A Late Divorce

by A. B. Yehoshua

  “That’s enough, father.”

  “Just a little more. Can’t you see how she’s enjoying it?”

  The choir was still going strong, soprano voices raised in an Israeli oratorio. Kedmi entered the bathroom too and watched me float the baby with superior amusement.

  “We’ll miss you, grandpa. How will we manage without you tomorrow?”

  “I just said the same thing to him.”

  He walked out again, switching off the light and leaving us in moist, vaporous darkness. Ya’el spread a large red towel.

  “That’s enough, father.”

  I fished the baby from the water and handed her to Ya’el, who wrapped her quickly in the towel. The doorbell rang. Someone entered the apartment. Gaddi knocked on the bathroom door.

  “They’re here from Jerusalem!”

  I felt honestly moved to be seeing them both again and hurried down the hallway half naked, my hands dripping water. Timidly, like strangers, they were standing in the doorway’s square patch of light. She had had her hair cut boyishly short and looked different in her old-fashioned, puritanically long-sleeved black dress with its white, nunlike collar; tall in high-heeled black shoes, a black patent-leather bag in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other, she might have been paying a condolence call. A pale black candle. Older-looking than when I last saw her, she stood chatting with Kedmi and threw me an anxious glance when she caught sight of me. Something in the beauty of her extraordinarily chiseled face with its high cheekbones and large bright eyes had changed, grown deeper and more inward. She stared at the floor, nervous to be meeting me again, while Asa, oblivious of my presence, made straight for the living room, where he halted by Tsvi’s unmade bed to examine the books on the shelves. I hastened after them, my heart pounding for no good reason, thrilled by her beauty as first I was in that Jerusalem street by the taxi.

  “It’s so good to see you children. We were in the middle of bathing Rakefet. I’m soaking wet.”

  Kedmi stood hulkingly in the middle of the room and winked at them. “He’s doing his internship with us.”

  They smiled uncomfortably.

  “Have a scat, have a seat. The mess you see is pure Kaminka.”

  He himself sat down first in the big armchair.

  The two of them looked at me silently, a great gulf between them. I should have gone to my room but instead I stepped up to them in my state of undress and hugged and kissed Asi, feeling him draw back from me.

  “Don’t be afraid, it’s only water. And thank you for coming,” I murmured emotionally. He didn’t answer. I turned to her, reaching out to grasp her too, but she too recoiled from my nakedness. I smiled and bent to sniff the flowers that she held. She clutched them tighter, extending a rather cool hand.

  “How are you, Yehuda?” she asked.

  “You can see for yourself ... it’s my last day ... how was your seder?”

  “Very sederlike,” snapped Asi with a sharp sideways look at us.

  She didn’t turn to look at him.

  “And how are your dear parents?”

  “Fine, thank you.”

  “I mustn’t forget to say goodbye to them. Perhaps I should call them now.”

  “That would make them very happy. But not now ... tonight ... they don’t answer the phone on religious holidays...”

  “Of course not. Tonight, then. I must make a note of it.”

  I put an arm around her thin shoulder.

  Ya’el emerged from the bathroom with the baby, all scrubbed, combed and snugly wrapped in snow-white diapers. With a quick cry of admiration Dina turned to hand her the flowers, taking Rakefet in return with a graceful movement. Just then Tsvi stepped into the room, freshly shaven and nattily dressed. He nodded to Dina.

  “Was it still dark out when you left Jerusalem?”

  He went over to embrace his distinguished younger brother, who shrunk back from him too while casting a glance at Ya’el. Shyly he went over and kissed her warmly, clinging to her like a mother. I felt a sharp pang. For a moment we were all too disconcerted to speak. Kedmi alone remained seated in his armchair.

  “Go on, kiss away, you Commie Russians,” I heard him mumble under his breath. “Later you can knife each other and drink tea.”

