To America and Back

by Mordechai Landsberg

On the Annoucements stand, near the Cash window, there was an advertisement for ‘New and Old Israeli Songs’.The small letters in that ad were telling: ‘The singer will be Semadar, who has come directly from Israel.’ Her photo in blue was at the ad’s side. Humik told his friend Mike that he wouldn’t object to make acquaintance with that girl, but he should see her first.

  “Though I presume that there are tens of guys, who would like to meet the singer,” he added.

  “You don’t get an Inferiority Complex,” said the third guy, “She may have many courtiers, but if you want – try. As for myself, I am not interested in young girls. I have my mature girlfriend, and she’s enough for me.”

  “I want to meet an American girl,” said Mike, “one who would like to improve my English by chatting a lot, and … make love.”

  “So, we will not compete about that singer,” smiled Humik.

  Mike pointed on an old Ford car that was parking nearby.

  A suited gentleman and two young women got out of it.

  “Oh”, said Mike, “ I see there two girls arriving, escorted by the dark man. Maybe we’ll have two singers, not one? Oh, one is holding a Music notes booklet, she’s the accompanist. The man is their manager or organizer.”

  The girls, aged about twenty, were dressed in ‘Yemenite’ black ebmroidered shirts and long black skirts. From far the guys couldn’t discern that one was wearing a golden thick bracelet.

  The two singers and their escort male entered the front door of the small Club’s Hall, not looking at the guys standing nearby. Mike said to Humik: “Look, yopu’re not too tall for both girls.” Humik said: “ I think I’d like to talk to the girl with the notes.”

  “She is not the singer Semadar Dahiry,” said Mike. “You said before- that you liked her on the ad’s photo… I once went out to watch movies – with her younger sister. Or I am mistaken. They are four sisters.”

  “But who is the other girl?” asked Humik,“I’m interested in her.”

  “I think she is Semadar’s friend, a piano accompanist named Tamy. On the ad – her name was ommited. Maybe she will also sing… Get inside, the show has to begin. Why are we waiting?”

  “There are hundred people inside,” said Mike’s room mate, “Let’s buy three tickets,” and he soon did that.

  Entering the Show Hall, Mike recalled that somebody had told him about Tamy. “She has a small limp in her left foot,” he told Humik, “We couldn’t just discern that from far, but I’m sure.”

  “I don’t mind,” said Humik. “I sympathise her face and figure, that’s what important to me.”

  The third guy suddenly whispered to Mike:

  “If she has one leg shorter, than the longer one will compensate him for the shortage.” Both roommates laughed, but Humik’s face remained solemn.

  “I remember,” said Mike to Humik, “that Semadar’s sister was a traditional – almost religious; and so is Semadar, too. You should ask Tamy, in case that you date with her, if she is also a burning God Believer, like Semadar. I know you as only traditional, not really religious.” Mike laughed.

  “ I don’t hate religious people,” said Humik, “in contrast to you.”

  “Ye-e-s. You are right. So, you may like Tamy. But if you want … You can also try wooing Semadar. Her father is a half Rabbi.”

  “No. I’d like to talk only with Tamy,” repeated Humik, “She seems to me more broad minded. The Music notes are an evidence for that. Maybe she’s come to New York for studying.”

  “O’key, we’ll know more about her after the show.” said Mike. Soon they found their assigned seats, and were ready to watch and listen.

  The two girls began their Show, while Tamy was sitting at the piano and accompanying. In some parts of the first song she was

  also singing- but she had not been a soprano like Semadar, and she was singing a ‘second voice’.

  The second song was familiar to Humik: It was Bab El Wad – about a wadi on the road to Jerusalem, where a bloody fight had taken place. At some moment Mike elbowed Humik at the right side of his ribs, hinting him to stop buzzing with the melody. He was angry that Humik had enjoyed the Show, which he had not. Or maybe he was jealous of Humik, who would try to date with an Israeli girl, while he- Mike himself – still hadn’t found a girl. And maybe Mike was just jealous that Humik had

  already an American citizenship? ‘That is a huge advantage for a guy’- Humik recalled that Mike had told him the day before.

  He suddenly remembered how in their childhood he had taught Mike the legend about the Ram and king David. Afterward Humik came to Rabbi Aaron, asking what that legend had meant to teach. His Rabbi said: “Oh, that Illusion has a most powerful impact upon human beings! Even King David’s eyes had deluded him… When you grow up you’ll read about king David’s sins, due to his big eyes. They were numerous, but God helped him.” …

  “Well,” said Mike to Humik in the Show’s intermission, “When the Show ends we’ll approach the girls. I will talk to Samadar and Tamy, and introduce you to both.”

  “Thank you,” said Humik.

  While listening to the coming songs, Humik told himself: ‘It’s a pity that Mom is not here. She would have enjoyed those old songs, based on Russian melodies. But she’ll be against the idea that I would court an Israeli girl…She does not understand it’s good for my spirit, that I’ll recollect my native country by talking to somebody who’s just arrived from there. Yes, I am attracted to the sad and dangerous land. The political and military situation there is not as used to be. The New York Times said today, that the Egyptian Dictator, Nasser- had nationalized Suets Canal. He would challenge the British and French, who were owning the Canal since engineer Leseps’ days. And now Russia has signed with him a big Arms supply Contract, which is a danger for Isarel…

  When the Show was over, the singers were applaude. So they were singing again the last song ‘Shekharkhoret’(Black haired girl). The guys told each other, that the Show had been “an imressive one”, and Mike winked to his roommate. But Humik had sincerely thought so. Then four of five guys walked from the audience seats to the stage. They were talking to the singers, while Humik and his friends were still waiting.

