Read Online An Orphan's Tale by Jay Neugeboren - Free Book Online

“That money can buy everything in life but a mother, father, and brains?”
    â€œIt never upset me,” Charlie said. “It’s true.”
    Anita pretended to shiver. “I don’t like that saying,” she said.
    The fragrance of the roast and the buns filled Danny’s nostrils. He wanted to touch the tsumin box, to press its cold silver against his cheek. Hannah poured water into glasses. The three younger children were gone. “Ephraim,” Anita said, “why don’t you show Danny your room?”
    â€œNo,” Charlie said. “Just give us your news and we’ll head out. Your husband’s workday may be over, but mine is just starting.” He smiled at Ephraim. “You know what Charlie always says—for everyone who drinks the wine, there’s one who stomps the grapes, right?”
    â€œSee what I mean?” Murray said. “I’ve heard countless students repeat those very words.”
    Charlie shrugged, uninterested. “What’s your news?” he asked. Anita removed the buns from the oven and painted their tops with a brush. Charlie saw her look away, briefly, and then Danny saw the happiness appear in Charlie’s eyes. “Again?” Charlie asked.
    Murray nodded and Charlie embraced him, then hugged and kissed Anita also. “How far along?”
    â€œThird month,” Anita said. “At least that’s what Dr. Shapiro says—for all doctors ever know about these things.”
    Danny heard somebody practicing scales on a piano. Then he heard the sound of a flute. Murray took Hannah to him and smoothed her blond hair as she leaned against him. Danny watched her breasts move underneath her white blouse. “Hannah has been studying ecology at school,” Murray stated, “and did a report on the world population explosion, so we had to have quite a discussion, didn’t we?”
    Hannah nodded.
    â€œI explained to her that, as Jews, while we do not of course have any special dispensation, we do have certain unique obligations, to our people and to our past. I put it this way—and only for people who already feel the way we do—” he paused for effect, “I say this: we’re not overpopulating, we’re replacing.”
    Danny felt gooseflesh rise on his arms, and, at the same time, he realized that he was wishing Murray had not given Charlie the news. He didn’t want Charlie to be distracted.
    â€œYou breed good news,” Charlie said.
    Murray sighed, as if relaxing, and, putting his arm around Charlie’s shoulders, he walked with him from the house. “Anita’s right, you know. We need more time together—we see each other at school, on weekends, but when do we sit and do nothing? How often do we drink things in and appreciate what’s become of our lives—our children, our friends, our careers, our home….”
    Outside, in the darkness, Danny felt as if he could breathe again.
    â€œYou know what I’d like to see?” Charlie asked. “Most of all?”
    â€œWhat?” Murray asked.
    â€œI’d like to see you out here some beautiful spring day, mowing your lawn, with your kids grown up and a bunch of grandchildren all around. I’d be sitting under a tree with Anita and she’d be knitting, and there’d be a great big shit-eating grin on your face as you drove by, your grandchildren waving at you—and then suddenly Anita would jump up and yell, and—pipe and all—you’d ride right over the edge and into your pool—!”
    Murray laughed and swung at Charlie’s shoulder with his fist, but Charlie caught his fist and squeezed until Murray cried out in pain.
    â€œI’ve warned him,” Anita said. “I’ve told him not to mow at night. The pool is still full.”
    â€œBut he’s Murray the Mower,” Charlie said.
    From the doorway the children chanted in singsong: “Mur-ray