Book & Cook

  Poop “Nanou! Nanou, wake up!” “Wha-at?” I complained half a sleep. “I need to go to the bathroom” “So go” I said and turned over. Avi didn’t go. We were left alone in the house while mom and dad went to the movies. “You are a big boy now, you are five years old and we know, you can take care of your brother. Mom and dad are going to the movies so don’t fight or mess up the house. Just stay in bed and go to sleep. By the time you wake up we will be back home.” “Yes I know” I said to Mom “I am a big boy.” It was all fine until Avi decided to wake me up. “You have to come with me,” he cried. “I can’t reach the door latch.” It was a big lie. Avi, even being two years younger than me looked almost bigger than me - he was heavier, and the same height as me. Avi was afraid of the dark. He wanted me to get up and go to the bathroom with him. Now, why should I? I was perfectly comfortable sleeping in my bed and really didn’t need to get up just so he can go to the bathroom. I knew he coul...

1961 "The  taktok , the t aktok  is here! The  taktok  is here!" Avi rushed in yelling, "Come. Let's play outside and see the  Taktok ." Avi was just three years old, he didn't speak very well.  Taktok  is a tractor in Avi's language. "Look what you did!" Tata Beya yelled at him in Arabic. (Remember? She spoke only Arabic.) "You brought all the dirt in the house. You always do that! You rush in, and you forget to wipe your feet." Avi looked at her very seriously and listened patiently ‘til she finished. Then he yelled back, "Blah, blah, blah, blah!" and ran outside. You see, Avi does not speak or understand Arabic. Tata Beya was staying with us for the summer. We just moved from the shack in Havatzelet to this bigger place in a Yemenite neighborhood called “Neveh Shalom” - the peace pasture. I say Yemenite because most of the residents of that neighborhood came from Yemen. "The rent is a little higher," Dad said, ...