Matins
Published in Issue #31 Translated from Hebrew by Maayan Eitan and Emily Hochberg subscribe to unlock the full storySeven times a day I seek her and did not know I disturbed her.
S.Y. Agnon –
S.Y. Agnon –
At five, the desert heat threatened to catch up with the night dew, and the cats woke up. She wandered like a bug in the dark, from the house to the backyard, the backyard to the house.
The laundry turned stiff in her arms until it fell down in the kitchen. She divided the laundry into two piles, one into the basket, the other onto the chair, the first waiting and the other finished. I put my fingers inside the clothespin and pressed. I groaned and opened it, then pressed again.
“What are you doing?” she asked and started ironing. Radio sounds echoed between the houses. “Good morning to everyone listening. Those of you who work out, get on your mark!”
Steam ascended from the underwear, drops of sweat flew from her forehead and down her cheek, but she did not wipe them away. “Put your hands together below the knee.” She stretched and listened. “Keep your balance,” the exercise leader instructed and she obeyed, standing straight, until he finished. “This is a balance exercise and you’ve fallen!”
Her eyebrows shrank, she pressed the ironto the fabric and did not lift it until the cotton blackened. She looked at the full waste bin, wiped her hands with her apron, and went to throw out the garbage. I followed her barefoot, and turned on the sandy road, but something pricked my...
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