No other choice

Chaprter 8 of the thriller "An Irretrievable Step".

An irretrievable step

Chapter 8

The first thing he did as soon as he shut his apartment's entrance door and put down his baggage on the floor, was to undress and take a cold shower. He felt a bit better and over a cup of black coffee he pondered what he should do next. He had to report at the staff administration center, to be assigned to another unit, but he did not have the guts to show his face there.

It must have been a honey trap, the honey is my Tami while the seducer was my sergeant; who was no doubt briefed by them, and the commander on duty took part in this plot too… That's why the talent scout smiled when I refused their offer. No I won't report at the staff administration center, it's no use they'll fail me anywhere I'll be sent to, no matter what unit or position I'll be assigned to…

Hardly an hour passed and he sent his hand forth and picked up the receiver; he dialed the number the talent scout gave him, to call them, and tell them that he accepts their offer.

As soon as he dialed their number he heard a female's voice:

'Hello what can we do for you?'

It seemed both ways as if she knows with whom she is speaking, or it's a polite preliminary addressing; while he did not utter a word yet, but the first option seemed more likely to him.

'I'd like to have a word with Gad.'

'What's your name please?'

'Seri, Doron Seri,' He answered her in a slightly shaky voice.

They don't expect my call it seems… Have they given me up…? He was on edge again.

'Hang on a moment,' she said and he could hear several soft voices in the backwards and the sound of this female's voice but it was not clear enough to understand what she said.

It took her hardly five seconds to return to him.

'He'll see you tomorrow at the Nana Bar restaurant, for an early lunch at eleven thirty am. Is everything clear to you?'

'Yes thank you,' he muttered relieved.

'Have a good day then, and enjoy yourself.' She added and hung up.

He did not intend to see Tami, after he told her last night how he rejected their offer, he'd better see his parents again Seri thought perturbed. He won't tell them a thing of course, but spending the rest of the time left with his parents and some more members of his family that may be present there till tomorrow's meeting, will surely make him feel better.

In about two hours time he was sitting next to the table at his parents' home in Beer Sheva, having lunch with his mother. She was ever so glad to see him again in such a short time, and so pleased to serve him his favorite dishes. She had a few doubts and questions to her beloved son, when he just crossed their home's threshold.

'Why aren't you wearing your uniform Dori dear?' She wondered and was a bit worried; she thought she discerned traces of dissatisfaction in her son's face.

'I'm on leave mom, that's all.' He managed to feign self composure, and he even laughed gaily to convince her. As her husband and his father was at work, she had her son all to herself she did not bother him with more questions; except one very intriguing matter, has he a girl friend?

'Oh I've just ended a relationship with one after about three months, it did not work and that's why I'm here… I've a date this evening.' He lied to her and rather easily.

'Do I know her?'

'No mom she lives at the other side of town.'

'Is she one of ours, one that you can marry?'

'It's too early to take it into account mom; I don't even know if I'll see her again after this first date.'

As darkness started to reign and a short time after the return of his father, and few more moments of warm welcome and hugs; Seri left to meet "his date", and spent the evening all alone in a movie theatre.

When he came back he met the rest of the family waiting for him in excited expectancy. There were his brothers, his sister and an aunt he has not seen for some several months already.

'How come you're so early back Dori?' His mother wondered. She must have told them the news that he has a blind date in town.

'It didn't work out; she's looking for a rich boy, not someone like me.'

'What about love, feelings?'

'It's another kind of a generation mom, they're very assertive.' He was in a good mood and his answers made them laugh on his account. His father and his aunt made their best to console him and give him their advice, and he enjoyed their company up to midnight.

He woke up rather late the next day and after having shaved and a breakfast with his mother, as his father left for work quite early; he travelled back to Tel Aviv, to his third meeting with Gad.

At eleven twenty five he was sitting in the Nana Bar restaurant waiting for Gad. He was very apprehensive compared with the last time when he rejected their offer, for this time he needed them and was depended on them.

Gad arrived on time but he was not alone, another young man accompanied him.

'So how are you Seri?' Gad asked him as they joined him and sat down, without shaking hands or any other ethical preliminaries.

'I'm fine thank you,' Seri replied nervous still.

'We've got a reason to celebrate right? You made up your mind, haven't you?'

Seri nodded his head while inhaling some air into his lungs.

'Well this is Dan your instructor, but let's have something to eat first of all.' He remarked and summoned the nearest waiter to their table.

@ Haim Kadman 2017 �" all rights reserved.