  I was so stunned I couldn’t move. What a vile character after all. How could he talk that way? But the others didn’t seem to have heard him. I felt befuddled. The cold breeze coming through the window made me shiver. I hurried to my room and took out a folded white shirt from my valise. My fingers touched my watch. It still said eight o’clock, it must have stopped. I held it uncertainly for a moment, then put it back. I checked my passport and ticket again and found the power of attorney for Asa, which I folded and stuck in my pants pocket. Suddenly I felt dizzy. How to find room for them all?

  The line that runs between them all at once there are tears in my eyes my shadow leaps out from under the bed I shove the valise back beneath it making some order around me. A few more hours. Chin up. They came especially to make you happy. Your power over them. And yet you feared the disgrace. The loss of you beginning to sink in. Why shouldn’t you? Not in their wildest dreams. A thought to tear you all apart. Naked lies the hairless Jewish widow. The frigid whirlwind. And you namelessly kissing each cell. The terrible tender lust. But who would have thought that there would be a baby?

  Gaddi came into the room.

  “Mom wants to know if you’d like some tea.”

  “Of course I would, old buddy. Come over here.”

  I squeezed his fat, heavy frame.

  “Go show Asi your worms and cocoons. When he was your age he also liked experiments.”

  I wiped away my tears, put on the shirt and a tie, combed my hair and rejoined them. Ya’el and Dina were in the children’s room with the baby. Tsvi was making his bed under Kedmi’s supervision. Asa stood alone on the terrace, smoking and staring at the view, gloomily preoccupied. So calmly hitting himself in the little library. The parchment flying through the air. What’s wrong with him? Tom apart, devastated by her beauty. Gaddi approached him with his shoe box of white cocoons. Asi nodded absentmindedly and glanced at me. I went to him.

  “Well, we didn’t get to spend much time together, did we? Such a short visit.”

  “How did it go?”

  “Where?”

  “Up there.”

  “Pretty well. I already told you on the phone. The actual ceremony was very brief.”

  “As long as it’s over with.”

  “Yes.”

  “And mother?”

  “What about her?”

  “She was all right too?”

  “In what sense? Yes...”

  “She kept calm?”

  “Yes. Why shouldn’t she have?”

  “Ya’el told me that some rabbi tried making trouble.”

  “It wasn’t anything much. He was a young fanatic ... but Rabbi Mashash handled him well ...”

  “And does she really want to be let out? Will they agree...?”

  An anxious note crept into his dry voice.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. The doctor said that there wasn’t any reason not to...”

  “But where will she go?” he interrupted.

  “I really don’t know, Asa. Wherever she wants. She’s yours now, not mine.”

  “Did she drop any hints about her plans?”

  “No. I didn’t ask her about them, either.”

  “She didn’t say anything about Jerusalem?”

  “Jerusalem?”

  “Never mind.”

  He truly hated her.

  “You know, I have to give you my power of attorney so that you can officially transfer my share of the house to her.”

  “Why give it to me? Why not to Tsvi or to Kedmi?”

  “Because I want you to have it. Tsvi might do something rash—you know what he’s like when it comes to money. And it’s none of Kedmi’s business. I want you to take care of it. It won’t demand much of your time.”


  He regarded me quietly.

  “But how are things with you on the whole, Asa? How is your Vera Zasulich?”

  He flushed hotly, taken aback.

  “What does Vera Zasulich have to do with it?”

  “I just happened to think of her. Your students ... I still remember the few minutes of your lecture that I heard ... I’m all admiration for how you teach ... for the ideas you have ... really I am. I was very moved by it all. Please don’t forget to send me all your publications. This time I promise to respond ... I’m so sorry I didn’t then ... I can’t forgive myself...”

  “Forget it.”

  Tsvi re-entered the room, animatedly talking to Dina. Kedmi still sat provocatively in the armchair with his newspaper, his mocking little eyes darting back and forth, ready to strike without notice.

  Ya’el served tea. The light had grown dim and the air felt less warm; a soft curtain screened the sun; almost at its prime, the day had suddenly faltered. A weak-willed spring. From beyond the windows, with their view of white houses and wooded slopes, came the muffled sound of traffic. Ya’el set out the teacups, her heavy face aglow, while Dina helped her with unobtrusive grace. I smiled at her, seeking to strike up a conversation, but she continued to avoid me behind a wall of reserve. Gaddi brought a tray of hot pita bread. Asi questioned Kedmi about the view and received an explanation. Tsvi began to crack jokes. I let my eyes linger on my progeny, all gathered together with me here, then glanced out the window at the north end of the bay and at the white cliffs of the Lebanese border clearly visible in the distance beyond it.

