A Late Divorce Read Online Free Page A

our other grandma never calls because she’s sick.
    Gaddi darling she said do you know who this is. Yes I said. So she said this is grandma on the phone so I said yes. So she said it’s been ages since I’ve seen you Gaddi why don’t you come to visit me don’t you know it’s hard for grandma to come to you because of those stairs. So I said yes. So she said why don’t you ask your father and mother to bring you to me you have vacation now don’t you want to spend some time with me so I said yes. So she said your grandpa came last night from America aren’t you glad that your grandpa is here so I said yes. What did he bring you will you tell grandma so I said yes. It must be a new toy or something to wear will you show me so I said yes. Now darling tell me how Rakefet is. She’s fine I said. You love her don’t you do you help your mother with her so I said yes. I really hope you love her now please put your mother on the phone. So I said mom wasn’t home. So she asked for grandpa to say hello to him so I said that he was asleep. Sleeping
now?
Yes I said it’s nighttime for him now. What do you mean nighttime? So I told her about the earth and the sun and the differences in time. I don’t think she believed me all she said was you’re just like your father you have an answer for everything. The silkworm had escaped from the helicopter again and was crossing the room fast so I whispered just a minute grandma it was already under the closet I couldn’t find it so I shut the door tight because the baby was crying in that awful way again and I went back to the telephone. Where were you grandma asked I didn’t want to tell her about the worm because she wouldn’t understand it would disgust her so I said I thought Rakefet was crying but she isn’t. I always lie to her the lies come all by themselves it’s like she wants to be lied to.
    â€œRakefet’s there? Your mother didn’t take her with her?”
    â€œNo, she’s asleep.”
    â€œAnd you’re all alone with her. They left you all alone with her.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that? Grandpa’s here too.”
    â€œBut he’s sleeping.”
    â€œHe’ll get up if I ask him to.”
    â€œGaddi, darling, be careful. Where is she?”
    â€œIn her crib.”
    â€œWhatever you do don’t lift her. You might drop her.”
    â€œI won’t.”
    â€œAnd when your father and mother come home tell them that I just called to say hello and that they shouldn’t leave you alone with the baby.”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œAnd be sure you don’t lift her. You might drop her and paralyze her for life. You wouldn’t want a paralyzed sister, would you?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSo be careful, darling. Isn’t that her crying now?”
    I covered the receiver with my hand to keep her from hearing the awful screams.
    â€œNo.”
    I waited for her to say something else but she didn’t so slowly I hung up.
    The baby really was crying again not just crying but one long loud wail. I didn’t know what to do I went back to her with a pacifier and the bottle and the ring of keys but she just pushed them away so I left the room and turned on the TV to drown her out I watched an English lesson but Rakefet was louder than it she even started calling my name Di Di Di her troubles were making her smarter. I couldn’t take it anymore. I went back to her she was purple tears ran down her face she stank from what she had done. I really felt sorry for her. And so then I made up my mind. I went to the clothes closet and found an old raincoat of mine and put it on I put on a woolen hat and dad’s leather gloves and tied a kerchief of mom’s over my mouth. Then I went to the kitchen and took the sugar tongs and pushed the chair against the crib again but this time I kept on my shoes I climbed over the bars and got back in with