A gloomy visit

The entrance door opened up and Nehama his wife entered.

'You said you'll come in an hour or two to help me, and we'll return home together.' She opened up with a rather mild complaint.

'Oh, it's that terror attack…' He muttered surprised. She didn't expect to find me at home she must have had her suspicions again, and as she realized that she's wrong, she would surely calm down and won't get on my nerves as she usually does.

Thus against his own will Yoske reverted again into the dreary reality of their mutual life.

'So there was a terror attack, there were past attacks and there will be attacks in the future. It's hard to believe that it did impress you that much? Do you want me to believe that you've sat all along the afternoon before the TV set, at your age? You aren't an inexperienced youngster, and I'm not the fool that would believe you!' She added in a sudden loud cry.

He started to cough and to clear his throat, and was about to answer her but kept silent with much effort.

'Talma and Ruvke are coming tonight, have you forgotten it? What am I saying they should have been here already.' Nehama added angrily watching him with an accusing stare. 'What's the matter with you, do you expect me to do all the work alone, after I've been on my feet all day long?' She kept on grumbling.

'So help me I've really forgotten it.' He noted surprised with a short laugh, trying to calm down the atmosphere.

The Etsiony's arrived within a few moments, Yoske received them cordially after the usual greeting he accompanied them to the living room, up to the comfortable armchairs opposite the TV screen that kept displaying the horrible sights and to broadcast the hysterical reporters voices; and then he rushed back to the kitchen for another round of refreshments.

On coming back he put the load on the small round table and joined their guests – Nehama was still in the kitchen.

'Why don't you cut that fuss off, and sit with us, who is hungry at all?' Ruvke remarked gloomily.

'That's true indeed, who feels like eating, and Nehama hasn't finished yet cooking. But you shall have to eat or face Nehama's wrath…' Yoske replied ironically.

Talma burst out in a nervous laugh, while her husband sitting between her and Yoske, did not comment.

The three of them sat on in tensed silence, watching the TV screen, till Nehama returned from the kitchen and switched off the TV set.

'Enough, how many times do we have to watch these horrible scenes? They won't stop repeating those atrocities all along the evening!'

'We wished to see the commercials,' Ruvke muttered with emphasized indifference.

'It's a wonderful opportunity to make money more than in any other day.' Yoske echoed after him sarcastically. 'It drives my crazy how they don't reach the conclusion that in such circumstances they may cut off the commercials for a while. Well if we say that we must keep on living, what we mean in keeping on living, to eat, go out without giving up our personal aims – but to continue with those breaks for commercials! They'll keep transmitting it longer than usual, for there is rating and the entire nation is sitting and watching, a rare opportunity to brainwash the viewers.'

'Watch channel one then!' Nehama blurted out decisively.

'Really to listen to those left wing extremists and their theories on the enemies of peace…' He regretted right away his blunt reply, for he did not hurt Nehama alone but their guests too, Talma and Ruvke who were left wingers.

An embarrassing silence dawned on them for a few seconds, for that red line was never crossed before between them, they never had before political arguments.

'It's the channel of reason!' Ruvke declared decisively, turning to his host with a look of reproach.

'Okay I haven't said a thing, I apologize,' Yoske mumbled quite embarrassed.

'You don't have to apologize Yoske it's simply isn't an easy day, that's how things are. It doesn't amaze me as a matter of fact, I'm assaulted too by rather different thoughts...' Talma remarked solemnly. 'How can we accept such intolerable state of affairs?'

Nehama did not comment, but took the remote control and switched on the TV set once more.

Just a moment ago she snatched the remote control and switched off the set and she wasn't far from bursting out with shrieks of – enough with it…Yoske thought worried. She doesn't know what's going on with her this woman!

© Haim Kadman 2007 – all rights reserved.