  Homeland will you ever be a homeland. Out there my concupiscent horizon. My ears register only a faint buzz such tiredness they drink the tea they chew the round warm bread. Weak trickle of light. Half hearing Tsvi tell of his therapy. His graphic much too clever tongue. Did I disappoint them too? No longer my judges. A fact. Their odd dispossessed father. Kedmi steers the talk toward politics. Asi’s face lights up. Before Kedmi’s cynicism his thoughts retreat then quickly counterattack. A flanking movement. Speculations historical examples from different times different places taking the long view. Such a precise wealth of language that much at least I did give them. Language. A tongue. Tsvi in a puddle of light basking in sunshine gripping his teacup like me between thumb and forefinger joining handsomely in with that shiny inner shallowness of his laughing someone’s at the door.

  Gaddi answered the doorbell and came back for Tsvi.

  “Somebody wants you.”

  Tsvi sighed without getting to his feet and shut his eyes in despair.

  “What can I do? Tell him to come in.”

  Calderon entered hesitantly, not daring to look at us. I quickly rose to take him under my wing, afraid that Kedmi might make some rude remark. Yet when I introduced him to the family, he already seemed to know everyone, hastening to shake hands with them all and to identify each by name.

  “Yes, yes, I know ...” he murmured. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Kaminka. So you got here from Jerusalem ... and you too, Dr. Kaminka ... Mr. and Mrs. Kedmi, how do you do...” He patted Gaddi’s head and handed him a bar of chocolate from his pocket. “I’m honored to meet you all.” His eyes avoided Tsvi’s. “I see we’re all here except Rakefet. Where is she?”

  “In bed,” smiled Ya’el.

  “Well, did you manage to get in some praying?” I asked in a low voice.

  “Yes. Thank you. A bit of the musaf”

  He took out a pack of cigarettes and offered it around, stealing a glance at Tsvi.

  “Would you like tea or coffee?”

  “No, nothing, thank you. I only came for a few minutes. The weather is changing again. When is your plane taking off?’’

  Ya’el went over to whisper something to Kedmi, who remained ensconced in his chair, enjoying the scene.

  “Who needs to buy anything?” he answered her impatiently. “We have all we need here.”

  Ya’el pulled his hand, trying to make him get up.

  “Can I be of any help, Ya’eli?” I asked. “Why don’t you let me cook. You can ask Asi and Dina to recommend me.”

  Dina too wanted to help. Ya’el, though, kept tugging at Kedmi, who refused to leave his chair.

  “Get up!”

  “Forget it, Ya’el,” said Asi. “We’ll eat what there is. We’re not hungry anyway.”

  Calderon jumped up. “Perhaps I could take you all out to a restaurant that I know of near here. Let it be my treat. A lovely place to eat, in a garden in the woods.”

  Ya’el declined:

  “Thank you all the same, but we’ll eat here.”

  Kedmi, however, came out in favor. “Maybe we really should eat out. Why not?”

  “Let it be on me,” insisted Calderon eagerly. “It’s my pleasure to invite you all. A farewell dinner for Mr. Kaminka ... provided, of course, that I’m allowed to foot the bill...”

  “But it’s not a question of that,” smiled Ya’el. “I’ve already prepared a meal here ... you’re invited to it too ...”

  And again she tried pulling Kedmi out of his armchair. Carried away by his own idea, though, Calderon now tried persuading Tsvi, who sat grinning in his corner at Ya’el.

  “It’s fine with me,” he said. “Whatever you prefer. His restaurant will be a good one, that much I can promise you. Money is no object with him ...”

  “It’s a very distinguished place, with good, digestible food ... and served in a garden ... real European cuisine ... our bank takes its customers there...”

