Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 16 of a new online serial novel, Beneath the Surface, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every Thursday or Friday. Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © 2011 by Israel Bookshop Publication

“Diana? I’m going to the cafeteria!” Ruby stuck her head into the room.

Diana slipped her pen into the back flap of her loose-leaf. “Go and enjoy,” she replied blandly and walked out to her friend.

“Aren’t you coming?” Ruby asked.

“No. I have no appetite, I’m too tired, and the truth is, I don’t have time, anyway.”

“What now? You gave in the psychometric report this morning, if I’m not mistaken.”

“You’re not, but I have other things that I’m busy with besides school.”

“Oh. I forgot.” Ruby’s voice had taken on that tone of oozing scorn that was becoming so common whenever she spoke to Diana. “What’s up? You haven’t finished planning the wedding menu yet? Or are you going to choose a necklace? Be careful that his mother doesn’t convince him to buy you an ugly Star of David-shaped pendant.” Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 15 of a new online serial novel, Beneath the Surface, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every Thursday or Friday. Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © 2011 by Israel Bookshop Publication

Belgium

Diana slowly walked past the rows of trees. Lights from homes behind the trees twinkled alternately as the foliage thickened and thinned. Small, unripe fruits that had fallen to the ground turned into sticky mush as she unintentionally stepped on them.

The words in Menuchi’s letter gnawed at her brain. It was obvious that Menuchi hadn’t realized that she was not Jewish, and, indeed, she had intentionally been trying to conceal this tidbit of information. She doubted the girl from Israel would continue to correspond with her if she would reveal the truth. And this correspondence was very important to her right now. Very.

Only when she was standing in front of the ornate door, looking at the elegant, carved, wooden nameplate hanging on it, did she begin to doubt the effectiveness of her plan.

Yes. Knock! Diana urged herself firmly.

Maybe not? the fearful side of her doubted.

Don’t do anything hastily. Think first! yet a third side of Diana said to her. It was actually her mother’s voice. Diana couldn’t listen to all the voices in her mind. But her firmness won out and she lifted her arm to knock at the door. Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 14 of a new online serial novel, Beneath the Surface, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every Thursday or Friday. Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © 2011 by Israel Bookshop Publication

“Will you be going to Shragi’s wedding, Mother?” Once again, Dan had taken a few days of vacation from university.

“What’s the question? And you’re coming, too!”

Dan shook his head in uncertainty. “I’m not so sure. When does it come out?”

“In November.”

“Well, we’ll see what kind of exams I have then.”

“When you want to, sweetie, you can always arrange for yourself to have a little vacation, can’t you? Or maybe you don’t want to go?”

“I didn’t say that,” Dan murmured evasively. “But it is true that I’m afraid I’ll feel strange and different at this wedding.”

Lara looked reprovingly at his bare head. “If you show up at the hall the way you’ve been looking recently, then of course you’ll feel different. Or perhaps you mean you’ll be different because everyone there who’s your age is married already?”

He smiled thinly. “You can’t know. November is still a long time away! Even I can be married by then.”

His mother fixed him with a penetrating gaze. “You know that that will make me very happy. To whom?”

“Oh, I was just talking theoretically.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but knew that it would take more than that to fool his mother.

“You weren’t talking theoretically at all. I know you too well. Who is the girl you are planning to marry?”

He sighed resignedly. “You don’t sound all too happy, Mother, as you promised you would be a moment ago.”

“What did I promise?”

“You said that my getting married will make you very happy. Why aren’t you happy?”

“Because your evasiveness is worrying me. I hope it’s a good family.”

“A very good family. You know them very well.” Keep Reading…

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 13 of a new online serial novel, Beneath the Surface, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every Thursday or Friday. Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © 2011 by Israel Bookshop Publication

Back in Belgium, Diana Molis ascended the black marble stairs. She stuffed the white envelope into her pocket. She would look at it soon. Not now. Not here.

“What’s doing, Dee?” her mother asked.

“I have a hard exam tomorrow,” Diana replied tersely. “I have to finish studying.”

Her mother frowned. “I thought that since the university is so close to home, and that you’re even sleeping at home, I’d see you more than if you would be living elsewhere. As time goes on, though, I see that’s not exactly the case.”

“Well, you want her to take her studies seriously, don’t you?” Diana’s father interjected as he blew rings of smoke into the air.

“Yes, but she’s overdoing it. And when she finally has a few days of vacation, she flies off to Israel, instead of spending time with us here.”

“Well, soon she’ll be getting married and will be moving out for good, Dora,” Diana’s father remarked, tossing the evening newspaper onto the low wooden coffee table. “You know, Dee, we’re waiting for news from you.”

“News? Of what type?” She vigorously rubbed the glass face of her watch, determined to remove a nonexistent mark. Keep Reading…