He shrugged, pleased, taking a slice of mandelbrot.

“It’s good?” she asked, not that she had any doubts. But she wanted to hear him say it.

He simply closed his eyes in pleasure, nodding.

“I’m so sorry I made so much work for you, Shimon Levi.”

“What are you worrying? Believe me, if it wasn’t this, it would have been something else,” he said wearily. “I’ll tell you the truth, I’m not sure how much longer I can go on like this.”

“You know, I was thinking the same thing. The kinderlach, they should only live and be well, I love them. But so much tummel, such mishugas! And it never stops. Ever since my Zissele, God should watch over her soul, passed, I’ve been like a chicken without a head. I need a vacation. In fact, after this is all over, I’m thinking I’ll visit my daughter in B’nai Brak.”

“Go to Israel? Aah. Yes. This is where my soul has longed to be for such a long time. I have a little apartment in Jerusalem, in Geulah. I bought it many years ago. Malka Ruth, may her soul rest in peace, and I dreamed of retiring there. I have a child and many grandchildren in Bayit V’Gan.”

Now, he thought, pausing for a moment before launching into the speech he had long planned to the last word, which contained many learned Talmudical references, flowery quotes from the psalms and Ethics of the Fathers, a speech he had not yet had the opportunity or courage to deliver. But as he opened his mouth, the entire perfectly and laboriously composed discourse went straight out of his head. Instead, he found himself saying simply, “Fruma Esther, maybe we’ll get married and go together?”

36

THE CORRECTIONS

They spent the day at the zoo, then took the children to the local botanical garden, which was so thrillingly beautiful, it made Leah feel like crying. Just this, she thought. Just this.

The next morning, they loaded up the car, strapped the children in with their toys, and got in themselves. Her eyes were wistful as they drove by the pretty little homes with their large backyards and jungle gyms. The children, drowsy from their full breakfast, immediately fell asleep.

“It’s good we spent the extra day. I feel much better now,” Leah said.

“Yes,” he agreed. “I’m glad I went back to the minyan again. I didn’t rush out this time, and people were so friendly, almost all of them said hello to me and asked me about myself. I also loved the prayers.”

Leah studied him carefully. “What was so special about them?”