Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 68 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

So Chani and Penina were both planning to come for Shabbos. Hinda prayed that all should go smoothly, and discovered that she didn’t have any energy to spare on fretting. She peeled vegetables distractedly, and got a burn on her left hand as she sautéed the onions. “It should be kaparas avonos,” she muttered as she stuck her hand under the running cold water.

She heard Dov come in and quickly glanced over his shoulder. Phew! There was no sign of Martin.

“What happened?” Dov asked her.

“Not a big deal, a little burn. Nu, what did Reb Shlomo say?”

“That we should do it. He says that Martin makes a trustworthy impression. Although he did ask him to sign for us that he won’t use the passport for anything illegal.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 67 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

“I know what you want to ask,” Martin said. “The story is that Yosef…I don’t know what was with him that day. He got very scared of the idea that someone would see his picture, but on the other hand, he insisted that he had to renew his passport because his uncle in America needs him. In the end he told me to do the passport with my picture instead of his, and he ran outside.”

“But how did you do it?” Dov said evenly. “Are they so irresponsible there?”

“I don’t know. I came to the desk with Yosef’s documents, but none of them had an updated picture. His last passport is from when he was eight years old. I gave them my picture, and that’s what happened…”

Dov and Hinda were quiet. “You realize that this passport is useless, in any case,” Dov said, his voice sounding distant. “And without going into the details of this strange story, in your place, I really wouldn’t have done this.”

“I’m sorry.” Martin’s voice was low. “I was in a really tough situation there, and I couldn’t think of any other way to handle it.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 66 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

By the time Hinda and Dov returned to Haifa, it was after nine that night.

“Hinda?” Mrs. Schneelbalg, the neighbor upstairs, stopped her in the stairwell. “Do you mind dropping in by me for a moment?”

“Sure,” Hinda replied, throwing a glance at Dov. He should go inside, see how Yosef’s day had been…if he was even home. Her husband nodded almost imperceptibly.

“Thanks, that’s so nice of you,” said Mrs. Schneelbalg. “I know I can always ask you for a favor.”

Hinda smiled.

“I’m sewing a dress for myself, for my son’s wedding, and something about the cut reminds me of your Shabbos suit, the black one. You know which one I mean, right?”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 65 of a new online serial novel, Outside the Bubble, by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Yosef’s face was almost as gray as the silvery gray chairs in the room. “No,” he said suddenly. “No, I can’t breathe here. Come, Martin, let’s go.”

“Huh? You can’t breathe?”

“I’m going to get an attack in another minute.” Yosef’s eyes were hard. “It’s because of that horrid photographer. I saw him on the way here, before we came in. He came to tell everyone that it’s me.”

“That what’s you?”

“That it’s me from the picture. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.”

“I don’t understand. Don’t you want to renew your passport?” Martin asked. Maybe it was a good idea for him to learn psychiatry, although the computer world still captivated his interest.