by Sarah Raz
Asher responded with a broad smile. He thoroughly enjoyed listening to her fluent, emotional way of talking. He remembered that she had been good looking, but he had never imagined how ravishing she really was. The year that had passed since their last meeting made her look more mature and more feminine. He knew he hadn’t been mistaken; this was indeed the woman for him. “Alice, I sat down to write to you dozens of times, but no words could ever express my true feelings. As you say, Corrine had given me your address and once I finally managed to write, I knew that I had to deliver the letter to you myself.”
Alice had no inkling that the day would develop as it had. How could it be, she asked herself, that it was on that day and no other that she had decided to change her appearance, shake off her ennui, and open the door with confidence. Alice finally remembered the flowers in her hands and placed them in a vase in the middle of the sparkling white table. The deep iris blue had always been her favorite color. Could anyone had told him that? “I had Corrine tell me all about you,” Asher said as if reading her mind. “I interrogated her for hours to prepare for my visit. I have also taken the liberty of inviting Jacques, your eldest brother, here tonight because I glimpse that he is the real head of the family now. Sarah and Suzanne are coming as well. I am anxious to meet the whole family.”
The garden gate made a noise again, a familiar one this time. Alice busied herself adding service places to the table; this Sabbath was quickly becoming a real family reunion, a fiesta. Luckily, she had always cooked with plenty to spare.
Menachem came into the hallway, hung his hat on the hanger and swapped his street shoes for a pair of old slippers. He was astonished to see a strange man in his house. Asher crossed the distance between them, extending his hand. “I am Asher Uziel from Sofia,” he said. “I got to know your daughter Alice at her sister’s wedding party and I am here to ask for her hand in marriage.” Alice blushed, her heart racing. How dare he? He had never asked her what she wanted, how could he make these decisions without ever consulting with her? These questions filled her head, but she had felt no anger. Just in this instance, she felt content that someone else had been guiding her actions, taking responsibility for her future.
Menachem gave Asher’s hand a long squeeze, as if trying to get the measure of the young gentleman facing him. “Good, good,” he said, slowly. “And has the young maiden given her consent? You should know, young man, Alice had always made it clear to me that she would only marry for love. Do you love him?” Menachem looked Alice square in the eyes. Alice lowered her gaze, wondering if this was really happening to her or had she been caught in a play about someone else’s life. “Come, young man, come and sit with me. Do you drink arak? That is how we do business in these parts, you know. It clears the mind and puts us in the mood for big decision making. You speak Ladino, I gather? Good, this way we can really understand each other.”
Asher had clearly made it through the first ring of fire. Alice, who had been exceedingly apprehensive, was glad to see her father in a rare good mood. It seemed to her that a shimmering ray of light snuck in through the half-drawn curtains and found a place somewhere between the irises and the Sabbath candles. Seeing the table set for many, Menachem understood that this Friday night would be a special one and he got up to bring more bottles of soda and Boza, a refreshing beverage made of malted grains.
The sound of a carriage was heard and from it disembarked all the family members who were invited to attend. Jacques and his wife Rebecca, Albert, tanti Suzanne, and tanti Sarah. All were dressed in their finest, all were in the highest of spirits. How have I merited, thought Alice, how is it possible that they all knew and kept it all a secret from me?
Alice wondered how the conversation would go when it inevitably turned to the painful subject of her dowry. She could well guess that it would be then that the whole thing would fall apart. It was rather a shame that they hadn’t spoken earlier. She would have warned Asher that the whole thing was hardly worth his while. Jacques and her father would not be parting with anything! Already there were two spinsters in the family who had learned to accept their fates.
The sound of laughter and the din of dishes were strangers in Menachem’s house of late. Not having been brought into the confidence of the rest of the family earlier, he was now reminiscing about all the good times that transpired around that very same table. It is time, he thought, it is time that these days came back to us.
As the guests were piling into the room, Alice realized that this was not the first time that Jacques and Asher had met. They exchanged an embrace, patted each other on the shoulders and shared a few words of greeting. Jacques invited everyone to be seated. Menachem sat at the head of the table with Jacques and Rebecca at its other end. The aunts took their place at Menachem’s left hand, while Albert and Asher took their places at his right. Alice was seated directly opposite from Asher. Jacques invited everyone to raise their glasses, said “Lechaim”, and proceeded to address the gathered guests. “Dear family, I am honored to host here at our table Asher Uziel, who has traveled here all the way from Sofia. This is not our first encounter; we had met several times already when I was in the city on business. I believe that Asher is very sincere in his feelings towards Alice; he loves her and intends to marry her. He comes very highly recommended by Corinne and her husband. And I have done some research about him myself. He comes from a respected Jewish family that is very much engaged in the Jewish community life in Sofia. I had met his father, Rabbi Uziel, and from him I had learned that Asher is a serious man, honest and kindhearted. As Alice’s eldest brother, I hereby declare that I am willing to accept Asher as a member of our family. Father, I am certain you will agree that this is a good match.”
