Читать книгу If anything, I’m in the next room (Book about the Holocaust). English edition - Gertcel Davydov, Gertz (Gertcel) Davydov, Gertz Davydov - Страница 5

Despite the day off, the actors and other theater workers, at Mr. Gould’s request, unquestioningly agreed to hold an extraordinary rehearsal on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Gould, who began calling everyone on Saturday afternoon about the urgency of moving the rehearsal from Monday to Sunday, referred to his improved health, but Ms. Blunt guessed that it was due to her departure.

On this Sunday afternoon, Julie, as usual, was a little late for the rehearsal, but the first thing she did was run into a framing workshop not far from the theater. Laying out the canvases in front of James Clark, the owner of the workshop, the actress said:

– Good afternoon, Mr. Clark. It’s good that you are open despite the weekend.

“Hello, Miss Blunt,” the older man answered politely. “We are a family business, and extra orders won’t hurt.” How can I help you?

– Can you frame these three paintings?

– Certainly. What color do you prefer?

– Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about painting design. I would like to completely trust your taste. What are your rates?

– Based on the size of this canvas, one frame can cost from seven pounds.

– What do they look like?

“I’ll now bring you several samples that, in my opinion, will harmoniously combine with the colors on these canvases.” And you will choose the ones that you like the most.

Having rolled up the canvases, James Clark headed deeper into the studio and within a minute laid out several samples in front of the actress. Miss Blunt chose the baguette she liked and asked how much it would cost.

“Forty-five pounds to decorate three paintings exactly like this,” Mr. Clarke replied. – You chose one of the most expensive options, it will fit perfectly with these paintings. If it’s expensive, you can choose, for example, these white ones – only seven pounds per painting…

– No, I liked these ones, and the price is not the main thing. I have thirty pounds with me, I can give it to you now, and I will bring the remaining fifteen tomorrow.

“You can pay after finishing the work,” said the master, rolling up the canvases. – Miss Blunt, we have known each other for several years. Although you do not often spoil us with your presence, your posters are always before our eyes.

Mr. Clark pointed to the glass door. Through it, Julie saw a billboard with her and Chuck. In large letters it read: “Akiva and Rachel,” and a little lower, in a smaller font, “A love story that will not leave anyone indifferent.”

“My family and I will definitely come to see you and all the action,” Mr. Clark smiled.

– Come! I promise: you won’t regret it.

– Thank you, we will definitely come.

– How long will it take to complete all the paintings?

– I have other orders. It will take at least two to three days.

Miss Blunt urgently asked the master to finish work on at least one painting by tomorrow evening. Out of respect for the actress, James agreed, and promised to complete work on the other two on Tuesday.

Having thanked the master and handed him thirty pounds, Julie hurried to the exit, but then Mr. Clark asked:

– Which painting should be completed first?

After weighing the pros and cons, the actress chose the oldest one, signed “Mainz, Germany, 1929.”

Julie decided to take a taxi because she was late for rehearsal. Sitting in the back seat, she gave the address and, lulled by the steady movement, fell asleep.

MAINZ, GERMANY, NOVEMBER 13, 1929

“Thank you for agreeing to dance with me,” said Joseph Schwartz, holding the girl’s tender hand in his palm.

“Klaus really asked, and on his wedding day I couldn’t refuse,” answered Leah, who barely reached his shoulders.

“I told Klaus that you are incredibly beautiful and that I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t dance with you.”

Leah was embarrassed and, to change the subject, asked:

– What a beautiful melody, do you know who its author is?

– This is Fryderyk Chopin, Waltz in C sharp minor. This work is sometimes called Waltz number seven, C sharp minor, since it is considered the seventh waltz composed by Chopin.

– Are you that good at music? – the girl looked at Joseph in surprise.

– This is all my mother. She dreamed of me becoming a famous pianist, and even as a child she enrolled me in piano. I had some success, but I quit music school after studying for about five years, which I sometimes regret very much. Of course, I would not become a famous musician, but I could spend long evenings performing such beautiful works for my beloved woman and my children.

– Who is your favorite composer?

– Beethoven. But from now on, Chopin’s seventh waltz will take a special place in my heart,” Josef replied. – Which composer do you prefer, beautiful Leah?

– I really like Johann Strauss. In my opinion, his music is light and airy.

“You have excellent taste,” the young man said, continuing to waltz, and after a pause he continued: “Leah, let me note, you dance beautifully.”

– I did ballet as a child, but then I had to quit.

After a pause, Leah asked:

“Joseph… isn’t that a Jewish name?”

“In your mouth, my name sounds like it has never sounded before.”

– If you don’t want to, you don’t have to answer.

– Yes it is. You and I are of the same nationality, and the fact that we met here today, at a German wedding, is fate.

“In our city, meeting, as you put it, ‘people of our nationality’ is not such a rare occurrence,” the girl smiled. – It’s not for nothing that Mainz is called Jerusalem on the Rhine.

“Let me disagree with you,” Joseph continued, trying to defend his point of view. “You still won’t be able to convince me about the fate of our meeting.” As for Jerusalem am Rhein, everyone interprets it differently. For example, local Jews say that the city has such an informal name because they settled in Mainz at the beginning of the tenth century and founded the largest Jewish community in Germany here, and the Germans believe that this name comes from the fact that the city was the main center of Christianization of the Germans.

