Read Online Among the Living by Jonathan Rabb - Free Book Online Page B

for the boxes.
    Jacob was finishing behind the register. “Knew she’d buy two pair,” he said proudly. “Two pair of six-dollar shoes. Not bad.”
    “And how’d you know that, son?”
    “I just know these things, Calvin. I just know.”
    “It wouldn’t be that she was a De la Parra, would it?”
    Goldah had been listening with more interest than he cared to admit as Jacob continued to work through the math. “And how’d you figure that, Calvin?”
    “Because you and Mr. Abe always going on about them Saffees. You knew who she was the moment she come in, and you knew she was going to buy them shoes.”
    Jacob closed the register. “Well maybe I did and maybe I didn’t but that’s twelve dollars in the drawer. Tell Raymond he needs to deliver the boxes this afternoon.”
    Calvin said, “Raymond’s got enough on his plate, son. No one’s stopping you from delivering them.”
    Jacob stood there for a moment, and then said, “I’m using the toilet.”
    Jacob stepped out from behind the counter and quickly moved through to the curtain. Calvin had the boxes at the counter and set them down.
    “I’ll take them back when he’s done. Jacob likes his privacy.”
    Calvin rested his back against the counter while Goldah kept his against the wall. The two men stood like this listening to the rattle of the fan as the heat seemed to gravitate to the walls. It was a strange and comforting silence until Calvin said, “You look real smart in that coat and tie, Mr. Ike. Nice fit. Hard to fit a thin man. I should know. Where’d Miss Pearl take you for it?”
    “Levin’s.”
    “Shirts as well?”
    “Shirts as well.”
    Calvin saw a speck of something on one of the chairs. He reached over and flicked it away.
    Goldah said, “I’ve never heard Italians called Saffees.” He knew it was a poor attempt at spontaneity.
    Calvin looked up, momentarily confused. Just as quickly his face cleared and he brushed something from his hands. “She was pretty, wasn’t she?”
    “Pardon?”
    “I said you was thinking she was pretty.”
    Goldah had been thinking just that. No reason, then, to step around it. “Yes,” he said.
    “Good. It’s good to notice a pretty woman.”
    Goldah imagined it was.
    Calvin said, “Come in all by herself. That’s strange. Women usually work like shoes. They come in pairs.”
    Goldah smiled under the heat.
    “De la Parra is Jews in Savannah, Mr. Ike. Old Jews. Over two hundred years. Older than me and my own been here. They ain’t no Italians.”
    “Really?”
    “Yes, really,” Calvin said with a quiet laugh. “You like hearing that, don’t you?” He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the back of his neck. “I’d be careful there, Mr. Ike. Like I say she’s a Saffee. That’s a whole different kettle a fish from Mr. Abe and Miss Pearl.”
    Goldah had heard any number of names thrown at Jews. Saffee was not among them.
    “Saffees is temple Jews,” said Calvin, as if reading Goldah’s mind. He folded the handkerchief into a neat square and placed it back in his pocket. “They get their praying done by eleven. Mr. Abe and Miss Pearl, they go to the AA. That don’t finish up until twelve thirty, maybe one o’clock. Less praying for a Saffee.”
    Goldah understood: Pearl had explained it on one of their drives, albeit not in so many words. Saffee Jews were Reform Jews. She had even shown him the temple — “A church witha few Jewish stars stuck on it.” It was the Sephardim who had been the first to arrive — “Two hundred years of Jews in the South” — but there weren’t all that many of them left. Now it was the German Jews who had brought their easy faith and their assimilation to the temple, “And see how well that turned out for you.” Pearl had grown bolder talking about his past.
    Goldah imagined Calvin had never heard the word Sephardim. Saffees is temple Jews. It was as simple as that.
    Goldah said lightly, “It’s nice to see you keep such