Everyone around the table fell silent. How much arrogance lives in my brother’s heart, Alice thought. Who authorized him to speak on my behalf? Does he think he is my attorney at law? What will father say? It is true that of late he had distanced himself from making major decisions and in truth it was Jacques who was running his business now. But still, where was filial piety? Where was the respect a son owed to his father? How can it be that he hadn’t been consulted in private as to the fate of his daughter?
The whole thing seemed ridiculous to her. After all, one word from her could wipe the smiles off everyone’s faces. What possible value could her father’s agreement be, when hers hadn’t even been asked for? Her gaze wandered from one end of the table to the next resting a while on each one of the faces of her family members. They were all unanimous in accepting Asher’s words at face value. How happy were they?! Finally, a match for Alice had been found! Alice felt that Asher was made to feel rather uncomfortable by the occasion. Even he couldn’t believe that he was being robbed of his right to hear her answer first. The most important moments in both their lives were racing past them, beyond their control.
Menachem rose from his chair, fully aware of the gravity of the things he was about to say. He cleared his throat, looked Alice in the eye, and took her hand in his. “Had your beloved mother been here, things would have been easier for me. She had always known the right thing to do. The most important thing now is that you and you alone determine your future, with our help. Alice, we, your entire family, are here by your side and we will abide by whatever decision you will make.” Menachem sat back down.
Asher felt that this was the moment that would determine his fate. He knew that the timing had been wrong. He should have let Alice know ahead of time, he should have brought her into his confidence. How despicable was this moment, a moment when men had to decide the fates of their spouses? This was not where he saw his relationship with Alice going. He wanted nothing more than make her feel that she was his equal partner, his soulmate in the journey of life. He stood up, rounded the table, and found himself next to her. He knelt beside her and said, “Alice, I want to ask your forgiveness for this whole mess. I should have spoken to you earlier and obtained your permission
and your agreement. You should know that I have no plans to ask your father for a dowry and that I have a house ready for us. I am not rushing you. It means everything to me that your acquiescence is given from a place of deep conviction, a real feeling. I shall wait as long as is necessary for you to reach a decision. Here, in front of your whole family I declare my love to you. Will you marry me?”
Asher was deadly serious, but Alice wanted to giggle. She snuck a look at her eldest brother who seemed mighty pleased with himself that he didn’t have to worry about a dowry. A wry little smile never left his lips. Her aunts looked at her with their eyes wide open as if urging her to not miss out on this opportunity. “Get a move on it, girl,” they seemed to be saying, “don’t let this opportunity pass you by!” Alice’s relaxed attitude was a surprise to her. She absorbed the proceedings in the most natural way possible. “I need a little time to think. I cannot give you an answer now,” she said. “Asher, you are invited to spend a few days with us and if you like, you can extend your stay through the Passover Seder next week. And now, why don’t we eat!” Menachem breathed a breath of relief, Asher resumed his place at the table, the women stood up to help serve the food, and normal tableside chatter resumed as if no big drama had just taken place around that very same table.
After the last of the guests had taken their leave and Menachem and Albert departed for their own bedrooms, she sat next to him on the couch. He was so gentle and considerate, so undemanding. He knew that he had acted improperly and wished to make amends. He delved into stories from his own life and his family lore and mostly just tried to instill in her the confidence that they could and would start a family together. He lightly stroked her hair, sliding his hand down her back. He promised to do his best to satisfy her needs and provide for her a happy life. “You won’t have it easy with me,” she said. “Better think well upon it. You will have to sail with me to the Land of Israel because that is where I am going. I made myself a promise that I would only fall in love with someone who would pledge to take me there.”
Alice had reconciled herself to the fact that her previous love interest had been engaged to a wealthy woman and was not coming back to her. This fine young man had much to offer and deserved to be considered seriously. She would learn to love him! Alice sidled up closer to Asher, brushed her hand against his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder. The day’s events had finally caught up with her and her eyelids felt heavy.
When she awoke, she saw him gazing deeply at her, as if trying to read her mind. Alice scanned the windows for a glimpse of the moon and in its shimmering light she had found her answer.
When the wedding day came, Alice was ready. Her aunts and her girlfriends all helped make her wedding gown, which was the only thing that Asher had allowed her to bring along. He had gone back to Sofia to make all the arrangements and they had not seen each other for several months. He invited her to join him once all the preparations had been made.
It was the middle of the night when Plovdiv was literally shaken to its core. Slight tremors had been felt earlier, but nobody could have predicted the power of the earthquake that shook Bulgaria on April 14th, 1928. The town of Chirpan saw two thirds of its buildings leveled to the ground. Alice heard the radio say that twenty-four people had lost their lives and more than seventy had been wounded. She could never have imagined that only four days later her own house would be ruined, but as it turned out the earthquake that shook Plovdiv was even more powerful than the one in Chirpan.
