Isenberg Rabbi's Big Sin & Other Short Stories

1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-1-62309-164-4
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 113 Seiten

Four short stories, fiction, all with exiting plots and twists. #1-The Rabbi's Big Sin. Alcoholic Rabbi that is killed for something he was innocent of. #2-Ducks In Silver Lake. After a son in law is divorced he marries his former mother in law. #3-For A Names Sake. A student and his teacher become romanticly involved with terrible consequences. #4-Antons Tale. Murder mystery involving Russian gangsters.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Isenberg, David

Leseproben

Duck’s In Silver Lake By David Isenberg The day could not have been more perfect in Baldwin, Long Island. They say that the South Shore had the ideal climate, especially in spring time, for practically any outdoor activity, be it gardening, tennis, golf and especially boating. The neighboring town of Freeport was the boating capitol of the North East and at this time of the year the activity on the avenue alongside the Woodcleft Canal showed dazzling white boats against a background of grayish weather worn docks and shops. One could hardly see the polluted water unless you looked real close between the gift stores and boat showrooms, and not to be overlooked were it’s well known restaurants like Captain Ben’s, The Crabshack and if one had a desire for the world’s best New England clam chowder there was always Otto’s Sea Grill. Steve Klein was a boat enthusiast whose idea of a perfect day was to go fishing in his sixty three foot Owens and spend the day on South Bay either fishing or just drifting around and being glad to be alive. He was fortunate that his wife of eight months didn’t mind his hobby and usually came along to keep him company, absorb some rays and breathe the clean ocean air. Bernice would then decide which waterfront bistro they would dock at to have a cocktail and dinner. Of course this was too good to last but another happy event took its place, she was four months pregnant and to her, the rocking of the boat and smell of fish was not compatible with her digestive system and invariably her stomach would protest even when just coming to the docks. She loved being married to Steve who worshipped her and went out of his way to be the perfect mate. He worked as a router for United Parcel Service and had to commute between Baldwin and the city daily. The work was challenging but the salary, health insurance plan and his 401K made Bernice feel secure and she had no financial worries. She liked the idea of starting a family as soon as possible because growing up with them was the way she pictured her future and at only eighteen years old it gave her a good head start. She was preparing a surprise for Steve’s twenty sixth birthday, it was to be a cake in the shape of his boat with the name on the transom that read BAGEL BOY, (He loved bagels) and two little figurines, one pregnant, representing them. She hoped that he would enjoy her effort as much as she did baking and decorating it. Married life was fun and up to this point she found none of the problems that she was warned about. “I have a good man and I’m happy” was the daily mantra that she recited as she went off to sleep every night. She had two weeks to go for the big event, at least which was what her obstetrician Dr. Herbert Chessin told her, when on a Sunday afternoon a policeman came to the door and told her the most horrible news that he possibly could. “The Owens with the name BAGEL BOY, was found drifting on South Bay with no one at the wheel. We recovered a body….” Was the last thing she heard as she passed out. As she came to, Dr. Chessin was at her bedside reassuring her that the baby was a beautiful eight pound healthy girl delivered via a “C” section at the Long Island Jewish Hospital. The shock of losing her Steve nearly cost her her own life. It was only because of their baby that she fought to keep her sanity. It took a battery of psychiatrists over three years before she finally got over the shock of “that day.” She immersed herself totally to bringing up Stephanie. Even at five years old Bernice could tell that she would grow up to be quite beautiful. Her black curly hair framed her large blue eyes that squinted when she laughed. There was nothing that her daughter wanted that she couldn’t have, toys, shoes, clothes and anything new that would appeal to a five year old. She spoiled her as any mother would, it was her only link to Steve that she had and every day she would still daydream of the life that could have been. It was at these times that tears started to flow and a melancholy inner feeling would envelop her anywhere from a few minutes, or at times the whole day. Fortunately Prozac would snap her out of it. She took drug aids reluctantly for she was afraid of becoming a druggie and that wouldn’t do since she had a responsibility to her daughter that she could not jeopardize. Every so often her friends would try to arrange it for her to meet someone. There was no way that she could entertain the idea of being hurt again like she was when