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

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Binyamin,

This animal was wounded, and they weren’t able to take off the skin properly in the back and rib area. We dealt with it this way, but the soaking only made the tear worse, as you’ll see for yourself. Please check if it’s not better to divide it into two furs, a small one and a big one, instead of the strange shape it is in now.

Pinchas

Binyamin carefully removed the note attached with a pin to the shiny black fur resting on the low table to his left. It was a good thing that he had time until he had to decide what to do. It wasn’t really nice of Pinchas to throw this onto him. If Sherer would blow a fuse that they’d cut a good fur, slashing its value at once, why should he, Binyamin, be to blame that they hadn’t handled the animal better?

He wanted to speak to Pinchas, to gently probe about the details of what had happened, but Pinchas wasn’t there now. He had no reason to make up lost hours. He’d worked normally the week before.

“Chol Hamoed work.” Binyamin sighed to the wall in front of him. “That’s what your work is worth. Wouldn’t it have been much better had you taken off then, like all of us?”

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

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Permit to be outside for worker David Elkovitz

In order to complete lost work hours, David Elkovitz has hereby been granted permission to be outside of his residence after official work hours until 3:00 a.m. for the coming week. The permit is valid only for the area of the factory, the residential area, and the route between them.

Signed,

Leo Sherer

Foreman

“And your father-in-law gave me a permit to come early each day—and only that.” Toward the end of the meal in the communal dining room, Binyamin glanced at the paper that Elkovitz had put on the table. “I’m supposed to finish at the regular time with everyone else, and then I have to come back at three in the morning.”

“Yes, I heard him. That’s why I wanted to show this to you now.”

“I wonder if it’s intentional.”

“I’m afraid it is.” Elkovitz put the paper back in his pocket and picked up his soup spoon again. “He told me clearly that he doesn’t like our friendship.”

“And what did you answer him?”

“That it’s not a personal friendship, and that I’m just getting closer to your community in general.”

“So maybe it isn’t good that we’re sitting next to each other now.”

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

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Isru Chag Pesach

Binyamin,

We’d appreciate if you’d come on your personal break to change a light-bulb for us and to check if the connections are okay. The bulbs have been burning out very quickly lately.

Bring a bulb from the store, and write it down on our account.

Thanks,

Babbe

“You need to know how to do things,” Babbe said as Binyamin dragged a chair into the middle of the dim room. He looked at her, somewhat surprised.

“Yes,” he replied after a moment.

“If, for example, I would try to change this light-bulb myself, it would end with me falling from the chair, chalilah; the bulb breaking; and maybe even the whole building burning down. You see, when you start getting busy with something, you have to be very, very careful, and think about every step, because there’s no way to know where it will lead you.”

Binyamin looked at Babbe from his position on the chair, nodding.

“And even if you think you have all the knowledge you need, it’s always better to consult with experts who are older than you.”

Israel Book Shop presents Chapter 64 of a new online serial novel, Nine A.M., by Esther Rapaport. Check back for a new chapter every week.  Click here for previous chapters.

Copyright © Israel Bookshop Publications. 

Child – Boy

Weight – 2.100 kg

Time of birth – 23:00

Health – Appears normal

“Mazel tov, Elky!” Naomi smiled carefully; she hadn’t exactly planned to meet the Hauptmann herself over here.

Katarina cast a light smile in Naomi’s direction and said, “Still friends, or what?”

“You could say,” a pale-faced Elky replied.

“So I’ll go, and I won’t disturb your wonderful, friendly conversation.” It was hard to discern if she was being cynical or serious. “In any case, I would have brought you our gift—as one of the best workers in the office, you would have deserved that—but because we received your apology note regarding the paper you threw on the floor of the camp grounds—”