Luckily no one among her acquaintances had lost their lives, but everyone was terrified. All her neighbors had to erect tents and temporary shelters in the town parks and common areas. Any space that was in the open and safe from the risk of collapse had been taken up with shantytowns of displaced residents. Electricity was not available and after dark the whole town was plunged into darkness. Daylight hours were used by the residents to identify and gather their possessions. Jacques’ house had been spared and he invited Menachem and Alice to stay with him. The aunts’ house had faired almost as well; it had remained standing, but was in need of repairs.
At a time like that it was good to be Jewish, Alice thought. The big Jewish community in Sofia and all the Jewish institutions had risen up to the occasion and organized themselves to alleviate the shortages of the first few critical days after the disaster. Jacques had been very active with the rescue and recovery efforts and committed himself to taking care of those who had been left without the means to support themselves.
Surprisingly, the coffee shop had withstood the big earthquake and all of the aftershocks that followed. And Alice had her own private rescue. Asher, who had heard about the earthquake and the eighty casualties that it had caused, rushed to his beloved’s help. He arrived with crates full of foodstuffs and medical supplies, all collected at the grand synagogue in Sofia. Rainy weather made rescue operations more challenging and added to the misery of those who had been left homeless. Asher had gotten quite a fright when he saw Alice’s house half-ruined and abandoned. He rushed to Jacques’ house and having ascertained that her family was in better shape than many others, he asked Alice to come with him to Sofia right away, without waiting for the appointed date. Alice secured her father’s blessing to do just that. She bade hurried adieus to her many friends and acquaintances and said goodbye to her family. The sudden departure had left a bitter taste in her mouth. It had been impossible to save all of her trousseau. So many hours had gone into preparing it and now most of it lay under the ruins of her house. The two aunts embraced her and blessed her with a good journey. They placed in her hands an amulet of blue stone, for good fortune. “This stone will protect you from the evil eye,” they said.
Sofia, 1928
The house that Asher had rented for them was located in an upscale neighborhood, not far from his workplace. He had furnished it in good taste and equipped it with all the latest conveniences. She was amazed by his ability to guess what she would find attractive. How did he know what a home needed? Alice skipped from room to room, hardly believing her own eyes. Her new home lacked nothing. A fully stocked kitchen had a coal-fired stove with two cooking surfaces. A dining room with a table for ten was bordered by hand-carved high-back chairs. A formal living room featured plush mauve-colored sofas with matching carpets and drapes. Crystal chandeliers that were suspended from the high ceilings left no corner wanting for light. Along one of the walls there stood a large bookcase, full of books; novels in French and in Bulgarian, recent bestsellers all.
Asher had chosen blues and light purples for their bedroom and he ordered for her a custom hairbrush and a jewelry case engraved “To Alice my love”. Her small squeals of delight coaxed a smile from his lips. This was how he had wanted her to feel, this was how he had wanted to see her, free to be herself and enjoying her every moment in his company. Her dresser boasted perfume bottles with names like Arpage by Maison Lanvin and My Sin, along with every imaginable item of female toilette.
Alongside the bed he had placed two pairs of house slippers; small fluffy ones for her and larger ones made of leather for him. The closets along the walls were full to the brim with brand new linen, all embroidered with their initials: A.A. In the far corner of the room there stood a sewing machine, the latest marvel of German engineering.
The guest parlor was dominated by a gramophone of massive proportions. Asher placed a record on the turntable and soon the melodious voice of Beniamino Gigli, Alice’s favorite tenor, filled the room. He was singing the Italian song “Mama” and her heart filled to the brim with memories. The stand upon which the gramophone was perched contained many records; Strauss waltzes, collections of famous arias, Gypsy music, and Bulgarian folk tunes.
After they had finished the house tour, Asher took Alice by the hand and led her to the jewelry box. From it he extracted a small container covered in black velvet, which turned out to hold a matching necklace and earring set of startlingly blue lapis lazuli stone. “
This is how I had remembered the color of your eyes,” he said and proceeded to kiss both of her eyelids. “From now on this jewelry box will fill up as much as I am able to afford, my pretty one.” Alice gave him the gift she had prepared. She loved the touch of his smooth cheeks, always impeccably shaved, which is why she had bought him a carved wooden box into which there had been placed shaving utensils: a razor with a gilded handle, a soft shaving brush with a matching handle, and a stand for both. The other side of the box contained foaming soap, pink and aromatic, and a long thin strip of stone that was supposed to stop the bleeding in case of an accident. She had spent a long time looking for just the perfect gift and was thrilled to watch him open the box and say “I have never been given a gift like this one before. I am touched that you had thought about me and had found such a useful gift. It will be with me wherever I go. I shall always be clean-shaven and well-groomed for you.”
Alice’s and Asher’s wedding had long been the talk of all of Sofia. Many guests arrived at the Great Synagogue in their fancy carriages and the ceremony itself was performed by Rabbi Uziel, the groom’s father, as was only proper for a rabbi’s son. All the branches of Asher’s exceedingly large family were well-represented. His twelve siblings, all older than him and with families of their own attended the wedding, which made this occasion the rare reunion of a large family. Alice’s family members traveled from Plovdiv; her father Menachem, her brother Jacques, and his wife Rebecca.