Exodus - Leon Uris [217]
Kitty’s heart was in her mouth until they were out of Jaffa. They drove to the intersection of Allenby Road and Rothschild Boulevard. Allenby Road was filled with new shops, and Rothschild was a wide street with a center parkway lined with ultramodern three-storied white apartment houses. It was a striking contrast to the flea market of Jaffa. Cars and buses moved in a steady flow and people walked with the big-city gait, all in a hurry.
“It is so thrilling,” Karen said. “I’m glad I was able to come. It is hard for me to realize that everyone here, bus drivers and waiters and salespeople, are all Jews. They built this whole city ... a Jewish city. You don’t understand what that means, do you ... a city in which everything belongs to the Jews.”
Karen’s words annoyed Kitty.
“In America we have many important Jews, Karen, and they are very happy and very much American.”
“But it’s not the same as a Jewish country. It’s not the same as knowing that wherever you go and whatever you do there is still one corner of the earth where you are wanted and that belongs to you.”
Kitty fished in her purse quickly and took out a piece of paper. “Where would this address be?”
Karen looked at the paper. “Two blocks down. When are you going to learn to read Hebrew?”
“Never, I’m afraid,” Kitty said, then added quickly, “I chipped two teeth trying to say some words yesterday.”
They found the address. It was a dress shop.
“What are you going to get?” Karen asked.
“I’m going to buy you a decent wardrobe. It’s a surprise from Brigadier Sutherland and me.”
Karen stopped dead. “I couldn’t,” she said.
“What’s the matter, dear?”
“There is nothing wrong with what I’m wearing.”
“It is fine for Gan Dafna ...” Kitty said.
“I have all the clothing I need,” Karen insisted.
Sometimes she sounds like Jordana Ben Canaan, Kitty thought. “Karen, let’s not forget that you are a young lady. You won’t be betraying the cause if you dress up in something nice once in a while.”
“I am quite proud of ...”
“Oh, quiet!” Kitty said with finality. “You sound more like a sabra every day. When you are away from Gan Dafna with me you are going to make me and Bruce proud of you.”
Kitty appeared angry and sounded adamant. Karen bit her lip and retreated. She peeked out of the comer of her eye at the full-skirted mannequins in the window. “It isn’t fair to the rest of the girls,” she said in a final effort.
“We’ll hide the dresses under the rifles if it will make you happy.”
A few moments later she was bouncing before the mirror, happily staging a one-woman fashion show and terribly pleased that Kitty had been insistent. It did feel so wonderful and look so wonderful! How long had it been since she wore nice things? Denmark ... so long ago that she had almost forgotten. Kitty was as delighted as she watched Karen transform herself from peasant to soignée teen-ager. They walked the length of Allenby Road, still shopping, and turned into Ben Yehuda Street at the Mograbi Square, loaded with packages. They plopped down at a table at the first sidewalk café. Karen gobbled an ice-cream soda and watched the panorama of passing people with wide eyes.
She shoved a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. “This is the nicest day I can remember,” she said. “It would be perfect if Dov and Ari were here.”
She was adorable, Kitty thought. Her heart was so filled with goodness she wanted only to give to others.
Karen meditated as she sipped from the bottom of the glass. “Sometimes I think we have picked a pair of lemons.”
“We?”
“You know ... you and Ari. Me and Dov.”
“I don’t know what on earth gives you the impression there is something between Mr. Ben Canaan and myself, but you are quite, quite, quite mistaken.”
“Ha, ha, ha,” Karen answered. “Is that why you twisted your neck watching every truck that came in the gate before the Shavuot celebration yesterday? Just who were you looking for if not Ari Ben Canaan?”
“Humph,” Kitty grunted, and sipped her coffee to cover her guilty confusion.
Kitty shrugged as she wiped at her lips. “Gosh, anyone could tell you are sweet