her Steve left her. The pain was still there and going out with a strange person would rub old wounds raw again. Her psychiatrist would at time question her regarding her sexual desires her answer always was “They left with Steve’s demise.” The Doctor told her that this was not normal for a physically healthy person to be that way “Why not try to stimulate yourself to bring you out of your depressed sexual needs?” Bernice said that she tried that but she could only think of Steve during the act and it had the opposite effect that it was supposed to have, “There was no finality and it left me frustrated and numb down there.” As Stephanie was growing up, although she loved her mother, she was starting to feel a little smothered in her daily life. Mom was never far away ready to protect her from the evil world that she was growing up in. She was graduating Baldwin High School this summer and felt herself grown up enough not to be fawned over constantly. Stephanie knew the reason for all this but that was sixteen years ago and she felt that her Mother should finally get over the loss and pain she suffered. Having to be home from a date by ten o’clock did not go over with the young men she went out with and it gave her a feeling of growing up and not having anything to say regarding her own destiny. Over Sunday morning breakfast, Bernice and Stephanie had a heart to heart talk that was rare but it happened every once in a while. Stephanie confided to her Mom that she’s been seeing one particular boy for a few weeks and they both have a thing for each other. “What kind of thing are you talking about?” Bernice asked expecting the worst kind of answer. “I think I love him and he has the same feelings for me.” Bernice recalled how at the same age she felt the same way about the boy that she married. She realized that this situation had to be handled very carefully; it would be something that Stephanie would remember for the rest of her days. “OK, why don’t you bring him around to the house so I can meet this suitor and get to know him also?” Stephanie jumped up and hugged her mother,” I love you Mom,” was all she said but it created a bond that was wearing very thin lately. After graduating Nassau County Community College, Fred Porter decided to follow his Dad’s footsteps and go into the printing business. He took a job in a small print shop in Baldwin that had a couple of ancient Harris two color presses and a few high speed letter press machines. He felt that this place was as good as any to learn the business. He loved the printing trade and hoped someday to own his own shop. Fred knew that computers were the biggest enemy of small operations like this who could in no way compete with this new computerized world of modern technology. He was lucky that his folks, who were happily retired in Florida, were well off financially and would surely help him out to get started once he was informed enough to run his own shop. He often daydreamed about a computer programmed six color Heidelberg press, the ultimate giant in the industry. There was a small problem…They cost a million dollars and up but he was young and ambitious and the price was not a deterrent to his ambition. Classical music was not something young people accepted normally but Bernice Klein felt that part of he daughters education should be well rounded so she would turn on WQXR, the classical music station every day from morning to night. It worked on Stephanie; she loved listening to the radio and even went to record stores to buy some of her favorites to play on her own CD player when she got into the mood to do so. It was while browsing in Sam Goody’s, that she looked up and saw this nice looking guy staring at her, a small smile brought him over. “It’s not often that I find young people in this part of the store especially on the end section where the double u’s are displayed, are you into Wagner? He’s one of my favorites.” They ended up talking and listening to music for more than two hours. It was at this time that Fred Porter asked Stephanie for her phone number which she gladly supplied him with. Bernice Klein was impressed with her good taste in boyfriends. “Mom; I want you to meet Fred Porter, he is the boy that I was telling you about.” Stephanie did a mental cross your finger routine, hoping that her Mom would not be disappointed in her choice of men. Bernice stuck out her hand which Fred took and shook with a firm grip. He was surprised how young she looked; they could be sisters if he didn’t know better. The conversation was still a little awkward and none meaningful small talk was being tossed back and forth. Bernice had learned a long time ago that when she said the words “Boats,” her Steve could go on for hours talking about that subject. “What do you do Fred? Or intent to do (she almost said when you grow up but caught herself in time) with yourself in the future? The ice was broken from that moment on. Bernice and Stephanie learned all about printing presses, ink and paper weight and so on, also his future dreams that he mentioned with such passion that both of them were impressed with his determination to succeed. In...