by Amalie Coles
The three of us spent a few minutes in the living room chatting about random stuff. After Erin left, I tried reading my BAR magazine in our bedroom, but Jason took it away from me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, pretending to be angry.
“You will have ten hours on a plane to read your magazines,” he said while unbuttoning my shirt. “We need to use our time more constructively.”
I couldn’t agree with him more.
Chapter 4
On Saturday morning, I woke up feeling happy. Our flight tickets were finally booked, and my doctor’s appointment was scheduled for the following Monday. To me, it was more of a formality because I already knew my health was good enough to endure several hours under the sun.
“Hungry?” I asked Jason, as he came out of the shower.
“Yes, as always,” he replied, lying down beside me and pulling me to his side.
A few minutes later, he offered to fix us some breakfast, to which I gladly agreed. I was really tired after a long week and didn’t mind a little downtime. He made coffee and served it with a cup of strawberries and Greek yogurt.
“I’m a bit nervous about tonight,” I admitted while loading the dishwasher. Tonight, I was planning to tell my parents about the upcoming trip.
“Don’t worry about anything,” he said.
“I’ll try. After all, we are adults now.”
“Exactly!”
I tried doing my homework after breakfast. Since I hadn’t done much during the work week, I had more catching up to do. Readings and exercises about writing for the web were downright boring, but I managed to finish all of them in less than an hour. My next assignment required me to write compelling copy for an imaginary website selling computers. The deadline was only a few days away. Normally, I didn’t have any problems with getting work done on time, especially for my continuing education courses. This time, however, my mind simply refused to come up with any ideas.
“How is everything?” Jason asked me after an hour had passed. The entire time, he was sitting beside me and browsing the Internet.
“Not so good,” I replied candidly.
“Any progress at all?”
“Jason, I don’t even know what I’m doing!”
“OK, let me see.” He moved closer and started reading off the screen. “Our store is the best...Good quality for low price...Look no further. Jeez, is it all you wrote in the last hour?”
“I know! This is horrible! I’ll never become a good copywriter.” I put my hands over my face.
“It’s OK, Becky.” He gave me a hug. “Maybe we should take a break and go for a walk.”
“Oh, that would be nice. I’m dying for some fresh air.”
“Let’s go then.”
We walked slowly on the busy street, savouring the spring air mixed with smells from restaurants and coffee shops. Even at thirteen degrees Celsius, the spring weather felt like a respite after the fierce winter. At the end of the walk, we decided to stop at Second Cup and grab two hot chocolates. Once we returned home, I tried working on my assignment but got stuck again. Finally, I gave it up for good.
***
“Becky, I think it’s time to go now,” Jason said, pointing at the clock hanging in the living room. He was flipping through TV channels, while I was reading Ashkelon 4: the Iron Age Figurines of Ashkelon and Philistia. I had ordered this book on Amazon three days ago, and it arrived almost immediately. Every time I picked it up, I became overwhelmed with excitement.
“Yeah, you are right,” I said, my eyes still fixed on the images platter showcasing the top artefacts from the site.
“Don’t worry about your assignment,” he added. “I’m pretty sure you’ll come up with great ideas later.”
I quickly signed the card and packed the GPS into a gift bag I had bought at Hallmark on our way home. Then we started getting dressed. I chose to wear a simple Gap T-shirt, jeans, and a hoodie, while Jason put on a shirt I had given him last Christmas.
“That navy blue really suits you,” I told him while checking myself in the mirror.
“Thanks, darling! You look great, too.”
A few minutes later, we were parked on my parents’ driveway. Ever since our family had gotten out of debt, my parents had been living in a small house in the Annex area. It had also been my home until Jason and I had gotten married.
By the time we reached their house, my mother was already waiting for us at the door. While we were exchanging our “hellos,” I eyed Erin standing next to the kitchen and winking at me.
“It’ll be all right,” she whispered to me as we were giving our present to Dad.
My mother served a fine selection of Japanese dishes that she had learned to make from cookbooks she had gotten from Chapters on discount. I had a bowl of rice with shrimps and scallops, while Jason had teriyaki chicken and pasta. The main course was followed by a homemade cake with strawberries and cream.
As the dinner progressed, we talked about different topics, including our holiday plans. My parents were planning on travelling to the United States on the Queen Victoria weekend, which was only a week away, and were also considering flying to Europe at the end of August.
When it was our turn to talk about summer plans, I couldn’t muster the courage to tell my parents the truth. I knew they wouldn’t take the news very well. So I kept on steering our conversation in other directions to avoid the topic as much as possible until it was almost time to go home.
“Becky, can I have a word with you in private?” Erin asked me as we were getting ready to take off.
“Sure,” I replied reluctantly. She took my hand and led me to what used to be my room.
“When are you going to tell them?” she whispered.
“I don’t know. I’m afraid they won’t be thrilled about the news.”
“Come on, Becky! Grow up at last!”
“I am a grown-up. Stop bossing me!”
“Then why don’t you just tell them?” Her whispering was now louder than any normal speaking.
“It’s not easy, Erin.”
