The Severed Wing

Nothing was safe to read anymore. I threw the magazine aside and got out our ancient second-hand record player.

Which album to choose, in its beat-up cardboard sleeve? The Academy of St.

Martin-in-the-Fields, Sir John Lennon, conducting. I leaned back and let the bright notes carry me off. We were standing at the bar, leaning on its dented wooden surface. Now that I felt relieved of my worries, at least for the moment, I was able to pay attention to what was going on around me.

The Severed Wing, by Martin Gidron

The place was small and crowded and stank of sweat and beer, and the air was thick with Yiddish laughter and curses; if there were any goyim around they were keeping pretty quiet. I asked the owner how much; he said 1, drachmas; I reached into my pocket for the coins, and there were no coins in my pocket, no pocket in my pants, no hand to reach in with.

Then the kiosk owner was looking through me—literally through me, and he stretched out his hand where my chest had been to take money from someone standing behind me.

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I seemed to blink, and when I opened my eyes again it was the middle of the night and I was alone inside the darkened kiosk. So I took the notebook, the pen, and some candy and got out somehow. She is short, with olive skin and black eyes, and may the God who does not exist forgive me, she reminds me somehow of Irena. I feel an overwhelming urge to throw myself on her, scatter her tray, send the dirty glasses tinkling to bits on the stone terrace.

The Severed Wing

After all, it would not matter. In a while, it will never have been. But I do nothing.

It would be futile. I watch the waitress remove her graceful hand, watch the golden sun blaze down over the Aegean, feel the pages of this notebook, taste the coffee with its cream and sugar. Yariv rated it liked it Jan 05, Angus-Michel rated it it was amazing Mar 08, Mike added it Jun 04, Joost Schuur added it Feb 07, Jeff Lawrence marked it as to-read Feb 12, Shana marked it as to-read Feb 19, Yuli Scheidt marked it as to-read Mar 07, Sam Siegel marked it as to-read May 08, Julie marked it as to-read May 28, Feenie marked it as to-read Jun 08, Carlos Aranaga marked it as to-read Jan 15, Isaac marked it as to-read May 07, Dylan marked it as to-read Mar 03, Chris marked it as to-read Jul 07, Mike Silverman added it Dec 05, Yinzadi marked it as to-read Nov 14, Rachel added it Feb 19, Simon added it Jan 24, Tim marked it as to-read Sep 01, Jo marked it as to-read Sep 14, Cletus Lee marked it as to-read Dec 05, Mary marked it as to-read Dec 16,