planning to move. I’ve had it.”“Move where?”
“My wife has relatives in Boston. We’re thinking of going next year, but we might be able to pul it o sooner. I want my kids to grow up in a seminormal environment.”
“Wil you do the same thing in Boston? Hotel management?”
“Maybe, or maybe I’l go into business with my wife’s uncle.
We’l see.”
“You’l miss things about this place.”
“Yes, but there wil be things I won’t miss … Seen any good lms lately?” he asked. He began talking about European and British directors and their best and worst lms. He was mad about Mike Leigh. Bertolucci had a bad- movie phase, he said, but Besieged was a masterpiece.
He said he used to like Kieslowski, but now he thought he was just a voyeur. Some movies aged wel , like Wild Strawberries, but others lost their appeal with time, as audiences became more sophisticated.
His conversation helped me forget about the mice, and I took him up on his o er to have dinner, though I insisted on paying. By the time I left the dining room it was eight in the evening, time for the sea.
FRIDAY
RAFI PHONED EARLY ON FRIDAY MORNING. “Are you coming to South Lifna?” he asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Do you want a ride? It’s lonely going down on my own. I was supposed to take Dudu but Hagari’s sick, he can’t come.”
“I was planning to go with Odelia. But maybe I’l cal her— she already has a ful car.”
“I’l pick you up at noon, then?”
“Fine.”
“Have you made any progress with Daniel?”
“I may have something.”
“I’ve been asking around, too.”
“Any luck?”
“I’m not sure. My youngest brother’s girlfriend, maybe. But I have to talk to her in person. How are you, Dana?”
“I’m restless.”
“Wel , we have a long day ahead of us. What wil you do until noon?”
“Volvo wants me to read to him.”
“Can’t he read himself?”
“He says his shoulders get tired.”
“What wil you read?”
“I’m not sure. I think he has something by Appelfeld.”
“That should cheer you both up.”
“Actual y, those books have a calming ef ect on us. What about you?”
“I’m taking my daughter swimming. See you at noon.”
I spent the morning reading to Volvo, as promised. He lay on his bed with his eyes shut, but I could tel he was listening to every word. He would have been happy for me to go on al day.
“That’s it, Volvo. I have to go out now,” I told him.
“Where to?”
“Just out with some friends.”
“You are a person of many mysteries.”
“I’m not, real y.”
“Just one more chapter.”
“You can read the rest yourself, Volvo.”
“It’s not the same.”
“You’re not blind. You’re not paralyzed. I don’t know why I read to you.”
“I like being read to. Don’t you think I deserve some crumbs of pleasure?”
“We al deserve some crumbs of pleasure. I have to go now.”
“I’ve been thinking lately that I might be gay.”
“We’l talk about it another time, Volvo.”
