The Anatomy of Exile by Zeeva Bukai

Author:Zeeva Bukai
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Delphinium Books
Published: 2024-12-10T18:34:32+00:00

Thirteen

On the first of March 1973, they drove across Brooklyn in a car crammed with almost everything they owned. A truck hauling their furniture trailed behind them. For months she and Salim had argued over the move. Even so, six weeks before the closing date, she and Salim presented a united front and gathered the children in the living room. They told them about the new house in Canarsie. As he sat them down, she recalled the last time he did this when he convinced them that moving to America was going to be a grand adventure. She wasn’t so sure he could do so now that they were older. What had become clear to her since the night she’d revealed Hadas’s secret was that she’d lost purchase in her marriage. She’d lost his trust. Salim spoke the truth when he said they wouldn’t discuss it again. Yet that was all she wanted, to explain, to make him understand how conflicted she’d been, to ask for forgiveness and receive it.

Ari was the first to cry out and say the move was unfair, especially now that he’d garnered some respect and was no longer the target of bullies.

Rachel accused them of not caring. “You never ask us what we want.”

Salim said something about how good it was going to be to own a home. “We’ll have the freedom to do what we want.” He strode around the room, rubbing his hands together as if he were hoping the friction would generate the excitement he wanted, rather than the pall that had settled over them.

Tamar turned to Ruby, who’d remained quiet throughout the discussion. “What do you think about all this?”

“Me?” Ruby said, “Why bother asking me when you’ve already made the decision? Nothing we say will change anything. You’ll do whatever you want. Neither of you gives a shit if we’re happy.”

“Hey,” Salim said. “You know that isn’t true. I work hard to make your lives better. Life doesn’t stop because we’re moving. You can have your friends over anytime. You’ll have your own rooms and I’m sure your friends will love the yard. I’m going to put in a swimming pool, and you can have parties and barbecues. How about that?”

“Whatever you say, Baba,” Ruby said, and left the room.

Ari asked, “Are you really going to put in a pool?”

“You bet,” Salim said, then tugged on Rachel’s ponytail. “What about you, Ruchie?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Why not now?”

“’Cause I have to see if Sarah can sleep over before I make my decision.”

Salim turned to Tamar and smiled. “Thank you for standing with me on this. He grabbed her hand. “I know you’re afraid this means we’ll never go home again, but we will someday. I promise. You’ll see, we’re going to be happy now.”

“Oh, Salim, I know you believe that. Maybe it’s better we stop promising things we can’t keep. That way no one gets hurt.”

A month later they were driving into the new development, past a crane parked in a field and tarp-covered hills of sand.

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