ARR 1988 - Flipbook - Page 45
her mattress, her most secret, private hiding place, replacing it with her
science notebook, ready to work. Just in time, too, because Mother walked
in-no knock, of course-and asked,"Are you feeling better now, Em? You
know your father really loves you, don't you? He just wants you to do what's
right. And he really didn't spank you that hard, did he? He just gets very
upset when you disobey him. He works so hard at the office ..."
Emily wasn't listening. She was wondering: if he's wonderful, how
come you always pull away when he tries to kiss you? But she'd never really
ask that.
It had all started yesterday afternoon. Actually, it had been building
all week with that Christmas tree incident.
"Jews don't have Christmas trees! What's the matter with you? You
aren't stupid, so why do you behave as if you are?"
"I thought maybe just this once ... " Emily pleaded. "I know some
Jewish families who do." Persistent, argumentative, never knowing when
to quit.
Even more ominous than the booming voice was the way his eyes
narrowed at her and glared. "I said no! That's the end ofit. Don't mention
it again in this house!"
Enter the mediator: "Now, dear, you know your father feels strongly
about this. He experienced a lot of anti-Semitism when he was young and
he feels that having a Christmas tree would be a denial of our heritage ... "
etc., etc. And to him: "Sam don't get so excited. She didn't mean any harm.
The children see Christmas displays everywhere and they just want to be
part of the holiday spirit."
Emily was no longer interested in the dialogue. She sighed rather
listlessly and all communication with her father stopped for several days
with the exception of superficial greetings and good-nights. A simmering
tension pervaded the dinner table, the only time she really saw him for more
than a couple of minutes. Nobody mentioned it, however.
The incident was fading and a blizzard blanketed New York on Sunday
with sufficient fury to close school the next day. It was novel and exciting for
Emily and she could hardly wait for the snow to stop falling so she could go
to the park and play.
Then came yesterday. The sky was deep blue and snow clung to the
trees across the street in the park like icing on cookies. The park was a
seductively beckoning playland and nobody paid much attention in school on
Tuesday because their entire beings were primed for 3:00. Even the teachers
seemed mellowed by the awesome scene beyond the windows. It was just
before socjal studies class that Emily literally ran into Babs in the corridor.
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