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board) In the kitchen!

ELI

That’s right. Early shift.

(MICHAEL curses under his breath)

MICHAEL

Let me drive the tractor tomorrow.

RITA

Just like the kids. Anything on wheels.

ELI

Be thankful I didn’t put you on guard duty. The army

found a mine and tracks that led across the border …

MICHAEL

I’ll guard all night.

ELI

It’s not necessary. We need you in the kitchen—at

4:30 a.m.

MICHAEL

Yes, Boss.

ELI

Don’t call me Boss.

MICHAEL

Sorry, Boss.

RITA

I’ll make you some coffee, Eli. You’d better put on

gatkes or you’ll freeze on guard tonight.

MICHAEL

Gatkes! What are we, decrepit?

RITA

It has nothing to do with being decrepit.

ELI

Actually, I think I have a little rheumatism.

MICHAEL

There, what did I tell you?

ELI

(to RITA) You’ve been Michael’s neighbour for years.

How do you tolerate him?

RITA

I’m very good with problem children. (She is about to

give ELI his coffee but MICHAEL takes it out of her hands)

What are you doing?

MICHAEL

He won’t drink this capitalist brew. This coffee was

ground by an international imperialist monopoly.

RITA

(takes cup) Oh, shut up.

MICHAEL

Where have all our principles gone to?

Dori

I tell Daddy about Elan. I lie on the floor of the Room and I put my arms out to show him.

Daddy doesn’t say anything. I don’t understand. If he believes me why doesn’t he do something? And if he doesn’t believe me why doesn’t he believe me?

I did cheat once in War. Daddy knew I was cheating. I gave myself all the good cards. Daddy asked did you take all the good cards for yourself ? and I said no and then a few cards later he asked again and I said no again but he knew I was lying because it’s too much of a coincidence for one person to get all the kings and queens and jacks. But it was only a game.

And he doesn’t know about the time I pinched Sara’s foot.

By the way, it isn’t fun playing War if you give yourself all the good cards. You know you’re going to win and then you win.

Age of Innocence

Dori

I am really in love with Tarzan.

Transcript of Education Committee Meeting May 1961

Chair:

Coco

Present:

Shoshana, Doreet, Edna, Varda, Amos, Martin

Coco:

Since the problem with Muki’s bedwetting solved

itself, Varda would like to bring up the subject of read-

ing to children at bedtime.

Varda:

Yes, thank you. I noticed that some Minders don’t read

to the younger children at all. At every teachers’ con-

ference I’ve been to there’s been a huge emphasis on

reading out loud. And the children absolutely love it.

Amos:

I have “Reading to Children” in my index, if anyone

wants to look up articles.

Coco:

Your wonderful index! Thank you for keeping that

up, Amos.

Varda:

Yes, thank you, Amos. I know when I was a Minder I

used to read to the children at least an hour a day, usu-

ally more. That doesn’t include songs and poetry. And

now that I’m teaching it hasn’t changed. If anything,

I read to them even more. Storytime is the children’s

favourite activity, they always beg for more. We’ve

almost finished Gulliver’s Travels.

Edna:

Don’t forget that parents also read to their children

during Visits.

Varda:

Not all parents have the time, the energy, the inclina-

tion or even the Hebrew reading skills.

Martin:

Yes, Schopenhauer in Hebrew is quite a challenge.

Varda:

What do you think, Doreet?

Doreet:

We just had a shipment of new books for little ones—it

arrived on Sunday. Some lovely treasures there.

Amos:

Yes, though they all dispersed quite fast into the

Diaspora of the Rooms. I think I have a vague notion

of who has what …

Coco:

Let’s bring it to a vote. Should we require all Minders to

read to children, if possible, starting with the toddlers?

Vote:

For = 7 Against = 0

Shoshana:

I would like to bring up the subject of some children

getting tucked in by parents while others are not.

Varda:

We already discussed this and agreed to