  “To be fair about the girls,” Mike said, “I think they are quite average singers; but we’ll tell them it was wonderful to listen,”.

  His friends nodded.

  As the singers were handing their telephone numbers to their fans or would-be-courtiers, and also writing autographs to two guys, Tamy was heard saying to one of the guys: “I’m not open to dating with you…”

  Mike had already approached Semadar, and reminded her that he had seen her once with her sister Gilla. Semadar said she had well remembered him, and asked if he was still driving a truck.

  “Here – only a taxi… yet,“ said Mike, and introduced Humik and Shlomy– Mike’s roommate, to both girls. They shook hands, after having discerned that all the other guys had gone away.

  Humik began to talk with Tamy about the songs they had been singing.

  “I still remember two songs from my childhood,” he said, immediately openning his Curriculum Vita. “It was before my parents had taken me with them to America.”

  Tamy had been hunted by this, and asked Semadar, who was chatting with Mike, if she agreed that the three guys would escort them to their room.

  “I am sorry I have to leave you,” said Shlomy, very gently, “I have to wake early in the morning.” He left them, waving ‘bye.’

  The four youths were strolling already on the Broadway, heading to the north of Manhatten, there the girls were dwelling.

  Humik told Tamy that their Russian and Hebrew songs were sung well, but he thought they would have to include some American songs, for entertaining also local New Yorkers – not only tourists, that would attend.

  “I thought that maybe we reduce the Russian origin songs,” said Tammy, “I heard they don’t like them here. We know, that we still have to broaden our Repertoire, and mak
e some rehearsals.”

  “I understand.” said Humik, “I myself am not a specialist in singing or music at large. I have not a good voice for singing. Also my musical talent is an average, I presume. I never had patience enough to play an instrument, though at the age of twelve my Mom had sent me to learn Guitar, but I quit very soon. So, I am interested in music; I feel it’s effect on my soul, when I listen to something well composed and performed.”

  “Where in America are your parents?” asked Tammy.

  “In LA, near Hollywood. My mother is connected to singers. She even knows two or three who had acted in musical movies. She knows many artists, and one day I’ve seen myself a guy- who was singing in Seven Brides to Seven brothers, I’ve forgotten his name. He came to our Photography store.”

  “If you are living here many years… you’ve forgotten our country.” she said, “and maybe that’s better for you. Otherwise you would have what we call: a conflict in your heart.”

  Humik nodded. Then he touched her brochure.

  “What are all these notes, that you are holding?” He asked..

  “These are the notes for our songs, including of the accompanying piano. But I have brought a lot of such brochures from home: I’m going to study here in Manhatten Shool of Music.”

  “Oh,” he said, “I haven’t heard about that institute, but I’m sure they’ll do a good job, and will make you work hard there.”

  “I hope so,” she said.

  Both guys, Humik and Mike, have changed phone numbers with the singer girls, and Humik promised Tamy he would call her within a day or two.

  “We are sorry we can’t remain with you till very late,” said Mike, “we have to wake up early. I am working on a Cab, and Humik will have to look how to be registered to some course.”

  “Thank you very much for being with us,” said Semadar.

  “What course will you take here?” asked Tamy.

  “Advertisement and Promotion for Entertainment and Arts”.

  “Sounds interesting,” she said. Semadar waved ‘bye’ to the guys. But before Tamy has done that too, Humik approached her and told her boldly in a sweet whisper: “You should know I like you Tammy. See you!”

  Next evening, after the Show, again Mike and Humik waited for the girls. When Humik tried to talk with Tamy, she retreated, and he saw she was quite confused seeing him again so soon.

  “I’ll ask you straight forward,” she said, “how old are you, Humik?”

  “Seveteen,” he answered. She said she was older than him.

  “I don’t mind. I know such… couples, who go out. If you don’t mind…” he said.

  He became sad and she did not ask why. It seemed to her, that Humik was not a regular guy like his friends or like most of those guys coming to the stage, see the singers and try to get phone numbers. She had met with one of them before yesterday, and he was not wise nor sensible like Humik.

  “And Mike… is in your age?” asked Tamy to break the silence.

  Humik nodded. Meanwhile Mike and Semadar entered some Café, and Humik remained alone with Tamy, and they were strolling on the sidewalk

  “We know that we are not an ideal couple,” said Humik, “ but we can just go out trogether. Even not kiss, if you stick to that.”

  “It sounds just a well arranged agreement,” said Tamy. She thought that it was not so bad, that she would be friendly with a seventeen years old guy, though his ‘shape’ seemed to be older.

  She will not remain alone all days, till her studies will begin. But why has he declared already of his ‘burning impetus’ to get back into Israel? He wants to volunteer to the Parachutists’ unit. His parents oppose it harshfully, but he is adamant – he said. His Mom is married to a second husband. Humik cannot bear that man’s opinions about Israel, and so on. He really hates him. Maybe therefore – he wants to get back to his homeland, so he had called Israel. He has gotten American citizenship, but also his Israeli one is kept. ‘I don’t know if that’s possible’, Tamy told herself. ‘But Humik said that.’

  CHAPTER 6