  Yet Ya’el wouldn’t hear of it.

  “No, we’ll eat here. Everything is ready.”

  Which only stiffened Calderon’s resolve. He was getting hysterical now.

  “It’s in a garden, we’ll have a quiet corner to ourselves ... nobody will bother us ... why put yourself to all that trouble, Mrs. Kedmi ... it’s father’s last day, let it be my treat ... I’d be only too happy to have you as my guests ...”

  His agitation was incomprehensible and his reference to “father” made us all feel uneasy. Only Kedmi was entertained by it. Yet he too looked mystified, his mouth agape as though waiting for the next burst of laughter.

  I rose and put an arm around Ya’el, my shadow surging up the bars of the balcony on the terrace.

  “Why don’t we go out then? It’s really not a bad idea.”

  Dina sat in her corner dressed in black, cold, upright and withdrawn, her incredible face a bright pennant aloft.

  All your children. The knife turned at dawn. Would they have cared? The Case of the Early-Morning Scream. And how slow Tsvi was.

  Kedmi rose at last. “A jolly good idea! Why don’t we? What’s the point of fussing with pots in the kitchen all day long? The food here won’t go to waste, Gaddi and I will polish it off tomorrow. And you have only a few hours left with your father.”

  Ya’el was confused. She wasn’t used to putting up a fight. She turned again to Calderon:

  “Really, it’s very kind of you, but we have whatever we need here. You’ll join us.”

  He literally began to shake.

  “I would love to join you, but don’t you see I can’t because of ... the bread. Not that it’s any of my business ... it’s your right ... this is a free country ... but I can’t sit at such a table. Perhaps Mrs. Kaminka too ... not that I’m naive enough to think that anything will happen ... here, I’m touching it”—he lifted a pita from the tray with his fingertips and gingerly put it down again—“you all see that I wasn’t struck down by lightning ... but still ...”

  “Ya’el,” I said, “why don’t we go out. It will be nice.’’

  “And the children?”

  “We’ll take them with us ... of course we will!” exclaimed Calderon. “The place is perfect for them ... special arrangements can be made ... I’ll hold them on my lap...”

  Kedmi let out a great roar.

  “I suppose I’m just being a nuisance.”

  He stood there mortified, looking at Tsvi,
who said nothing.

  Kedmi grabbed hold of him good-naturedly and backed him into a corner. “Now that occurs to you? No, no, it’s quite all right ... I didn’t mean any harm ... what bank do you work for ... tell me, how old did you say that you were?”

  Oh they’ll make a happy man out of you yet today.

  It really was a pleasant place, high on the Carmel, in a small pine woods reached by a narrow path whose small bits of gray gravel crunched beneath our soles, a well-tended, countryish boardinghouse inhabited by elderly people with a bit of sea like a small kerchief in the distance between two houses. Buxom old women in flowery dresses sat about the garden, through which, looking peaceful and bursting with health, two little old men in dark suits strolled while regarding us fondly. The wood-paneled restaurant was a bit worse for the wear but very clean. Its Arab waiters, dressed in black with white bow ties, hurried to greet us.

  “Where should we sit, inside or out?...Will it be too cold here for Rakefet?...It’s not that bad, let’s sit outside ...”

  Calderon ran inside to get the manager, who immediately ordered a large table set out. “We’ll start you in the garden,” he said. “If it gets too chilly, you can always come inside.”

  And indeed the skies had begun to cloud over, turning from blue to gray, while the air was growing colder. From inside the restaurant emerged two large, thin, white-goateed, very hairy dogs, evidently twins: they circled us slowly, their tails like weak pendulums, their noses down to get a whiff of us, dropping exhaustedly on the gravel path as soon as we reached out to pet them. Chairs were brought quickly and someone spread a white tablecloth. Calderon ran back and forth. Asa bent over one of the dogs, lightly scratching its head.

  “Did ’Ratio ever turn up again?” I asked Tsvi.

  “Why must you insist on calling him ’Ratio? His name is Horatio, father. No. I was there yesterday. He’s been gone for four days now. But he’ll turn up in the end. He always does.”