Next Year in Israel (7 page)
“What did you write?” I tried to sound enthusiastic. It was an old wall. What was so special about it?
“Peace for the world. You want to put in a note?”
What would I write in a note to God? “Nah. How much did you give that lady for the
kvittle
supplies?”
“Only a couple of s
hekels
.”
I shook my head.
“It was a donation for charity. You want to write a note, Jordyn?”
“I’m with Rebecca. No thanks.”
~ * * * ~
On the bus, Chatterbox prepped us for our second stop. “The mountain air’s… what’s the word? Brilliant. Our next site is Hezekiah’s tunnel, built to protect Jerusalem’s water.”
“Pants or skirts?” Jake shouted.
Leah crossed her arms. “That’s enough backtalk. May I remind you that I can send each of you home?”
“Shorts,” Chatterbox said. “The tunnel was built to divert the water supply, so when enemies attacked, they couldn’t cut off the water.”
The stairs down into the tunnel were slippery. Once inside, the freezing water came to the middle of my calf, and I crouched down to keep from bumping my head on the ceiling. Chatterbox handed me a lit candle. “I’ll be in the front.”
“Thanks.” I faced Jordyn. “I’m behind you.”
Mia took a candle from Chatterbox. “What if there are snakes in here?”
“Scream if one slithers on you,” Jake said. “I’ll save ya.”
“I’ll fight them off,” Ben said.
I smiled in the blackness. The multicolored walls seemed to move closer together as I trekked after Jordyn.
“Don’t go so fast,” Mia whined.
Jordyn slowed down, stuck her hand in the water, and splashed. “It’s like a sewer.”
The flame on my candle flickered. “Stop splashing.”
“It’s a naked bath,” Jake said.
Jordyn splashed faster.
My flame died. “Great.”
“Boo,” Jake said.
Jordyn laughed. “I’m scared.”
“Funny,” Mia said.
“Marco,” Jake said.
“Polo,” Ben answered.
“My flame’s out,” Mia shouted. “Can I have another candle?”
“Nope,” Chatterbox yelled.
“We’re almost finished,” Leah said from the end of the line.
“Marco,” Jake said.
“Polo,” Ben said.
My stomach rumbled as I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I was relieved that Mia seemed to be holding off on part two of her plan. On the bus, I gobbled my boxed lunch of a cucumber and tomato pita sandwich and a bruised banana. I would have given anything for a little mustard or hummus to add some taste to the sandwich. Just as I was finishing my warm Coke, the bus stopped in the canyon surrounded by beige cliffs.
“This is Wadi Kelt,” Chatterbox said, all keyed-up. “We’ll hike up to a plateau and down into St. George’s Monastery.”
Mia closed her eyes quickly.
I tied the shoelaces on my dry pair of Nikes. “What’s wrong?”
“Today’s my birthday.”
I double-knotted my laces. “Happy sixteenth.” This trip was quite a way to celebrate.
“Don’t tell anyone. I’m not in a mood for a party.”
I understood. Telling Leah or Chatterbox meant we would have to sing “Happy Birthday” on the bus.
I held up my hand. “I do solemnly swear not to tell.”
She crossed her legs.
“What? I gave you my oath,” I said.
She hesitated. “I’m scared of heights.”
Bummer. We were about to hike up a mountain. “Play sick. Maybe you can get out of it.”
Mia walked over to Leah with her head down. “I feel hot, like I have a fever. Can I stay on the bus?”
“Shall I get out the thermometer from the first-aid kit?”
“I’ve also got cramps from my period,” Mia said.
“Don’t even try,” Leah said.
The walk up the canyon was a steep incline. We kept our backs against the protruding rocks as we approached the plateau. Chatterbox distracted us with his ongoing commentary about restaurants in Tel Aviv until we reached a three-foot gap between us and the trail.
Chatterbox jumped into the air. “The Deleck’s mediocre.”
“Now isn’t the time to talk food,” Mia whined.
“Who’s first?” Chatterbox kneeled on the edge of his cliff. “I’ll catch your hand.”
“I’ll go first,” Jake said.
“Let the girls start,” Leah said.
“Women and children first,” Ben said.
“I’m first.” Jordyn traipsed to the edge and looked straight up at the sun. “Whoopee!”
She caught Chatterbox’s hand.
Mia was next. She panted. Her freckles looked sallow.
“Are you okay?” It was sad that her birthday was turning into a jump-for-your-life exercise.
“I feel sick when I look down.”
I wiped sweat off my forehead. “Don’t look down.”
