***

Even in fading bodies,
there live undying desires—
to love and be loved!!!
****************

Berel diligently rolled the green peas with a plastic fork from his half of the plate onto “mine,” but the small, unruly little balls, slippery from the gravy, kept popping out of the plate onto the table.

I gave him a teaspoon, and he diligently chased after the unruly peas, not noticing that I had already fed him not only his half but also “my” half of the meal.

Berel had a hearty appetite, and he would have gladly polished off the portion on his plate by himself, but he had been splitting the food evenly ever since he decided that I was his fianc;e.

Berel’s son asked, somewhat sheepishly, if I’d be willing to play the role of his fianc;e. Berel, who was very religious, wouldn’t let a woman touch him.
Of course I agreed. A 96-year-old man with memory lapses… Today I’m his fianc;e, and tomorrow he won’t remember—dementia will help me, I thought. I needed this job—oh, how I needed it!

Berel was talking about something with his son in Yiddish; I understood only one word—and that was because “bride” is pronounced the same way in Hebrew.... He exchanged sly glances with his son.

My husband had a great sense of humor; he didn’t protest or get jealous when I told him I’d become Berel’s fianc;e!
I even felt a little hurt for myself; I snorted, snatched the remote control from his hand, and turned off the TV!

The silence in the bedroom was tense. I wanted some attention—even just a little, even a hint of jealousy on his part—but alas, my husband was ready to share me with that “blue-eyed” guy...

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Другие статьи в литературном дневнике:

• 20.10.2026. ***