Recap: Mrs. Abbar calls Aida into the hallway to speak to her. Aida wonders what she did wrong. The class just finished the state math test, which was very easy for her.
I plodded behind Mrs. Abbar’s swishing burka.
We stood outside the closed classroom door in the hallway.
“You got a perfect mark on the test.”
So, why are you not smiling and congratulating me? I felt my palms start to sweat. Something bad was coming. I sensed it from the flash of fury in her dark beady eyes.
“I told you before that I didn’t trust you. You said you didn’t have the review sheet when you obviously had it. You spit back all the problems verbatim.” Her voice rose. “And now this outrage!” She was shrieking and pointing a long bony finger at me.
My heart constricted. I wanted to run from her mad screaming. “You Jews are all alike. Liars. Go to the principal, Miss Nadav, and get your punishment. This is a flagrant violation of the law, and you will see what will happen.”
“I didn’t do anything except answer the questions,” I heard my voice come out in a terrified squeak.
“Liar, Jewish liar. Go to the principal at once,” she screamed.
I shrank away and plodded towards the principal’s office. I could expect no mercy from him. He would back his Arab teacher as he was also an Arab.
I strode towards his office. Then I glanced behind me. “Mrs. Abbar had gone back into the classroom. The principal’s office was close to the front door.
I made my decision. I rushed towards the door and bolted. I ran as fast as I could away from school.
I didn’t even know where I was going. I had to get away from this crazy hate-filled school. Hashem knew I didn’t cheat on the test. Why was doing well considered a crime. Nothing made sense when there was so much irrational hatred of Jews.
I found myself heading towards home. My mother would be upset that I left but I couldn’t stay there another minute and I would never go back. I was sure of that now.
I rushed into our courtyard and into the house. It was quiet except for the ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room. Katlin was scrubbing the floors.
“Your mother is resting. Don’t disturb,” she said.
I went upstairs and into my room. I lay on my bed, deep in thought. What would I do now that I couldn’t go to school. Aba would understand. If only he were here so I could tell him what happened.
Aunt Bea was knocking on my bedroom door. I wanted to tell her about my horrible day, but her face was pale. “You must go fetch Dr. Brownstein,” she said. “Tell him we need him to come see your mother. She’s very unwell.”
Aunt Bea didn’t notice I was home during school hours. I rushed out of the house; all thoughts of my horrible day melted into worry over Ima. If only Aba was home.
It was so many days since he left and no letter or telegram. It wasn’t like him not to send something. He always let us know he had landed safely. What if… I wouldn’t let my mind go there. I couldn’t.
Dr. Brownstein’s house was a half mile away on the other side of the Jewish Quarter. He was a kind man. His office was filled with people waiting to see him.
I stood by the line near the harried receptionist, waiting to explain why I was there. Flies buzzed in the air and people were fanning themselves. Heat, like a tangible heavy object, settled over everyone, pressing on their lungs.
It felt like forever, standing in the stifling small office. I listened to a litany of complaints. How did Dr. Brownstein do it?
“You need to avoid salt and keep a record of your blood pressure.” The doctor jotted something on a pad of paper and handed it to an older woman. I was three people away from speaking with him. How would he have time to come to our house?
“No, I don’t think you have a heart problem. Just avoid spicy foods and be sure to get plenty of fresh air and exercise. You’re welcome.” A slim, worried-looking man bowed and left the office.
I found myself in front. The doctor was busy jotting information on a chart. He looked up. There were bags under his bloodshot eyes. I thought the doctor needed a doctor.
“Sir, my mother has her complaint again. She is not able to leave her bed. My aunt asked if you could come when you have time to check on her. My father is away.”
He sighed and stroked his long, gray-streaked beard. “I told your parents last time I saw them that your mother might need surgery. I believe she has a leaky heart valve. There is no hospital here that will perform the operation.”
My heart pounded. I didn’t know Ima needed surgery. It sounded so serious. “So, what can be done?” My voice was a frightened whisper.
“You must go to Rabbi H and ask him to help you apply for your mother to go to North America. She needs to apply as soon as possible.”
I left the doctor’s office feeling like a storm cloud shadowed me. What should I do? Could Rabbi H help us? If only Aba was home now.
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of an historical fiction novel, Flight of the Doves (Menucha Publishing, 2023), Please Be Polite (Menucha Publishers, 2022), A Bridge in Time (Menucha Publishing, 2021), Secrets in Disguise (Menucha Publishers, 2020), Denver Dreams (a novel, Jerusalem Publications, 2009), Memorable Characters…Magnificent Stories (Scholastic, 2002), Befriend (Menucha Publishers, 2013), The Road Less Traveled (Feldheim, 2015), fiction serials and features in Binah Magazine and Binyan Magazine, “Moon Song” in Binyan (2021-2022), and Alaskan Gold ( 2023-2024).