“What isn’t easy?” My mother appeared at the doorway.
“Eh, nothing much.” I shrugged.
“Come on, just tell her.” Erin nudged me. “OK, I will, then.”
“What! No! You can’t do this!” For a second, I became oblivious to whoever was watching us.
“What’s going on in here?” our father asked, walking in. Jason followed him.
“Do you want to tell?” Jason asked, winking at me.
“Fine, I will.” I sighed. Everyone looked at me.
“I’m going to Israel this summer. I won a scholarship through an archaeological magazine. I’ll be excavating in Ashkelon, and my trip will be partially funded. Jason will join me at the end of the dig, and we’ll be staying in Tel Aviv for a week.” My sudden announcement was followed by silence.
“Wait, you are flying to another country alone?” My mother looked baffled.
“Yes, but I’ll be with a group most of the time.” I tried acting as if it wasn’t a big deal, but deep inside, I was feeling tense.
“Well, have a safe drive home, kids,” my mother said matter-of-factly.
“Goodnight, Mom! Thanks for the dinner.”
***
“You didn’t have to act like you’ve done something wrong,” Jason told me on our way home.
“I know. I should’ve told them right away.”
“Even if you didn’t, it would be OK. It’s our life now, our plans.”
“You are right. At least it’s over now.”
Just as I was about to go to bed, Erin phoned me.
“Hey, Becky! Are you all right?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks for calling.”
“I’m sorry for pushing you into telling them.”
“It’s all right, Erin. They would’ve found out anyway.”
“Do you want to go out for a coffee tomorrow?”
“No, thanks. I’ll be
too busy.”
“I could drive to your area if you want.”
“Distance is not the issue. You’re pretty close to me by the subway. It’s Davisville, I believe.”
“Yes, I’m still in my old apartment.” She laughed.
“I have too much work to do for my copywriting course. I hadn’t accomplished much today.”
“Ah, I see. Well, best of luck with that.”
“Thanks.”
“And by the way, you aren’t doing anything wrong by going on this dig alone. You have every right to pursue your hobbies.”
“I know. I just feel bad about Mom and Dad worrying about me.”
“They’ll get used to it after a while.”
“Well, goodnight, and thanks for calling.”
“Anytime.”
Naturally, I was a bit angry at my sister for putting me into this situation. However, it still felt good to talk to her and end this evening on a friendly note.
For most of Sunday, I worked fiercely on my copywriting project. I finally managed to come up with a few ideas. Studying always helped me to put my mind at ease.
Chapter 5
Following my father’s birthday, I kept in touch my parents regularly. Although we appeared to be on friendly terms, I could tell they weren’t happy about the trip. In the meantime, I was still very busy with monotonous order entries, invoices, and customer calls. Half the time, our clients’ misfortunes had nothing to do with me, but I was always held responsible. I also kept studying for my copywriting course, which I often found mind-numbing.
“So, are you planning to go back to archaeology?” my grandmother asked me as I was helping her set the table. It was a Saturday after the Victoria Day weekend, and she was hosting a small family dinner.
“I’d love to, but I’m not sure.” I sighed.
“Why not?”
“It would be tough now that I’m married.”
“Ah, I know how you feel, sweetheart.” She smiled.
“Really?” What could my grandmother possibly know about my daily struggles?
“I had the same issue when I was around your age.”
“You should tell me.” I became curious.
“I wanted to study at a university to get better education. The problem was, your mom was already two years old, and I had to work in a shoe store to support our family. Your grandfather wasn’t much help, as he was constantly away.” She looked a bit sad.
“Well, thanks for sharing, Granny.” Somehow, her revelation made me feel a bit better.
“Whatever you decide, honey, I can only wish you the best.” She smiled again.
***
“Is everything OK?” Jason asked me, as we were driving quietly through the streets of Mississauga, Crystal Shawanda playing from our stereo. It was ironic that when I was growing up, turning up a country disk in my parents’ house was considered the worst possible offense, and now that Jason and I were married, all we were playing lately was country and top forties.
“I’m all right,” I lied.
“I know you’re not!”
“Sometimes, I’m not even sure why I’m going on this dig,” I found myself admitting.
“You are going because you always wanted to.”
“I don’t know where it will take me in terms of my career,” I explained further.
“Look, it doesn’t have to be linked to a career. You’ll go and have fun digging for the ancient stuff. Then you’ll come home all recharged, ready to look for a new job.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
When it came to conversations about my future, Jason always reassured me that my continuing studies program would help me get out of the rut. I wanted to believe him, but at the back of my mind, I already knew that the copywriting career would never provide me with the satisfaction I needed on the professional front.
***
June arrived pretty fast, and everyone became obsessed with the FIFA World Cup. My coworkers couldn’t talk about anything besides which team defeated whom and who had the best chance at winning the game. One day, everyone, including the managers, decided to gather in a boardroom during lunch and watch a match between Brazil and Mexico. It was one of the rare times when there was virtually no tension in the atmosphere. Everyone kept yelling, “Go! Go!” just to discover an hour later that no one had won.
