A Wall of Light - Edeet Ravel [49]
Now Shoshana’s really angry. She gives it to him a third time. He still throws up. There’s less throw-up this time because there isn’t a lot left in his stomach.
I feel bad for Elan. Very bad. But Shoshana hates him. She hates all of us but she hates him the most.
Shoshana says we have to have cod liver oil every day now. I don’t understand it. Eldar is supposed to be nice to children.
Thy Neck with Chains of Gold
RIVKA
Ricky doesn’t believe in my Polish cousin.
MICHAEL
Do you care what Ricky thinks?
RIVKA
He said people are talking.
MICHAEL
Is that why you didn’t come into town this week?
RIVKA
No. I wasn’t able to get a day off. (She breaks away from
him) Michael, I’m pregnant. Michael—let’s get out of
here. We’ll go away—back to America—and we’ll be
together, in the open. No more hiding.
MICHAEL
You’re not serious? Look, Rivka, I’ve no intention of
ever going back.
RIVKA
It’s not so bad there. You had bad luck—but now it’ll
change.
MICHAEL
If it’s so great there, why did you leave?
RIVKA
I … believed.
MICHAEL
I believed too.
RIVKA
I grew up with Israel on my lips. But maybe now we’ve
done our duty. They can get along without us. No one
is indispensable.
MICHAEL
I fought for this country and now that it’s ours I won’t
leave it. It’s also mine, you understand—mine. And
I’m going to die here, Rivka. (Pause) The other day
I climbed the mountain and picked the spot where
they’ll bury me. I planted four little trees to shade my
grave. They need time to grow. I have to stick around.
This is my home.
RIVKA
All right, we’ll stay. We’ll move to the city—
MICHAEL
But I like it here.
RIVKA
What do you like about it? You drive the truck to get
away.
MICHAEL
I’ve been thinking … I want to start a high school here
in Eldar, for our children and children from the poor-
est neighbourhoods in the country. I’ve seen them on
my trips, living in hovels, barely enough to eat. We can
bring them here and teach them, give them a chance.
RIVKA
Then we’ll stay here and you’ll leave Marina.
MICHAEL
Why?
RIVKA
Michael, don’t you love me?
Dori
I’m alone in the Children’s House. Suddenly I notice Skye’s necklace. The one with the gold heart. It’s in a little box on her bed. A pretty blue box.
I take the bracelet outside and dig a hole in the ground and bury it.
It’s not a very nice thing to do. Skye is going to miss that bracelet.
I can tell her where I buried it if she asks. I didn’t throw it out.
I have some things that are only mine—like the little doll furniture on the tray. But I keep them in the Room. I don’t bring them to the Children’s House where everyone can see them and be jealous.
Our First Year
30 August 1949. We began the grape harvest yesterday. Some of the fruit is inferior, but there are many bunches that hang like clusters of monstrous jewels, succulent grapes the size of small plums, beautifully formed, with a powdery bloom that rubs off leaving an enamelled surface, shiny and sometimes pitch black.
Dori
Skye’s been asking about her bracelet. I want to tell her where it is but the problem is that I forgot where I buried it.
Diary of a Young Man
18 March 1922. Sometimes you’re lying in bed, thinking about the commune, and suddenly you hear the sound of weeping. You get up and step outside to help your comrade in distress. But next to the tent where the sound is coming from several young women have gathered and they gesture to you, “Don’t come near!” They’re watching and helping. There are already quite a few experts in hysteria.
Dori
We’re at Galron and we’re having a problem. Carmella doesn’t know we’re here and there’s a dog barking in front of the door. He looks dangerous.
We’re afraid to go into the yard. Shoshana’s afraid too. We keep waiting for Carmella but she doesn’t come.
Finally Skye decides to be brave. She goes into the yard and walks sideways very very slowly. She keeps her back to the fence and then to the wall.
But the dog jumps