Mrs. Gold’s doctor had suggested to Lisa that she send her mother to a morning club for the elderly, on account of the slow decaying of her mind. So on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, Lisa would take her mother on the bus to the club. The club was designed for people over seventy years old. Lisa’s mother was one of the younger ones, but she said that no one told their age. Nevertheless, she could not ride the bus on her own because she was never sure if it was this stop or the next one. Also, going through the religious neighbourhoods made her nervous, and because the club was one of her few pleasures, necessary for her cognitive health, and free, she said Lisa could at least put herself out to take her, considering all she did for Lisa. Lisa did not like to consider all her mother did for her, but three days a week she braced herself and took her.
Mrs. Gold was almost ready to go, standing before the hall mirror, putting on her shoes, while Lisa waited for the emotional needles to begin poking her. The shoes were new and had cost her mother one hundred shekels. She kept saying, “Maybe I shouldn’t have paid that for them. No, I shouldn’t have. I’ll take them off and return them tomorrow. I shouldn’t have bought them.”
Lisa raised her eyes to heaven. “Yes, you should have bought them,” she said. “Put them on and let’s go.” They were hideous shoes....
Subscribe now to keep reading
Please enter your email to log in or create a new account.