The Ramat Gan Safari

An excerpt of my book "Simmer Tempest" that would be published soon with Amazon.Kindle.

The discussion went on during the next morning on their way to the safary, or more accurately Erella's preaching; though the things were said much more mildly this time.

The pleasant circumstances, the privacy they enjoyed in the hired van; the children's presence and the knowledge that they will have the van for their disposal for the entire week on Erella's account, allowed Vivi and her husband to avoid needless confrontations with their rich and dear relative; and having reached their destination and the start of their visit in that open zoo, caused Erella to change the subject and start to talk on a much more attractive issue.

'Without considering the security situation in Israel, why don't you come over to us for a long visit and rest a bit…'

They have already seen the lions and the elephants, and the couple's offsprings were already relaxed from the excitement that swept their parents too; and  a short while after it the little ones stuck their faces in the windows, and did not need to share their parents with their experiences.

This fortunate opportunity allowed their parents to exchange a few meaningful sentences with Erella.

'For truth sake we've thought about it but Itsik has a good job, and Neta finishes kindergarten and would go to school next year…'

'How much is Itsik's salary in dollars not in NIS?' Erella asked her sister without referring to the education problems of her sister's offsprings.

'About two thousand dollars a month,' Vivi hastened to answer proudly her sister.

'This could be his salary for a week's work, as a preliminary pay for the first three months of your acclimatization…'

A sudden silence ensued in the van, except the engine low monotone noise and the air conditioner low swish.

'There isn't any comparison in the standard of living here and in the states, that's true,' Vivi noted huskily. 'But we'll have a problem with Neta and Ghili. We can't avoid it, we want them to be educated in our country in Hebrew.'

'There're communities of Israelis in every major town in the US, and there're education establishments conducted by representatives of the Israeli consulates.' Erella updated her sister and her brother in law, taking care not to use the term emigrants. 'You won't have any problem to educate your children in Hebrew there and learn at the same time English, which means apart from improving you standard of living your children will get an excellent education; how is it termed correctly in Hebrew, oh yes broadening their horizon.'

'Are you sure Itsik would be able to find a job that suits his profession?'

'Have I asked you what Itsik's profession is? Mike would take care to find him a job in one of his companies, and a suitable promotion in a rather short time. Do I've to add anything to convince you?'

'What kind of jobs he can offer me? I'm not a superman.' Itsik remarked intervening at last, after all it was his future that was discussed. 'I wouldn't want to get stuck in some job, in which I've no experience or knowledge.'

'Don't be bothered with the slightest doubt, when the time will come Mike would consult you and offer you several possibilities, and you'll have a three months preparative stage before getting the job that you'll choose.'

This detailed answer, and Erella's commitment to care personally for him, has cut off any possible objection on his part. Vivi has exchanged with him a glance in the panoramic rear mirror full of expectation, while he too fell into an unexpected excitement  Erella's suggestion that seemed to him at first as a kind of apology, to justify her sudden decision to fly back, due to her and her husband fears, turned into a real and exciting opportunity. It wasn't just an opportunity to revolutionize their standard of living but the right time to get away from that inferno that threats their lives, from the suicide bombers, from the call to military reserve service in the West Bank; which might arrive frequently because so many manage to shirk it, while he in his naivety serves sometimes twice a year. Even if he would not endanger his own life in military reserve service, it's enough to read the papers' headlines or watch dramatic events each night on TV; or his daily work at the planet that seems as if it never going to end up, due to his tension and fear for his children, the fear that a suicide bomber would get to the kindergarten where his children stay most of every day's hours… Or some terrorist would put there an explosive charge, for what a kind of defense protects his children over there, except an old timer that watches the gate…

How can we keep on living this way, it's like a Russian roulette day after day… Itsik thought exhaling the air caught in his lungs, tightening his fingers on the steering wheel.

How different she's compared to Vivi, how practical she's. no wonder she has reached that elated status of hers. But if she flies back after just having landed, it's an omen to what is about to come. We'd better accept her kind offer before something, oh I'd rather not think of it…

It was no doubt a very pleasant and satisfying day. At the end of their visit at the Safary, they drove with their rich relative to the southern part of Tel Aviv, had dinner at the restaurant of Dan Panorma Hotel, at the same evening they strolled along the promenade and returned home. They had to help Erella to pack her things, and let her rest a few hours, before her flight to New York at midnight.

© Haim Kadman 2007 " all rights reserved.