Mia’s legs shook. “My body will smash into a million little pieces if I fall.”
“Look ahead,” I coached. “Grab his hand.”
She stepped widely into the air like she was bypassing a puddle. “I did it,” she cheered from Chatterbox’s side.
“Next!” Chatterbox yelled.
My turn.
I leapt through the air.
Yeah, I was soaring!
“Can I go?” Ben nudged.
“No, you have to wait your turn,” Leah said.
Mia still looked pale while we watched the line of students jump, one by one. Leah directed the order, until Ben and Jake were the only ones left.
Jake smiled deviously. “Can we jump at the same time?”
“No,” Leah decided. “He can’t help both of you at once.”
“We don’t need help,” Ben said.
“Watch your attitude,” Chatterbox snarled from his rock.
Jordyn squatted. “I’ll catch you.”
Ben answered her in Hebrew. I wished I could have translated.
Leah nodded at Chatterbox. “Jake goes first.”
Ben frowned at her.
Jake floated in the air, steady and even. Ben didn’t wait for him to land. He leapt up and dropped to our side.
After the jump, we made our way to a monastery built into the rocks. When we returned to the bus, Mia finally spoke. “I miss my family and friends.”
I knew from her glassy eyes she was holding back tears. “You said your friends at home are boring. We aren’t boring here.” I took her phone out of her backpack and snapped a picture of her. “E-mail your parents this and tell them you overcame your fear of heights today.” I was eager to be the kind of friend that I always wanted to have.
Mia grinned at me.
Leah clapped her hands. “All right, loves. We’ve got a birthday today.”
And while Mia’s face flushed, Leah led us through two renditions of “Happy Birthday,” the first in English and the second in Hebrew.
MIA BURST INTO OUR ROOM one Thursday night after we had been at the
kfar
for three weeks. She rubbed her hands together. “We’re going out tonight.” From my bed, I closed my flimsy Hebrew workbook, wondering what she had planned. The naysayer in me needed an explanation, as Leah checked on us several times a night.
“I just saw Ben in the hallway.” Mia was practically jumping up and down. “He said Leah asked him to do the bed check tonight.”
That seemed rather convenient. “She trusts us to police ourselves?” I fake-frowned. Saying no would be a huge mistake. I couldn’t disappoint Mia.
“Her daughter went into labor. She’s on her way to the hospital.”
No wonder. Her grandchild was giving us a free night.
Jordyn walked into our room. “It’s the three of us girls. Everyone else wants to hang out in Ben’s room.”
Since when did Jordyn become Mia’s friend?
“Cool,” Mia said. Maybe Jordyn and she were burying their popularity hatchet? As Mia had predicted, Jordyn had become kind of nice since she’d hooked up with Caleb. Maybe the popularity contest would work itself out. Mia could be just below Jordyn on the social ladder, which would make me way higher than I had been at home. Life at the
kfar
was good!
“You went to the bathroom a law-abiding
kfar-
nik,” I said. “Then, poof, you change into a sneaky wild child. What’s in the toilet paper? And why was Ben in our hallway?”
Mia’s eyes danced. “To tell us about the free night. Don’t worry. We won’t get caught.”
“There’d better not be a pop quiz tomorrow that I should have studied for.” I eyed my backpack on the floor. “How are we getting home?” Getting there was no problem. Tons of clubs in Tel Aviv were only a short bus ride away. Coming home was the issue. There was no bus service from Tel Aviv to the
kfar
after midnight.
“Taxi,” Mia said.
“Is Caleb coming with us?” I asked, wondering what I should wear.
Jordyn smiled. “Nope.”
I nodded at Jordyn’s face.
“You can use my makeup,” Jordyn said, as if I were her dress-up doll.
“Thanks.” I changed into my denim miniskirt and white tank top. We were on the verge of friendship.
“Your top’s a disaster.” She zipped up a low-cut black dress.
So much for being nice. “What’s wrong with it?” I asked. It was a classic fashion piece, basic and neutral.
She grabbed two inches of material around my belly. “Too big. Why do you dress like this?”
“To be comfortable,” I said semi-truthfully. Why bother with pretty clothes? It would only draw more attention to me. Derrick’s entourage, who did most of his dirty work, would yell, “Pugly’s dressed up.”
“Wear this.” Jordyn gave me her hot pink tank top.
The stretchy material glided on easily. “It’s too tight. I—”
“It looks great.” Mia said.
Jordyn smiled. “Thank God, it fits.”
“Finally,” Mia said, “you’re dressing properly.”
