Some facts of life

This is an excerpt of my short story that opens up my third anthology of short stories with the same title.

‘Do you know Ahiraz Getalong?’

He raised his eye brows with wonder. ‘No, I don’t…’ A smile of embarrassment has formed on his lips.

She has been roaming around in his apartment some twenty minutes at least; checking his walls, coming to a halt before each painting, and now at last she opened up her mouth.

‘He’s a painter of some renown I believe; he was one of the pupils of well… you know that famous one who was hospitalized and the whole country mourned him already, while he got out of it, and he’s still alive and paints.’

Who doesn’t know him…? He thought frustrated.  She means that amoeba no doubt, which divided itself to tens or much more. He’s seen many a time paintings, which he was convinced were of that certain amoeba, but learned to his surprise that they were in fact of his many different pupils �" the one and only difference was the signature at the bottom.

‘Oh yes I know him I believe and heard his name if I’m not wrong.’ He said with a note of disappointment.

‘I’ve two of Ahiraz paintings hanging in my living room, and half a dozen paintings of some others, though less notorious than him �" but they’re worth quite a sum.’ She emphasized raising her chin with resoluteness.

He was on the verge of losing his temper that rare name for truth sake never reached his ears; and he could not have seen of course any of his works. He mumbled a word of apology and turned to the table where his friend, who bothered to bring along that acquaintance of hers, on that Saturday morning  sat  smoking.

‘Give me a cigarette,’ he asked her trying his best to calm down, leaving his potential buyer on her own.

The latter abandoned his walls just as well, and hastened to join them.

‘I haven’t told you yet about our last vacation in Eilat, have I?’ She turned to his friend. ‘You’d better listen to it you two; it’s rather relevant to our matter.’ She declared decisively, exchanging meaningful glances with her little audience.

The dam has toppled down all a sudden, she kept quiet too long it seems. He thought disappointed, and poured his guests a drink of a homemade lemonade; which he prepared for this sale opportunity.

His potential buyer did not drink and sat on ignoring the full glass and the refreshments, prepared especially for that meeting. As if it was some symbolic act. For if she will drink she will have to thank him for his hospitality and attention in some way…While if she doesn’t she may leave empty handed.

What a miserable idea, and there’re some who take it as a clever trick. He went on thinking disappointed.

‘We spent our last vacation in Eilat for two weeks Gadi and me, my husband…’ She added laying quite a stress on her last syllables, watching his face with a meaningful gaze. Like some warning in advance, as if to say that she isn’t game at all, but she is well aware to her force of attraction. As that was no doubt her own judgment, she thought she’d better let him understand that flirting won’t promote him anywhere.

‘Two weeks in Eilat with all the expected comfort, aren’t an everlasting pleasure it seems. We’ve reached that conclusion during our second week there of course. So, we’ve decided to leave earlier than planned. We left on Saturday morning, at day break. It was a great idea, the road was empty, and we reached the town of Beer-Sheva at about a quarter to nine. At the cafe where we sat to have our first morning coffee, Gadi saw some announcement advertising an exhibition of the painter I’ve been telling you about.’ She smiled cheerfully to her host. ‘So Gadi said let’s rest up to ten o’clock, which is the opening hour and hop to visit it. I objected of course and that was our first dispute…’ She recalled with much exuberance.

‘To argue with Gadi is impossible, I couldn't convince him and had to visit that exhibition with tight lips. But I made him pay quite dearly.’ She added with a short gay laugh.

‘As we were the only visitors at that early hour, I’d a very long chat with the artist, made him explain all the exhibits and made poor Gadi terribly jealous. and that wasn’t all… I’ve bought the two most expensive paintings in that exhibition. That was first time I’ve seen my Gadi on the verge of losing his temper.’

‘Wasn’t you supposed to pick up Gadi at eleven thirty?’ Asked her his close friend, rising to her feet.

Despite his disappointment he followed his guests down to the parking lot, with some relief.

‘Your paintings are, how should I define it? Impressive, yes that’s the right term, absolutely impressive.’ She said opening her car’s door, far from the danger of any commitment.

‘I’d like to have a second look at them, before reaching any decision.’ She added with a polite smile and understanding.

‘I’ll keep in touch.’ She went on behind the steering wheel, and started the car’s engine.

 Haim Kadman 1978 (published April the 2^nd 2013 �" all rights reserved.