A Wall of Light - Edeet Ravel [37]
missed that day.
Isaac:
We do in fact have a policy that artists get extra time to
work on their art.
Oded:
Yes, but not a whole year. Besides, you have to prove
yourself first, publish at least a story or a few poems.
Anyone can call himself a writer. Has anyone read
his book?
Coco:
The fact is, it was published.
Oded:
I’ve heard he paid to have it published.
Isaac:
We’re getting off-topic. The literary merit of Naftali’s
book is not the issue.
Nurit:
I agree. The issue is that he stayed away and the reason
is irrelevant. Even if his parents were dying, let’s say, it
wouldn’t be relevant. The point is that an extension was
not approved.
Isaac:
It may be difficult for the younger members to grasp
what Naftali contributed from day one, what sort of
conditions we endured. Ten years of devoted hard
labour, day in day out, count for something.
Martin:
“Saint Peter don’t you call me, cause I can’t go …”
Isaac:
I suggest we set up a special committee to see what other
Shomer kibbutzim have done in similar cases and pro-
ceed from there. All in favour?
Dori
In Canada I had two dresses I loved. Pioneers aren’t supposed to like dresses but I couldn’t help it. One was a red velvet jumper with a white lace blouse. The red was the most beautiful red in the world and the blouse had a lace collar and pearl buttons. When I wore it I felt like a piece of cake with icing.
The second dress had black and white stripes and buttons like jewels. I wanted to keep it for the rest of my life but I don’t know where it is now.
I wish I still had it. I wish I wish I wish.
Our First Year
3 May 1949. A number of our comrades accepted an invitation to see a play staged by the schoolchildren of Jish. Another enjoyable experience in cementing Jewish–Arab friendship.
Dori
It’s Sukkot today. What a balagan!46 We’re supposed to decorate a sukkah but we don’t know which one or where. We go to the older Group’s sukkah but they don’t want us there. We go to the younger Group’s sukkah but it’s already decorated. We run back and forth back and forth all day long looking for a sukkah to decorate.
In the end I go to the Room and Daddy gives me some figs but they’re the dried kind. I haven’t had a fig from a tree in a long time. They’re hard to find.
Mummy comes into the Room. She looks very tired. She sits down on the sofa and we read from the English rhyme book. She loves that book.47 The drawings only have three colours—red and blue and yellow—but most of them are pretty. Mummy likes rhymes I don’t really understand—
The king of France
With forty thousand men
Rode up the hill
And then came down again
or
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
There isn’t much of a story there. There’s a beginning and an end but nothing in the middle. But they make Mummy laugh.
Then we sing Au clair de la Lune—
Au clair de la lune
Mon ami Pierrot
Prtmoitplmprecrirunmo
Ma chandelle est morte
Jnpltfeu
Ovrmtprt
Pour l’amour de dieu
Now that is a good story.
Thy Neck with Chains of Gold
RITA
I once told you I don’t want anyone watching over me.
You act as if you have special privileges.
RICKY
I thought I did have special privileges. Maybe it’s my
imagination, but didn’t we at one time take long walks
in the field and talk about our dreams? Before you
started going into town to visit your cousin.
RITA
Look, Ricky. I want my own room, I want to do what I
want when I want. I don’t want to be tied down.
RICKY
Don’t give me that claptrap. I know you better than any-
one around here. You always asked me to be with you
when you were alone, to listen to your thoughts, sympa-
thize with your aches and pains. I read Omar Khayyam
to you to help you fall asleep. And when you quarrelled
with one of the girls, on whose shoulder did you cry?
RITA
Ricky, maybe you should find—
RICKY
Let’s get married.