away. Who baked this cake your mother? Your grandmother baked wonderful cakes.
    â€œMy grandma in the hospital?”
    â€œYes.”
    I didn’t say anything. He looked at me.
    â€œNo one’s ever taken you to see her?”
    â€œNo. They don’t want me to catch it from her.”
    â€œCatch it?!” he almost shouted. “Catch what?”
    â€œWhat she’s got.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. Who told you that?”
    â€œMy dad.”
    â€œWhat does your father know about such things!”
    I didn’t say anything. He looked at me.
    â€œI’ll tell your mother to take you to see your grandmother. She loved you so much when you were a baby.”
    I didn’t say anything.
    All of a sudden Rakefet fell asleep with her open mouth smeared with chocolate. She’s already asleep I said maybe you don’t have to bathe her.
    â€œDoesn’t she like baths?”
    â€œSometimes. She likes it when mom sings to her.”
    It was awfully weird to be talking like that with a new grandpa I didn’t even know. The baby was really asleep all that chocolate cake must have pooped her out. Grandpa was thinking. I guess he was afraid to give her a bath too but when he smelled her he made up his mind we have to he said you’ll help me. All right I said but I hope you realize that she’ll start screaming again.
    â€œWe’ll survive. When you were little your father and mother once left you with us in Tel Aviv and you screamed all night long. Your grandmother didn’t sleep a wink.”
    â€œDid she take care of me?”
    â€œYou bet.”
    â€œWas she sick then too?”
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œWhy did mom and dad bring me to you?”
    â€œThey just wanted a little rest from you.”
    He bent over again to smell the baby sleeping in her BM like the smell was supposed to tell him what to do all of a sudden I thought suppose I really caught what grandma has she must have had it then too. And just then something hurt near my heart it was even right in my heart. Why did mom and dad have to leave me with them? Grandpa stood up and put Rakefet in her crib I showed him where everything was and how to fill the bath he opened the closet and began taking out clothes and diapers and a towel it was weird how he poked around in