Read Online A Late Divorce by A. B. Yehoshua - Free Book Online

does nothing but earn a living for us let him come and see the quiet in the lawyers’ offices there are too many of us wolves all waiting for the same prey. Well if nobody needs me I’ll go visit my murderer and from there to the loony bin. A charming itinerary isn’t it?
    â€œAll right, Levana, I’m on my way. If the check comes, deposit it right away in the bank before it can bounce. And when you’ve warmed up, take a wet rag and clean off our sign below. All that soot on it doesn’t make us look good. The whole world thinks that all lawyers are shysters; we’ll never convince it otherwise, but at least it needn’t think that we’re dirty ones.”
    Suddenly the phone rings I can tell from the sound that it’s someone in the family still I let Levana answer if she doesn’t keep busy she’ll degenerate completely it’s part of what I’m paying her for I’ve had to teach myself not to grab at the phone people think more of you if they have to ask a secretary for you.
    It’s Tsvi from Tel Aviv. All in a tizzy. A few minutes ago he spoke with Ya’el and heard that I was going there alone and he thinks (why shouldn’t he have thoughts too?) that it’s out of the question someone from the family must come with me if not Ya’el then himself he’ll come right away he’ll cancel everything (what could he possibly have to cancel?) and join me because we have to break it gently it’s not just a formality there’s the doctor to talk to as well she may get emotional when she hears that he’s in Israel it will be very painful for her...
    I let him talk the call from Tel Aviv is on him so what’s the rush. He can talk all he wants. I’m listening. It’s his right. In the family they say that he’s the problematic middle child that he’s very close to his mother not that I’ve ever seen proof of it it’s all purely theoretical long-distance sympathy. Since she was put away five years ago he and his brother have kept the fifth commandment strictly by phone. If Moses had thought of such a possibility he could have gotten by with nine. I the stranger who thank God doesn’t have a drop of her blood in my body have visited her more often than her two sons put together and now they want to mess things up for me.
    â€œDo you hear me, Kedmi? Wait there and I’ll come with you.”
    â€œDon’t bother. Either I go see her by myself or else you can count me out. You can find yourselves another lawyer, it will cost you fifty thousand smackers plus tax just for the right to talk to him. You have no idea how lucky you are that I’m both in the business and a member of this family. If I didn’t exist you’d have to invent me. You’re wrong if you think that I’m nothing but a big oaf with a loose tongue. You have no monopoly on either pain or gentleness.” I glance at my secretary sitting silently with her head down playing with her pencil lapping up every goddamn word. “I have an old mother too and I know what it’s like. I’ll know how to handle her. I’ve already talked to her several times, I’ve done the groundwork and prepared her. She’s a lot stronger and saner than you think. We have a good, unsentimental, working relationship, even the dog’s taken a liking to me lately.... Where are you talking from, home? Then there’s time to explain to you exactly what my plan is....”
    In the end he manages to hang up on me. It’s almost ten o’clock am I going or not. Maybe the check will still come I’ll feel better if I deposit it myself. I dial Ya’el.
    â€œYes, Tsvi called me.... No, he’s not coming with me.... Yes, I’m being stubborn. If someone has to be stubborn, it damn well better be me. Is your father still sleeping?...He had to come all the way to Israel to learn the fine art of slumber.... What did I say to