So that’s the way they get in to rape old women nowadays, her mother thought.

No, thank you, she said into the intercom, I don’t want any special services.

Social Services, the man shouted back.

Thank you but no, she said, because what’s the difference, really?

Mrs. Paz? Ilana Paz? It’s Ron Azrak from Social Services here. Can you please buzz us in?

What do you want? her mother asked, but forgot to press the button to talk and was apparently still listening, so that she heard him softly say: Perhaps you’d like to talk to her yourself?

She jabbed the button again: Who’s with you?

That’s what I want to talk to you about, the man said.

He had a kind voice, her mother explains to Tamar, not the voice of a murderer or a rapist.

What’s it about? her mother demanded.

Mrs. Paz, it really would be better for everyone if we could come up to talk in person—

Give me a synopsis, she interrupted.

Special Services replied that it was a sensitive matter, and if she would just open the door for them, he’d be happy to give her his card. Tamar’s mother considered telling him to go away, but curiosity got the better of her and she gave in. But before buzzing him in she turned off the stove (Tamar knows she would never leave the apartment with the stove on for even a moment, someone she knew as a girl had burned to death that way), climbed the stairs, and knocked on the door of the couple with the baby. The husband answered with a stained burp cloth over his shoulder. He looks terrible, Tamar’s mother tells her; since the birth, his eczema has flared up.

I’m sorry to bother you, Tamar’s mother said to him, but someone is outside claiming to be from Special Services. In case it happens that I buzz in a thug or a lowlife, would you mind keeping your door open and listening out? If our own thug of a building manager would install a security camera, none of this would be necessary, but hell will melt over before that happens, apologies again for bothering you, especially with the baby, such a sweet child, it’s a joy to see how your family is blossoming, all right then, thank you, if you really don’t mind, I’ll go and buzz him in, no, no need to come down with me, just stay right where you are but with the door open just like that so you can hear me if I scream.

Back in her apartment, she called down to the entryway.

All right, I’m buzzing you in. Come through the first door, then wait in the entryway until it closes all the way behind you, then I’ll buzz a second time to open the inner door.