Chapter 80, In Between

     Tel Aviv, the biggest city in Israel. It had its own bus fleet called Dan with a large bus station. Dan’s buses were serving all over the Greater Tel-Aviv area. The other national bus corporation - Eged - had a new station being built for the last 10 years. We were always kidding saying that when it will be finished it will be too small to hold the large fleet. For now, Eged spreads its buses next to the Dan’s station. Soldiers could ride buses for free, so on bad weather days I took the bus to Tel Aviv and from there take another bus to the base’s junction and from there I would hitch hike. It took longer than just hitch hiking; this is why I would only take the buses on bad weather.

    One of the streets next to the station is called “Neveh Sha’anan”. On each side of that street were lined up all kind of shoe stores. Each competing for customers. This was the cheapest place to buy shoes. The first time I came there was when we went shopping for Avi’s bar mitzvah. The idea when shopping there is to know what you want to pay before you shop. I was looking at a pair of soft suede shoes on my way home one Friday afternoon.

 “Do you like this pair?” asked the shop owner.

 “Not sure, still looking.”

 “I will give it to you for 100 liras.”

 “I am not sure; I saw something better next door.”

 “try them first, 90 liras.”

 “Sorry, 10.” I said as I was trying them on.

 “what are you doing to me?” The store owner, complained. “It is less than what I paid for them. 80?”

 “9, keep on arguing and I am not buying”

 “You are not playing fair, 50 and that is my last offer.”

I didn’t answer and turned around to walk away.

 “Ok, ok, 40 liras.”

 “Forget it, I think I see something similar next door.” And walked toward the other store.

He ran after me and grabbed my arm. “Ok, be realistic, what will you pay?”

 “20 liras.”

 “Sold for 25!” He sighed “Nice doing business with you” he packed the shoes and gave them to me.

 

    When I walked back toward the central station, I could hear the middle eastern music from the counterfeit cassette tapes sold at the many stands along the sidewalk. A small group of orthodox Jews from the Habad movement had a stand with Tefillin for the passer’s bye. They would approach mostly soldiers and ask them to dawn the tefillin. Very few of them would stop; they were usually in a rush to get to camp. 

 

   “No party tonight,” said Efri when I stopped at his place before going home. I was about to show him my new suede shoes.

 “What happened?”

 “Everybody is going to Ofra’s house.”

 “Doron’s Girl?”

 “Yes, we have to pay a Shivah Call. Ofra died yesterday.”

 “What do you mean? How?”

 “An accident apparently, her officer was playing with a hand grenade. It exploded, killed her, injured another. The stupid officer was blinded.”

 

    It was a sad evening. All our friends were there including some new ones. Efri had a new girlfriend, I never met her before. Doron was sitting next to Ofra’s parents. They were all crying softly. After some time Efri and his girlfriend came and asked if I wanted to join them for a drive overlooking the shore. Of course, I agreed and to my surprise another girl was waiting with them in his father’s Sussita. Apparently, she was Ofra’s friend. Her name was Efrat. We got to talk the whole way to the cliffs south of Netanya overlooking the sea. I learned that Efrat was from a moshav next to Netanya called Beit Yitzhak. She had a younger brother, and her father had a big farm. They had a few horses too. When I said that I never rode a horse she suggested that I would come one day to visit, and we would go together.

 

   The sun was already setting in the horizon, the red sky was still showing the od looking clouds. They looked to me like far away mountains. Almost like the surface of the moon, but red, maybe March, or another red planet. We sat there in the car and looked quietly at the sky.

 “Tibi,” Efrat suddenly whispered. “I want to make love to you.”

I guess, she wasn’t quite enough. Efri’s new girlfriend, Hila started to cry. Efri decided to drive all of us home. Efrat wrote down on a piece of paper her phone number and promised to meet me the next day next to the Sharon movie theatre. Unfortunately, when I got there the next day, she wasn’t there. When I called her number, no one answered. I had to get back to the base disappointed, but I promised myself to keep trying to call her. When I had a chance.

 

***

 

 

Chivitoes

 

  A Uruguayan sandwich, loosely translated, a small goat. The main ingredient is a very thin slice of meat beaten and quickly grilled on flat surface. I make two options, Brisket or chicken breast, both made the same way.

 

Ingredients:

1 Lb. Brisket

Or 1 Chicken Breast

2 TBSP Salt

½ Cup Vinegar

4 Cup Water
Bread Rolls

Condiments:

Sliced Tomatoes

Shredded Lettuce

Sliced Hard Boiled Eggs

Chopped Onion 

Sliced Black Olives

Sliced Roasted Red Pepper

Salsa Golf:

2 TBSP Ketchup 

4 TBSP Mayonnaise

 

 

Preparation:

  Marinate the meat in salt and vinegar water for 2 hours. Cut thin slices of the meat against the grain and hammer it flat to tenderize. Sear on flat surface for a few seconds and flip.

Mix ketchup and mayonnaise to create “Salsa Golf”. Spread on open roll and put any of the meats with the rest of the condiments and serve.

 

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