Chapter 21
Soldiers
I believe that no one who was on the bus has any memory of the trip to Mitzpe Ramon. Everyone, without exception, passed out, exhausted from the day before.
“What’s the army postal address here?” I asked the company clerk right after the induction process at the base.
“It’s written on the intake sheet you got, down at the bottom in the notes,” she answered.
“And just so you know, every letter you get comes at a price – and a package costs even more…” she answered and chuckled.
“How much for a letter and how much for a package?” I asked seriously.
“Not sure you really want to know,” she replied. A rookie who overheard smiled. He already knew the “price” was measured in push-ups.
Later, David and I received confirmation that the young second lieutenant who had recruited us – and who was also our class instructor had kept his promise. There was something reassuring in knowing you weren’t just not alone, but actually with your best friend. It made us feel secure.
The last item we were issued with was an M-16 rifle. Clutching them, we went up to the barracks, where there were three bunkbeds. David asked to take the bottom bunk, and I chose the bed right above his.
Four other medical trainees arrived after us and filled the room.
A few minutes after everyone had staked out their territory, a sharp command rang out:
“Attention!”
Even though we were caught off guard, everyone snapped toattention. The instructor walked in, circled the room, told us to stand at ease, and scanned each of us from head to toe. Then he turned and walked out without saying a word.
Our first night march started on the right foot – literally, as per the instruction sheet, section 20.
“I don’t think I’ll make it through the course,” I told David after we had walked about three kilometers into the night.
“Why? Because you’re getting married?” His eyes widened and his teeth flashed.
“Who’s got time to think about marriage?” I complained. “My feet are killing me. I’m sure I’ve got Achilles tendonitis in both.”
“We’ve only walked three kilometers… and you’ve already got tendonitis? That’s not like you!”
It turned out the boots I’d been issued when I was drafted seven years earlier – before medical school – had completely dried out. And there were no proper replacements in the base supply room. The unit doctor confirmed my diagnosis on the spot and advised me to call someone back in Tel-Aviv to buy and send me suitable boots. He even let me use his office phone – but stressed, “Make it short. Very short!”
He gave me three sick-leave days, which I didn’t use, and the chance to call Lily.
She was surprised to hear my voice, even more so by my request. By the end of the call, I found myself kissing the receiver. I wanted so badly to tell her about my first day without her, and of course to hear all about her first day at Avni. But the army was the army, and a promise to the doctor was still an order to follow.
When I got back from the infirmary, I collapsed on my bunk, dead tired. Still, I pulled paper from my locker and began writing Lily my first letter. Turning on the light so late was considered a serious offense, so I used my flashlight instead.
“My Lily,” I began, “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since we parted, and already so much has happened…”
Come morning, my head was still resting on the unfinished page. Luckily, I was able to join most of the activities in the following days, and to my relief, the elastic bandage and the new boots that arrived two days later got me back on the regular track of the course.
Chapter 22
Letters, Thoughts, Deeds –
“Behold, You Are Betrothed to Me”
I’m not sure Lily would have written me even a single letter if she had known the price I’d have to pay to receive it. There was an actual price list: it started with simple exercises and always ended with push-ups – two digits for a postcard, three for a letter, and for a package… well, only I and the devil knew the number. As it happened, I was the unlucky recipient of a package in the very first week.
I learned from Lily’s letters that Strichman’s declaration had caused an uproar at the Avni Institute. The director, who revered the great artist, didn’t fully understand what he had meant but promised to carry it out to the letter. Meanwhile, Lily wandered the institute freely and was even given permission to join any studio she wished until the paperwork was sorted out.