Once the initial wave of excitement settled down, everything went back to normal. Our company was about to acquire a new client, so more work needed to be done. Yet the final arrival of summer-like weather made everyone happier and a bit friendlier. Some of my coworkers even started taking interest in my upcoming trip.
“So, tell us where you are going,” Rosa said one day as we were sitting in the lunchroom.
“I’m going to Israel,” I announced cheerfully.
“Are you serious?” Ashley asked.
Both of them looked very surprised. For a moment, I wondered if they were simply jealous. I smiled, feeling even more excited.
“Wait, isn’t that the place where those poor kids got killed?” Diego asked, referring to a terrible event in the West Bank that had resulted in loss of innocent lives. I didn’t want to think about it now that I was planning my vacation. Beside, crime was present everywhere, including the United States.
“Yes,” I said confidently. “I’m flying to Israel in a few weeks.”
“Yo, you gotta be kidding!” Kenyon, our Jamaican shipping assistant, exclaimed.
“I know. Ain’t I lucky?”
“Well, if you choose to go, you better buy life insurance,” Ashley advised.
“Or better yet, get a bulletproof vest,” Rosa added.
The rest laughed.
“Come on, people. I’ll be fine.”
“What if you get killed?” Kenyon protested. “That place is sick!”
“Well, we all hope you stay safe, girl.” Marianne joined in. “We’ll need you here in August.”
Quite honestly, I wanted to tell everyone to shut up and stop watching TV too much. Instead, I reassured them that everything would be all right, and I would be back from my vacation in no time. Deep inside, however, I was feeling a bit uneasy about everything that was happening in the news. I could only hope that the situation would improve by the end of June.
That day, I’d agreed to meet Dalia, my friend from the university, at Second Cup. We had met at Tim Hortons by accident during my first year at the university. I was carrying a chicken noodle soup combo and looking for a place to sit. It was around twelve o’clock, and the coffee shop was completely packed. To make things worse, my introductory archaeology class would start in twenty minutes. Believe it or not, this time frame is nothing when you have to get from one side of the campus to another, especially when it’s raining or snowing outside.
“You can sit here,” a girl in a U of T hoodie said. She looked a bit older than me and was crouched over a textbook called Programming with Data.
“Thank you so much!” I said to her.
“No problem,” she replied. “Finding a seat is tough during this time of the day.”
“I’m Rebecca, by the way.” I offered a handshake.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Dalia. Are you a U of T student?”
“Yes.”
“So am I. What are you majoring in?”
“Anthropology and Near Eastern Studies. How about you?”
“I’m studying informatics.”
“Where are you from?” I noticed she had a bit of an accent.
“I was born in Ukraine but raised in Israel.”
“Really? I just finished my Hebrew test two days ago.”
“You speak Hebrew?” She became animated.
“I do.”
“Have you ever lived in Israel?”
“No, but I plan to visit someday, probably after graduation.”
“I’m going there this summer. My best friend is getting married.”
“How exciting!”
We talked for bit longer a
nd exchanged emails. Although I ended up being late to my class, getting to know Dalia was definitely worth it.
Afterward, we met almost every week and even went to a couple of events together. One of them was a concert by David Broza, an Israeli singer who used to tour North America around Christmas time. I remember sitting with her in the front row and listening to his song about Haifa, the town where she grew up. If she truly thought I was a bit weird, she never showed it.
“So, how is your thesis going?” I asked her once we got our cappuccinos. She was now working as a software engineer for the Princess Margaret Hospital and was also doing her master’s degree part-time.
“Very slowly.” Dalia looked a bit discouraged. “My work is driving me crazy. I have a few weeks left to learn new software, and I don’t even know where to start. Anyway, what’s new with you?”
“Well, I’m leaving for Israel in a few weeks. I’ll be excavating in Ashkelon.”
“Wow, that’s exciting! I have friends living there.”
“After I’m done with the excavation project, Jason and I will spend another week in Tel Aviv. We are planning to rent a car and to drive around. I hope we’ll have enough time to visit Jerusalem.”
“Sounds nice. I visited the Old City only once when I was only eight years old. I don’t remember too much.”
“You should go back. It’s totally worth seeing.”
What surprised me about this girl was the fact that her parents had lived in Israel for several years but had never taken interest in any of the tourist sites. Sure, they did a fair amount of travel each summer, but most of their trips were limited to beach trips and picnics with friends. Most people I knew didn’t realize how many sites Israel has, from prehistoric caves and megaliths to Greco-Roman ruins and earliest churches. If I ever got a chance to live there, I would probably go crazy with sightseeing.
We chatted a little bit about politics and ongoing protests in Jerusalem.
“Dalia, do you think I should be worried?” I asked her at some point.
“No, Becky. You’ll be perfectly fine.”
This was the exact answer I needed to hear.
Chapter 6
On the last day before my departure, I had to stay late at work and fix a last-minute issue that could not be postponed. By the time I got home, it was already seven-thirty, and I had only a few hours to pack. I spent my evening running around the house and looking for all the necessities. Eventually, everything was ready except for the medical kit. Having rummaged through all the medications, I realized we had run out of Tylenol.