Read Online Green Kills by Avi Domoshevizki - Free Book Online Page A

they can serve as role models,
perhaps even provide guidance for other children. I believe this is the right
way, and I’d like to contact such a school dropout to prove I’m right.”
    It was only after his teacher, who was present at the
appointment, had intervened and vouched for him that the social worker agreed
to cooperate. “But only if I’m convinced you’re aware of all the risks and
receive written consent from your parents.”
    The youth the social worker had connected Ronnie with was Gadi,
a fifteen-year-old boy who came from one of Lod’s roughest areas, Yoseftal
Street. His father had disappeared when Gadi was only three years old. His
mother had raised him by herself since then, barely able to make a living by
doing janitorial work for City Hall and cleaning private houses. All the
relevant authorities were in agreement that the child was brilliant, but lacked
any will or ability to accept authority. He regularly hung around criminals and
hadn’t seen the inside of a classroom for quite some time. After much effort
and not a few threats, a meeting between the two teenagers had been arranged.
It was marked as an utter failure from the very first moment. Gadi demonstrated
deep contempt and an unwillingness to communicate with the spoiled kid from the
kibbutz. “I don’t need any favors from you,” he repeated again and again
throughout the conversation. Finally, he defiantly left, leaving Ronnie by
himself, beaten and frustrated. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, Ronnie decided
to follow him, and when he finally found him, kept on walking beside him down
the alleyways of Lod without uttering a single word. After about twenty
minutes, Gadi shouted at him, “What do you want? You’re such a leech! Do I need
to beat the crap out of you so you get your ass out of here?” His body language
clearly indicated he was ready for battle, in spite of the marked differences
in age and size.
    Ronnie stopped. “I’m a nerd from the kibbutz. I’m not looking
for a fight, but I can still kick the shit out of you, if I have to. But maybe,
instead of really going at it, we stand here by the fence and do some arm
wrestling. If you win, I’ll turn around and get out of your life for good.
 But if I win, you’re going to give me a chance to get to know you better,
and for you to know me. If, after we know each other well, you still aren’t
interested in my company, I promise that I won’t insist.”
    Gadi smiled, sure of his victory. He jumped over the fence,
turned around, and positioned his right elbow on the concrete rail, ready for
battle. Ronnie stood in front of him, ignoring the sharp stones digging into
his elbow and said, “Just start whenever you’re ready.”
    Before he could finish the sentence, he felt Gadi furiously
attacking his arm, leaning his entire body weight against it. Ronnie remained
firm and unmoving. Years of hard physical labor had strengthened the muscles of
his arm. As minutes passed, Gadi’s breath quickened,
but he couldn’t move Ronnie’s hand even by an inch. Finally, he raised his
eyes, looked at Ronnie, who wasn’t even sweating, and panted, “Draw?”
    “Draw,” Ronnie agreed.
    Gadi wiped his hands and said, “That means you didn’t win,
doesn’t it? So I don’t have to get to know you. Seeya!”
    “You know what, you’re probably right. Just do me a favor and
take me back to the place where we first met. OK?”
    Gadi, who had expected an entirely different reply, turned
around, said, “Come on,” and began to walk. On the way, Ronnie spoke about the
kibbutz and invited him for a visit. Gadi pretended he wasn’t listening. When
they parted, Ronnie gave him his home telephone number and to his surprise,
after some slight hesitation, Gadi agreed to take it and wrote the number on
his wrist.
    Over the following months, the boys would meet at least twice a
week, with Gadi remaining restrained, but not missing a single meeting. One
day, Gadi arrived at the kibbutz