Sorting out

An excertp to the manuscript 'Summer tempest'.

 

I've got to go it's getting late… Yoske thought watching his wrist watch. He was sure that Erella has fallen asleep, but she opened her eyes moved her body slightly backwards and leaning on her elbow looked at him.

'As we've already mentioned the security state, tell me Yoske do you believe in the peace agreement?'

'No and I haven't believed in that dumb idea from the very beginning, and you?'

'I don't believe in it too, but what is the reason why you didn't believe in it from its beginning and against the consensus? Erella asked him smiling.

'What's the reason that makes you doubt it?' He retorted stubbornly.

'Don’t answer me with a question but if you insist I'll tell you this, although I don't know exactly why " it's that certain feeling you know; I've never trusted them, never.' She added vehemently. 'I remember the days when you used to take us to the avenue of the wild fig trees, near today's culture hall, and we used to watch their camel caravans; or when you took us for a group activity to their miserable villages in Soumail, in today's Iben Gvirol street, and their kids used to run after us and chant "Palestina bladana kul Yahood calbana" (Palestine is ours all the Jews are our dogs) to spite us, do you remember those times? I remember too the violent events and the war of independence, but why you don't believe in that peace agreement, why?' She added with a note of naivety that surprised him,

'Because there's no possible way to satisfy them, and that's a one and short sentence answer. I can write a book on the reasons why, on their lost honor that is more important to them than life itself; on their disgraceful defeat in the war that they have forced upon us.' He said heated up and made a short pause, but went right on: 'They'll never forgive us and they'll keep blaming us for their own shortcomings, and these facts haven't influenced our statesmen considerations it seems. Okay let's drop that frustrating issue, how long are you going to stay?'

'I haven't decided yet, I've talked with Mike right after I've heard about the car bomb attack he begged me to take the first flight back…' 

Yoske coughed slightly with embarrassment. Must she remind me his existence? Must she extend the gap between us, must she emphasize her elated state?  

 

Haim Kadman 2007 " all rights reserved.