A Wall of Light - Edeet Ravel [10]
The first part of the song isn’t very serious and you can sing it with a hiccup. The voice of dodi—hic! The voice of dodi—hic! My brother David taught me that. But the second part suddenly gets sad and beautiful and full of longing.
Longing is something I feel quite a lot of. Especially when I look past the mountains. I long for something that’s going to happen some day in the future. Something wonderful and exciting that I can’t even imagine now. Like Ali Baba saying abracadabra, sea and sand, take us to another land and then finding caskets overflowing with jewels. Something magic but real.
A Good Tan
— Why did you stay on Eldar?
— I’ve always wanted to have a good tan. Working outdoors all day guarantees an excellent tan.
— Is that the real reason?
— Yes.18
Dori
Daddy finishes talking to the person he met. I’m very hungry today. I think it’s because we had bellybuttons19 for lunch. There isn’t much food on a bellybutton. It’s the same with chicken throats and feet but they’re mostly for sucking or putting in soup. Bellybuttons we get on a plate. There was scrambled egg too but it was too soft. And mashed something that no one ate.
Daddy comes into the Children’s House with me. I see that there’s bread with margarine already on the table but Shoshana says to wait until the food’s ready. Daddy’s there though—so she can’t do anything. On top of that she’s busy talking to him. I take a big bite out of the bread and then another until I finish the whole piece. I love bread and margarine.
Supper tonight is sardines and lettuce and very good potatoes and boring kidney beans. Lulu doesn’t like the beans either. I spill a drop of milk on Lulu’s beans. Just as a joke. Lulu laughs and spills some of her juice on my beans. Jonathan spills a bit of milk into my juice cup. Everyone starts to spill things.
Shoshana sees what’s going on and gets angry. She yells at us that’s it a two minute shower and bed! look at this mess! what kind of children are you?
She grabs Lulu’s arm and pulls her to the shower. The rest of us follow fast so we won’t get pulled too. Lulu’s crying ow ow ow. Shoshana turns on the water for our shower and pulls off Lulu’s clothes. We take off our own clothes as fast as we can. We go into the shower but before we even have a chance to put on soap Shoshana says that’s it and turns the water off. She tells us we have two minutes to brush our teeth and put on pyjamas and line up for the toilet. We do everything she says.
Shoshana isn’t allowed to pull Lulu. And she isn’t allowed to hit us. That’s a rule on Eldar. No hitting children. No hitting anyone.
Shoshana doesn’t follow that rule.
Thy Neck with Chains of Gold
RICKY
Are you visiting your cousin in Haifa this week?
RITA
Why do you want to know?
RICKY
Is Michael giving you a lift?
RITA
Only to the bus stop. If I go.
RICKY
You could invite your cousin to come here sometimes.
RITA
What for?
RICKY
So I could meet him. I mean, any relative of yours might
be a relative of mine. Give me a rag. (To stuff along win-
dow sill)
RITA
(hands him a rag) He works. His wife has small chil-
dren. Why don’t you leave me alone?
RICKY
You’re very devoted to them—giving up your one day
of rest.
RITA
Yes, I am.
RICKY
(looks at window) Now your room can brave the foulest
storm. All you need is Ricky the Ragman.
(rita turns to leave the room. ricky blocks her way.)
RITA
Will you let me go out?
RICKY
What for?
RITA
I have to pee, if you don’t mind.
RICKY
Sure, why didn’t you say so? (Opens door for her)
(rita puts on her boots. marina appears in the doorway)
MARINA
Rita, I want to talk to you.
RITA
Do you mind if I go to the outhouse first? (Exits)
(marina enters the room. Sees ricky who checks the stove)
MARINA
What’s wrong with her?
RICKY
It has something to do with the relative positions of the
sun and moon. (MARINA sits) Sit down, Marina, make
yourself at home.