– Okay, I won’t argue with you.

“That’s smart of you,” Josef joked awkwardly.

After a short pause he asked:

– How long have you known Tilda?

– I moved here when I was ten. Tilda lived in a neighboring house and helped me get used to the new city, to new people. Since that time we have been friends. How do you know Klaus? Are you working with him?

– We studied at the university together.

– Klaus said that you are a doctor, is that a fiction or true? – the girl asked with interest.

– Yes, I am a doctor, and I dare say, a very good one.

– What kind of doctor are you? A surgeon like Klaus?

– No, I chose a different specialization – dentistry.

– You must have a very interesting job! And I am a simple elementary school teacher.

“There are no simple teachers,” Joseph objected. “This is a very important specialty, since it is teachers who shape the personalities of children.

Looking towards the table, where Paul, already red with rage, was sitting, the girl lowered her head and said quietly:

– Sorry, but I have to go.

– Is it because your boyfriend has returned? – Josef asked gloomily, also looking at Paul.

“I really need to go.”

– Please, let’s at least finish the waltz. I’ve never felt so good.

Looking at the angry Paul, the girl continued the dance. After some silence, Joseph said:

“I hope that you will forgive my frankness, but you and him are absolutely not suitable for each other.”

“I also ask you to forgive me, but I don’t want to discuss this,” Leah answered, turning slightly pale.

“Believe me, you are meant for someone else,” the young man continued.

– And for whom, if not a secret? – she asked sarcastically.

“You are meant for me,” Josef said confidently. “I knew it from the very second I saw you.”

– Please, don’t throw around such words. “I don’t believe in all these stories about love at first sight,” the girl said excitedly. “On top of that, this is all unnecessary, since I’m getting married soon.”

“I’ll bet you a box of chocolates that if you give me a month, I’ll prove that I’m exactly the one you need.”

Smiling faintly, Leah replied:

– Unfortunately, you don’t have a month. After this dance we will stop our communication.

“Then you’ll have to work in extreme conditions,” Josef joked. “In that case, I will try to convince you during this dance.” I hope that after my words you will come to your senses and not commit such a rash act.

– You’re just wasting your time.

– Leah, are you ready to argue or are you chickening out? Only as a decent person, I must warn you that at the university, among other things, I studied psychology.

– Well, let’s try, but it’s all in vain. “I’ve already said that I don’t believe in miracles and I’m getting married soon,” the girl said seriously, deciding to accept the challenge.

Josef collected his thoughts and asked:

– Answer me, and first of all yourself, do you want to spend your whole life next to an unloved person? Live with him, give birth to his children, meet him after work, go to bed and wake up next to him?!

– Why are you saying this? “I’ve already decided everything,” Leah said sadly.

But Joseph was not going to back down and continued:

– I ask you not to do this. Give me a chance to prove that you deserve the best, that you can love and be loved…

The girl became embarrassed and lowered her head. Josef squeezed her hand even tighter and whispered in her ear:

– Leah, my words may seem strange to you, but I don’t want to part with you. I would like this music to last forever.

“Alas, Josef, as you probably know, everything has an end.” Very soon the last chords will sound and we will say goodbye forever.

Joseph did not even think of giving up.

– Leah, please answer me, doesn’t the end of something mean the beginning of a new one? Doesn’t the end of the day mean the beginning of the evening, and the end of the evening the beginning of the night? It is not at all necessary that everything ends for us with this dance. I would like it to serve as the beginning of the next stage of our acquaintance. You know what, after the dance I invite you to take a walk. Let’s get away from everyone and walk through Mainz at night.

Looking again towards Paul, who was seething with anger, Leah replied:

– Thank you for the invitation, but very soon I’m going to leave, and without you. You can invite someone else for a night out: there are a lot of pretty girls here.

“I don’t need anyone but you,” Joseph continued to persist. “If you refuse, then I won’t even look at the other girls at this celebration.” With thoughts of you, I will wait until the end of the wedding, and then I will go home and draw,” the doctor whispered.

– Can you draw? – Leah asked interestedly.

“Yes,” Josef nodded. – At a young age, I attended art clubs and even took private lessons. I had a lot of sketches and sketches, but today, no matter how symbolic it may sound, I want to start my first serious work.

“Since childhood, I dreamed of learning to draw,” admitted Leah, “but I never could.” And what are you going to depict?

– Your dream.

– What? – she asked again. – Did you say “dream”?

– Yes, I saw him last night. I was looking for an interesting story for a long time, and this dream touched me so much that I decided to dedicate my debut to it.

“How interesting…” the girl breathed out.

– In general, I rarely have dreams, especially colorful ones. And I decided to capture today on canvas.

– And what kind of dream is this?

“Oh, it’s a secret, and I’m not going to share it with the girl who so cynically refused to walk with me through the city at night,” Josef said, hoping to interest Leah.

– Well, that’s your right. As you wish.

When the last chords sounded, Josef made another desperate attempt:

– Leah, maybe you will agree to meet me tomorrow evening? I will tell you about the dream and the process of working on the painting…

– No, sorry, I have to go. And the music has already ended.

“I need to see you again,” Josef asked. – Please give me a chance.