Jordyn twirled me around to face the mirror. “This is what you’re supposed to look like.”
Loser no more. The pretty girl in the mirror showing off her cleavage was me. And I had friends!
Jordyn fiddled with her hair. “A body like yours has the upper hand.”
“She needs to use it.” Mia tucked her black top into her jeans.
“I’m not a user,” I said sarcastically.
Jordyn nodded. “Then, what are you?”
“You decide.” I picked up Mia’s pink lipstick that was on the sink basin.
There was a knock on our door.
“We’re studying,” Mia hollered.
“Hebrew or beer?” Ben’s voice rang out. He had come back to our room.
Jordyn opened our door. “Girls’ night out.”
“Stop by our room afterwards,” he said.
I felt a prickle on my back, like tiny legs were needling my skin. “Do I have a bug on me?”
“It’s a flying roach,” Ben said.
“Get it off me,” I wailed.
Jordyn picked up my workbook and swatted at it. “I’ll flick it off.”
Those flying roaches showed up at the worst times—Ben was watching. Then again, a disgusting bug was a small tradeoff. I was creating a new identity. I handed Ben my camera. “Take our picture.” I wanted to remember that I had friends for the rest of my life.
He took my camera. “Huddle together.”
I sat down on the edge of my bed.
“Not there,” Jordyn said. “The bug patch will be in the photo.”
I moved to Jordyn’s bed.
Mia parked herself next to me. Jordyn said something to Ben in Hebrew.
“What did you say?” Mia asked.
Jordyn sat down on the other side of me. “Nothing.”
“Say
beer
,” Ben said.
“Cheese,” we said.
“Tell us what you said in Hebrew.” Mia sounded annoyed.
Ben put the camera down. “You could come by my room later.”
“We’ll try,” Mia’s tone softened.
Try? She was milking the coy game dry.
“Walk us to the bus stop,” Jordyn said as we strolled toward the door.
Mia kept quiet while we walked, and Jordyn, of course, spoke to Ben in Hebrew. I wondered how I should be at the club. Should I try to flirt with the boys or stay under the radar? Was I ready to step out? Sure, I had progressed to dressing better, but I could only answer questions if the boys spoke to me. Was it enough? What if I did something lame? Pugly could rear her ugly head.
“Rebecca?” Ben said.
I looked at him cautiously. He probably thought I was a space cadet.
“See you later.” He smiled at me. The bus wheels squeaked on the pavement as it slowed down.
“Bye,” Mia waved. He put his hands in his pockets and walked away.
I raised my eyebrows at her. “We’ll see him later.”
“Maybe,” Mia whispered.
“Quiet,” Jordyn said. “I want to see if I can pass as Israeli.”
I dropped my coins into the fare slot.
The driver turned up the radio volume. He was listening to a Hebrew talk radio show, and it sounded like male voices, in some kind of debate.
Two soldiers sat in the middle of the bus. They pretended not to notice us.
Jordyn sashayed down the aisle and slid into the empty seat behind them. Mia and I followed in a normal walk, and took the empty seat behind Jordyn.
The cute, stocky soldier turned around and smiled at Jordyn.
“Shalom, ma sh’mech?”
“He’s asking for her name,” Mia whispered as the bus pulled away.
I glared at her. “Shush.” I was taking mental notes to be used in the future.
Jordyn took her time to answer, and swiped a stray hair from her forehead before she replied in a sultry voice. “Jordyn.”
He pulled the string above the window. His friend nodded at us. They got up and stepped to the front, turning around to smile at Jordyn.
“
Le’hitra’ot
,” the stocky one said to her.
‘Good night,’ I wanted to answer.
Jordyn blew her admirer a kiss. “
Le’hitra’ot.”
“She nails it,” Mia said once they had gotten off the bus.
“I’m good.” Jordyn oozed confidence. “Too bad my sister isn’t here.”
I thought of Jordyn and her twin sister as the bus pulled away from the curb. Jordyn talked about Naomi sometimes, and I knew they sent texts back and forth. It sounded like they weren’t the type of twins who hated each other. I did wonder why her sister hadn’t come on the trip with her, but I didn’t want to ask. I figured it would only annoy Jordyn if I questioned her home life. Besides, I didn’t want her asking me a bunch of questions.
Eighteen stops later, we had gotten off the bus and walked through the busy streets of Tel Aviv, past shopping plazas and crowded restaurants, and we were in line, waiting to get into a club. The air smelled of fried food and gas exhaust, as the club was on the main strip, not in an alleyway.